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Curriculum Vitae

Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", Centre for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Faculty Member
Resume LYUDMILA KLASANOVA Address: Øyjordsveien 33, 5038, Bergen, Norway Mobile: + 47 90034431 E-mail: lklasanova@gmail.com Website: www.tseringdolma.weebly.com EMPLOYMENT      2021-now Bilingual teacher, Møhlenpris oppveksttun skole, Bergen, Norway. 2021-now Lecturer at the Centre for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Bulgaria. Online courses: “Buddhism in the Contemporary World,” “Buddhist Art,” “Tibetan Culture.” 2017-now Buddhistdoor Global’s East Europe Correspondent. 2008-2018 Lecturer at the Centre for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Bulgaria. Courses: “Buddhism in the Contemporary World,” “Buddhist Art”, “Tibetan Language and Culture,” “Female Image in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism,” “Religions and Philosophical Systems in East Asia” at the Indology Department, the East Asian Studies Department and the South, East and South-East Asia Department. 2014-2018 Researcher and curator in the field of Buddhist and Asian art at the National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS    2014 PhD in Indian and Tibetan Literature and Culture. Dissertation title: “Female Image in the Buddhist Tradition of India and Tibet.” Supervised by Prof. Dr. Alexander Fedotoff. Classical East Department, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Bulgaria. 2007 M.A. in East Asian Cultures. Thesis title: “Female Image in the Tibetan Iconography.” Supervised by Prof. Dr. Alexander Fedotoff. East Asian Studies Department, Faculty of Classical and Modern Philology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” Bulgaria. 2002 B.A. in Fine Arts, Book and Printed Graphics. Department Book and Printed Graphics, Faculty of Fine Arts, National Academy of Fine Arts, Bulgaria. INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS  2016 Teaching staff mobility program in the framework of Erasmus+ Programme at the Universitas Gadjah Mada and Sekolah Tinggi Agama Buddha Salatiga (Syailendra Buddhist College), Yogyakarta, Indonesia. 1   2009 Graphic Design training under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation programme of the Government of India at the Aptech Limited, New Delhi, India. 2001 Contemporary Arts education in the framework of Socrates Programme (European Commission) at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University Castilla la Mancha, Cuenca, Spain. PUBLICATIONS Book  2022 “Do You Want to Try? Yoga for Kids,” Eternal Tree Publications, USA. Monograph  2018 “Female Image in Buddhism of India and Tibet.” East West Indological Foundation, Sofia. Selected Articles            2022 “The Spread of Buddhist Tradition in Bulgaria.” In Proceedings of the International Conference “The Spread of Buddhist Thought,” Jawaharlal Nehru University, India. 2022 “Female Images in the Life of Buddha.” In “Lotus: Almanah for Buddhism and Eastern Cultures,” East-West Publishing House, Bulgaria. 2021 “Buddhist Traces on the Kazakhstan’s Silk Road.” In Critical Collective, India. 2021 “Between Form and Emptiness: the Mysterious World of Tibetan Thangka.” In “Lotus: Almanah for Buddhism and Eastern Cultures,” East-West Publishing House, Bulgaria. 2020 “The Boundless Nature of Tara in the Indian Buddhist Tradition.” In “Lotus: Almanah for Buddhism and Eastern Cultures,” East-West Publishing House, Bulgaria. 2019 “Dharmodaya: The Source of Reality in Tantric Buddhism.” In “In the Mirror of Dharma: Indian Culture through the Ages,” Indology Department, Sofia University. 2017 “Buddhist Women in the Contemporary History of Korea and Bulgaria.” In “On Religious and Cultural Contents in Korea and Bulgaria,” Korean Department, Sofia University. 2017 “Dakini as Consorst in the Sacred Art of Tibet.” In “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchang e & Social Action”, Sakyadhita Hong Kong. 2017 “Tibetan Buddhist Literature.” In “Scientific Collection in Memory of Prof. Emil Boev,” University Press “St. Kliment Ohridski.” 2016 “Buddhist Concept of Femininity from the Perspective of Western Science.” In “Buddhism in the Third Millennium: Trends and Prospects for Development,” Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia. 2016 “Dakinis: Travelers in the Space between East and West.” In “Buddhism in Dialogue between Eastern and Western Cultures,” Elista, Kalmykia, Russia. 2            2016 “Tibetan Iconography as a Mirror of Dharma.” In “Moon, Bamboo and Mirror: Oriental Study,” Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University. 2016 “Senses and Offerings of Sense Objects in Tibetan Buddhism.” In “Manas: Studies into Asia and Africa,” Electronic Journal of the Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University. 