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2019, JOCBS vol19 BR by Mayer
Review of Alexander Gardner's The Life of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great. 2019, Snow Lion, Boulder, Colorado. 506pp. Preface ix-xiii.
CBS Masters Thesis
GTER MA AS TIMELY TRADITION: REVELATION BEYOND INNOVATION IN THE LITERARY SELF-PORTRAYAL OF GTER STON MCHOG GYUR GLING PA2018 •
This thesis presents and analyzes the translations of ten short texts chosen among the few writings attributed to the nineteenth-century Treasure revealer Chokgyur Dechen Zhikpo Lingpa (mChog gyur bde chen zhig po gling pa, 1829-1870). These autobiographical and rhetorical writings portray the Treasure revealer as a figure who must have access to both the past and the present, the temporal and the a-temporal, in order to fulfill his role. The collapse of time that is thereby apparent in the Treasure revealer’s own experience is discussed in the light of recurring academic discussions of Treasure revelation as either an act of innovation or continuity with tradition. From the perspective of this self-portrayal, which defies any linear conception of time, both of these categories fall short of accurately describing the specificity of the Treasure revealer’s role—which instead seems most characterized by timeliness. Indeed, as a bridge between the four times—understood in their traditional Buddhist classification into past, present, future and timelessness—the Treasure revealer is shown to enjoy a privileged access to the very sources of the Buddhist tradition, which in turn empowers him to act as its timely mediator, influencing his own historical context in important ways. As evidenced in his autobiographical and rhetorical writings, Chokgyur Lingpa uses this temporal influence to promote the non-sectarian approach associated with the contemporary Rimé revival. Despite the significant impact of this non-sectarian initiative on the religious landscape of his time, Chokgyur Lingpa primarily presents it as a continuation of the original Buddhist tradition, thereby mirroring his portrayal of the Treasure tradition as timely revival rather than innovation.
2018 •
This article revisits the question, first introduced by feminist scholars in the mid-1990s, about whether sexual practices within Buddhist tantra (heterosexually conceived) are empowering or exploitative to women. The purpose here is to complicate this question, given the different geographic settings and cultural contexts in which consort relationships have been embedded— from eastern Tibet to North America—and to nuance our understanding of the potential and pitfalls of sexuality in tantric contexts. To do so, I query the dynamics of secrecy and sexuality in tantric practice, examining twentieth century examples of female practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism who have participated in such relationships and thereby highlighting the localized ways that the " secret consort " (gsang yum) has been invoked as a social role. This issue is especially relevant today in light of the global #MeToo movement and recent disclosures of sexual improprieties and alleged abuse involving Tibetan teachers at the head of Buddhist communities in Europe and North America. For this reason, to conclude, I discuss shifting perspectives on sexuality as Buddhist tantra has spread beyond Asia and draw attention to current voices calling for greater transparency and community accountability.
2019 •
This thesis offers a glimpse into the life and a partial translation of the biography or liberation story (Tib. rnam thar) of one of the greatly accomplished Buddhist masters of the nineteenth century: the treasure revealer and ris med master lHo O rgyan nus ldan rdo rje, throne holder of the ‘Bri gung bKa’ brgyud monastery lHo lung dkar dgon ‘og min thub bstan bshad sgrub gling situated among alpine meadows along the lCi river in Nang chen, Qinghai. The thesis begins with an introduction to the ‘Bri gung bKa’ brgyud tradition, treasure revela- tions and the eastern Tibetan ethnic region Khams in the nineteenth century. This follows a brief outline of Nus ldan rdo rje’s life, his works and incarnation line. Further, a presentation of the monastery lHo lung dkar dgon is provided together with the incarnation lines connected to it. In discussing the biography partially translated for this thesis, a brief biography of the author lHo bstan ‘dzin nyi ma, an outline of the biography as well as available sources on Nus ldan rdo rje’s life are included. The translation itself includes the sections of the biography that tell about his birth place, family line, his birth, youth and early adulthood, as well as the transmission of teach- ings and further studies and practice. The thesis concludes with the critical edition of the Tibetan. The study of Nus ldan rdo rje’s life and biography proves valuable in several aspects: Nus ldan rdo rje was from an area that is still fairly unstudied by Western scholarship and it thus provides fur- ther information about the nineteenth century Nang chen area of eastern Tibet. The biography, albeit composed by a contemporary Khams pa author, has the make-up of a traditional Tibetan biography. Not only does it shed light on the so far unstudied life of Nus ldan rdo rje, also the life, in particular the early years, of a reincarnated master can be witnessed and insights gained into the Tibetan-Buddhist world-view.
The Chöd tradition practiced at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery (KNSL) in Boudhanath, Nepal places a much greater emphasis on awareness (rig pa) and devotion than is recognized in academic studies on Chöd. Moreover, in connection to this emphasis, the spiritual master’s oral instructions play an indispensable role in the practice. This thesis will demonstrate that although the KNSL’s Chöd texts introduce an abundance of information, it is the oral instructions pertaining to Dzokchen and Essence Mahāmudrā which set forth greater details, fine-tune and condense the philosophical content, introduce the different levels of practice, clarify the approach, and highlight key points. Thus, the oral pith instructions determine how Chöd is practiced—bringing awareness and devotion to the forefront—with renunciation and compassion as two key additional methods. It further argues that this demonstrates the living oral tradition as a critical source of information and analysis when studying Chöd texts or similar tantric ritual texts. The oral instructions are the pedagogical instrument which provides a wealth of differentiation and individualization. Furthermore, KNSL’s oral Chöd instructions consolidate the components of intellectualism, passionate emotions, and non-conceptual wakefulness.
Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines no. 55: Proceedings of the Fifth International Seminar of Young Tibetologists
Curating a Treasure: The Bka' brgyad bde gshegs 'dus pa in the Development of Rnying ma Tradition2020 •
Boston, Wisdom Publications, 2003. 767 pages
A Saint in Seattle: The Life of the Tibetan Mystic Dezhung Rinpoche.pdf2003 •
A Saint in Seattle is the inspiring and unlikely life story of a modern Buddha. In 1960 the Tibetan lama Dezhung Rinpoche (sGa Thar lam sDe gzhung sprul sku, 1906-87) arrived in Seattle after being forced into exile from his native land by the Communist Chinese. The eminent Sakyapa historian gDong thog bstan pa’i rgyal mtshan, a.k.a. T. G. Dhongthog Rinpoche (1933-2015), translated the present English biography of Dezhung Rinpoche into Tibetan as you can find in the TBRC website (www.tbrc.org): sDe gzhung kun dga' bstan pa'i nyi ma rin po che'i rnam thar, Biography of the Tibetan mystic Dezhung Rinpoche Jampa Kunga Tenpai Nyima (1906-1987). bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan; 1 volume; 622 p.. W00KG09975. [sa pan bshad grub gling nas par du bskrun], shoreline, wa. 2006.
2013 •
Études mongoles et sibériennes, centrasiatiques et tibétaines
Next stop, Nirvana. When Tibetan pilgrims turn into leisure seekers2020 •
Revue d’Etudes Tibétaines
Ascending to Heaven after Death: Karma Chags med's Commentary on Mind Transference2019 •
Cathy Cantwell and Robert Mayer, 2009. A Noble Noose of Methods, the Lotus Garland Synopsis: Methodological Issues in the Study of a Mahāyoga Text from Dunhuang. In JIATS Issue 5, December 2009.
From 10th century Dunhuang until today: tracking the changes and textual permutations of a rNying ma tantra and its commentary over the course of eleven centuries.Korean Journal of Buddhist Studies
A Drop of Water Can Pierce Through Stone: Geography and Sacred Space in Contemporary Yushu2021 •
Journal of Buddhist Ethics
Rimé Revisited: Shabkar's Response to Religious Difference2015 •
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Religion
Tibetan Buddhism and the Gesar Epic2017 •
About Padmasambhava. Historical Narratives and Later Transformations of Guru Rinpoche
Published version: Geographical and Other Borders in the Symbolism of Padmasambhava2020 •
About Padmasambhava: Historical Narratives and Later Transformations of Guru Rinpoche
The Lotus-Born in Nepal: A Dunhuang Narrative and the Later Biographical Tradition2020 •
Gerke, Barbara. "The Buddhist-Medical Interface in Tibet: Black Pill Traditions in Transformation." Religions 10 (4): 282
The Buddhist-Medical Interface in Tibet: Black Pill Traditions in Transformation2019 •
Masterworks of Tibetan Painting Series 6. New York: Rubin Museum of Art
A Revolutionary Artist of Tibet: Khyentse Chenmo of Gongkar.pdf2016 •
Revue D'Etudes Tibétaines (RET)
Drakngak Lingpa's Pilgrimage Guides and the Progressive Opening of the Hidden Land of Pemakö2016 •
2019 •
Centre for Bhutan Studies
One Hundred Peaceful and Wrathful Deities: Observations on an Annual Ceremony by the Ngakpas of Rebkong2018 •
Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies
Different Kinds of Composition/Compilation Within the Dudjom Revelatory Tradition2015 •
Masters disseration, University of Sydney; see also Colonial Transformation and Asian Religions in Modern History, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK, pp. 152-169.
Coming Down the Mountain: Transformations of Contemplative Culture in Eastern TibetContemporary Visions in Tibetan Studies. Proceedings of the First International Seminar of Young Tibetologists, Brandon Doston et al. (eds). Chicago: Serindia Publications
’Phreng po gter ston Shes rab ’od zer (1518-1584) on the Eight Lineages of Attainment: Research on a Ris med Paradigm2009 •
2018 •
2010 •
Cathy Cantwell and Robert Mayer, 2013. Neither The Same Nor Different: the Bon Ka ba Nag po in Relation to Rnying ma Phur pa Texts. In: Scribes, Texts, and Rituals in Early Tibet and Dunhuang, eds. Dotson, Iwao, and Takeuchi. Reichert Verlag, Wiesbaden. 2013.
Neither The Same Nor Different: the Bon Ka ba Nag po in Relation to Rnying ma Phur pa TextsMasterworks of Tibetan Painting Series 4. New York: Rubin Museum of Art
The Place of Provenance: Regional Styles in Tibetan Painting.pdfHistory of Religions
Re/crowning the Jowo Śākyamuni: Texts, Photographs, and Memories2011 •
Gateways to Tibetan Studies. A Collection of Essays in Honour of David P. Jackson on the Occasion of his 70th Birthday. Indian and Tibetan Studies 12.1-2
Miscellanea Himalaica Thakali rhab, mi dpon bKra shis bzang po and Bam steng Tulku2021 •
Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism Volume II: Lives
gter ston: Tibetan Buddhist Treasure Revealers in: Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism Volume II: Lives2019 •
Masterworks of Tibetan Painting Series 1. New York: Rubin Museum of Art,
Patron and Painter: Situ Panchen and the Revival of the Encampment Style.pdf2009 •