2015 “Traditions and Innovations in the Creation of Tibetan Thangka Painting.” In “Contemporary Buddhist Art: Traditions and Innovations: Proceeding of International Symposium,” Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan, Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, Russia. 2015 “Prajnaparamita: The Perfection of Wisdom.” In “From India to India: Perception and Perspective,” Indology Department, Sofia University. 2014 “Mirror of Time: The Eternity of Tibetan Buddhist Literature.” In “Manas: Studies into Asia and Africa,” Electronic Journal of the Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University. 2012 “The Image of Tara in Buddhist Tradition.” In “Ninth Conference for Young Scholars,” Sofia University. 2011 “Vac: The Goddess of Speech in Vedic and Tantric Tradition.” In “Eighth Conference for Young Scholars,” Sofia University. 2008 “Female Image in Buddhist Iconography.” In “Izkustvovedski Cheteniya,” Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. 2008 “The Seokguram Grotto: The Korean Contribution to the World Heritage.” In “Five Years of Center for Korean Studies,” East Asian Studies Department, Sofia University. 2007 “Daughters of Buddha: The Influence of Korean Nuns in the Neighboring Countries.” In “Korea: The Heart of Asia,” East Asian Studies Department, Sofia University. 2006 “The Concept of Creation in Tibetan Believes.” In “Terms of Creation in Different Religions,” New Bulgarian University. LECTURES, SEMINARS, & CONFERENCES     2022 “The Mirror of the Heart: Tibetan Culture in the Academic Work of Professor Alexander Fedotoff” during the the International Scientific Conference “Eastern Studies - Traditions and Modernity,” dedicated to the memory of Professor Alexander Fedotoff, Sofia University, Bulgaria (October 15-16, 2022). “The Buddhist Connection between Tibet and Russia: Centers of Tibetan Buddhist Education in the Russian Far East” during the 16th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Prague, Czech Republic (July 3-9, 2022). “A Yogic Way to Live in Harmony with the Universe” during the online Yoga discourse “Yoga for Harmony,” Hindu College, University of Delhi, India (May 20, 2022). 2021 “The Spread of Buddhist Tradition in Bulgaria” during the International Conference “The Spread of Buddhist Thought,” Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Council for Cultural 3 Relations, India (October 27-28, 2021).                  “The Yoga Sadhana” during the International Webinar of Swastivachanam - The Universal Association for Sanskrit, Yogaand Ayurveda, India (June 13, 2021). “Kalachakra: Restoring the Inner and Outer World” during the 7th International Conference of the International Center for Cultural Studies “Ancient Cultures Championing Humanity,” UK (February 20-21, 2021). 2017 “Buddhist Women in the Contemporary History of Korea and Bulgaria” during the conference “On Religious and Cultural Contents in Korea and Bulgaria,” Korean Department, Sofia University, Bulgaria (November 17, 2017). “The Spread of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia, Russia and Bulgaria,” Tibet House, New Delhi, India (August 25, 2017). “Buddhist Tradition in Mongolia,” Center for Inner Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India (August 23, 2017). “Sanskrit as a Sacred Language in Tibetan Buddhism,” Special Centre for Sanskrit Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India (August 17, 2017). “Sacred Art of Mongolia,” National Museum Institute, New Delhi, India (August 11, 2017). “Sacred Art of Tibet,” National Museum Institute, New Delhi, India (August 10, 2017). “Buddhism in Tibet, Mongolia, and Russia,” India International Centre, New Delhi, India (August 8, 2017). “Buddhist Art at the National Gallery of Bulgaria” during the forum “Buddhist Culture in Bulgaria,” National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria (July 6, 2017). “Dakini as Consorst in the Sacred Art of Tibet” during the Sakyadhita 15th International Conference on Buddhist Women “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchang e & Social Action,” Hong Kong (June 24, 2017). “Healing Power of the Buddhist Goddesses,” Mahara Holistic Lifestyle, Amsterdam, Netharlands (March 26, 2017). 2016 “Buddhist Concept of Femininity from the Perspective of Western Science” during the international scientific conference “Buddhism in the Third Millennium: Trends and Prospects for Development,” Kyzyl, Tuva, Russia (September 8, 2016). “The Image of Padmasambhava in the Dudjom Tersar Lineage” during the 14th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Bergen, Norway (June 24, 2016). “Buddhist and Hindu Temples of Java,” National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria (June 1, 2016). “History of Buddhism in the Mirror of Feminity,” Inter Religious Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (April 18, 2016). “Introduction to Vajrayana,” Center for Religious and Cross cultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (April 19, 2016). 4                 “Reading the Image of Buddha,” Center for Religious and Cross cultural Studies, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (April 19, 2016). “Multiculturalism in Bulgaria,” Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (April 21, 2016). “The Snake in Hindu and Buddhist Art of India,” National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria (April 14, 2016). “Dharmodaya: The Source of Reality in Tantric Buddhism” during the conference “In the Mirror of Dharma: Indian Culture through the Ages,” Indology Department, Sofia University (March 1, 2016). 2015 „Preservation of Buddhist Art in Nepal” during the seminar “The Intransitive in the Cultural Heritage of Nepal,” National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria (December 15, 2015). “The Hill of Tara: Painting by Nicholas Roerich,” National Gallery – Kvadrat 500, Bulgaria (October 6, 2015). “Dakinis: Travelers in the Space between East and West” during the forum “Buddhism in Dialogue between Eastern and Western Cultures” held within the framework of the 10th anniversary of Buddhist temple “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni,” Elista, Kalmykia, Russia (September 20-23, 2015). “Tantric Goddesses in Tibetan Buddhism,” Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (July 20, 2015). “Women in Early Buddhism,” Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (July 27, 2015). “Images of Enlightenment in Tibetan Buddhism” during Buddhist Art Seminar, Varna, Bulgaria, (April 25-26 2015). “Mirror of Wisdom: The Female Image in Tibetan Buddhism,” University of Ruse, Bulgaria (March 7, 2015). 2014 “Contemporary Korean Art in Bulgaria” during the conference “Korean Society in the Eyes of the World,” Korean Department, Sofia University (November 28, 2014). “Himalayan Paintings of Nicholas Roerich” during the 140th anniversary of Nicholas Roerich, Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University (December 14, 2014). “Female Figure in Buddhism of India and Tibet” organized by the Friends of India Club and the Embassy of the Republic of India in Sofia, Indology Department, Sofia University (June 10, 2014). “Cultural Relations between Tibet and Iran in Ancient Times” during the seminar “Tibet and the World,” Center for Eastern Languages and Cultures, Sofia University (March 11, 2014). 2013 “Traditions and Innovations in the Creation of Tibetan Thangka Painting” during the symposium “Contemporary Buddhist Art: Traditions and Innovations” organized by the Department of Art History and Culture Studies of the Ural Federal University at the Rinpoche Bagsha Datsan, Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, Russia (July 25-26, 2013). 5       “Symbolism of the Image of Buddha’s Mother” during the seminar “Esoteric Elements in Fine Arts,” Fine Arts Department, New Bulgarian University (June 6, 2013). “Tibetan Buddhist Art” during the conference “Thoughts about Art,” Fine Arts Department, New Bulgarian University (January 15, 2013). 2012-2005 “Mirror of Time: Tibetan Buddhist Literature” during the Philological study conference, Blagoevgrad University, Bulgaria (May 11, 2012). “Transpersonal Dimensions in the Religious Art of Tibet” during the “Eight Conference of European Transpersonal Association,” Varna, Bulgaria (September 21-14, 2011). “The Role of the Spiritual Teacher in Tibetan Buddhism” during the conference “World Youth Care for Tibet,” organized by Mongolian and Tibetan Affairs Commission, Taipei, Taiwan (August, 10-11 2005). “Mandala: The Sacred Space in Buddhist Tradition of Tibet” during the seminar “World Religions,” New Bulgarian University (May 16, 2005). RESEARCH INTERESTS Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Buddhist Art, Contemporary Buddhism, Buddhist rituals, Women in Buddhism. LANGUAGES      Bulgarian: Native English: Fluent Norwegian: Advanced Russian: Upper-intermediate Tibetan: Intermediate NORWEGIAN LANGUAGE COURSES    2022 C1 norsk på høyere nivå – Nettstudie, AOF Vestlandet, Agder 2021 Norsk høyere mellomnivå – Nettstudie, Forberedelse til norskprøven B2, Folkeunversitet, Oslo 2018-2020 Norsk A1, A2, B1, B2 Nygård skole, Bergen REFERENCES Prof. Dr. Dorji Wangchuk, Professor, University of Hamburg, Department of Indian and Tibetan Studies, +49 40 42838 3383, dorji.wangchuk@uni-hamburg.de Prof. Shashi Bala, Professor, Dean of the Center of Indology at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi, +91 98118 41183, drshashibala56@gmail.com 6 Prof. Milena Bratoeva, Professor, Head of the Classical East Department, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski,” +359 887 693904, milbratoeva@hotmail.com 7