Difference between revisions of "Keith Dowman"
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[[Keith Dowman]] is a [[Buddhist]] [[translator]] and [[teacher]] based in {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, [[Nepal]], where he has lived as a [[genyen]] for 25 years. His important translations from the [[Tibetan]] include [[Calm]] and Clear, The [[Divine]] Madman, Sky Dancer, [[Masters]] of [[Mahamudra]], The [[Flight of the Garuda]] and The [[Sacred]] [[Life]] of [[Tibet]] as well as [[Longchenpa]] texts. | [[Keith Dowman]] is a [[Buddhist]] [[translator]] and [[teacher]] based in {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, [[Nepal]], where he has lived as a [[genyen]] for 25 years. His important translations from the [[Tibetan]] include [[Calm]] and Clear, The [[Divine]] Madman, Sky Dancer, [[Masters]] of [[Mahamudra]], The [[Flight of the Garuda]] and The [[Sacred]] [[Life]] of [[Tibet]] as well as [[Longchenpa]] texts. | ||
| − | [[Keith Dowman]] has been practicing [[Tibetan Buddhism]] for more than thirty years, living among Newars, [[Tibetans]] and {{Wiki|Western}} [[Buddhists]] in [[India]], [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]]. A [[spiritual]] refugee from his native {{Wiki|England}} he travelled overland to [[India]] in 1966 where he explored [[Hindu]] [[religious]] practice in Banares, [[India]], for some years before encountering the refugee [[Tibetan]] [[Lamas]] in the [[sacred]] places of {{Wiki|Northern India}}. He then studied [[Tibetan language]] at the [[Tibetan]] Institute at [[Sanskrit]] {{Wiki|university}} Banares and took [[refuge]] with | + | [[Keith Dowman]] has been practicing [[Tibetan Buddhism]] for more than thirty years, living among Newars, [[Tibetans]] and {{Wiki|Western}} [[Buddhists]] in [[India]], [[Nepal]] and [[Tibet]]. A [[spiritual]] refugee from his native {{Wiki|England}} he travelled overland to [[India]] in 1966 where he explored [[Hindu]] [[religious]] practice in Banares, [[India]], for some years before encountering the refugee [[Tibetan]] [[Lamas]] in the [[sacred]] places of {{Wiki|Northern India}}. He then studied [[Tibetan language]] at the [[Tibetan]] Institute at [[Sanskrit]] {{Wiki|university}} Banares and took [[refuge]] with [[Tartang Tulku]] who taught there. He practised [[vipassana]] [[meditation]] with [[Munindraji]] in [[Bodh Gaya]] according to the [[Burmese]] method of [[Maharsi Sayadaw]] over three years but he found his [[Root Guru]] in [[Kanjur Rinpoche]] and [[Dudjom Rinpoche]] in {{Wiki|Darjeeling}} where he lived for some [[time]] and began to study and translate [[Nyingma texts]] with [[Tulku]] [[Pema Wangyel]] in [[Sarnath]]. |
| − | These years were a mixture of [[pilgrimage]], study and [[retreat]] and receiving [[teaching]] from the great [[Lamas]] then in {{Wiki|Northern India}}. In particular years he met HH the [[16th Karmapa]] and received [[initiation]] | + | These years were a mixture of [[pilgrimage]], study and [[retreat]] and receiving [[teaching]] from the great [[Lamas]] then in {{Wiki|Northern India}}. In particular years he met HH the [[16th Karmapa]] and received [[initiation]] authorization and instruction in the [[Milarepa]] [[tradition]] from him, extensive instruction from [[Lama]] [[Kalu Rinpoche]], [[Mahamudra]] instruction from [[Kamtrul Rinpoche]] in [[Tashi Jong]], Kangra Valley, and [[initiation]] and instruction from HH the [[Dalai Lama.]] He took lay [[ordination]] ([[Genyen]]) from [[Kanjur]] [[Rinpoche]] and [[initiation]] from [[Dudjom Rinpoche]], [[Jorta Lama]] and other [[Dzokchen]] [[masters]]. |
| − | In 1973 he visited the [[Nyingma]] Centre in {{Wiki|Berkeley}}, {{Wiki|California}}, and translated two [[meditation]] texts of [[Mipham Rinpoche]] under | + | In 1973 he visited the [[Nyingma]] Centre in {{Wiki|Berkeley}}, {{Wiki|California}}, and translated two [[meditation]] texts of [[Mipham Rinpoche]] under [[Tartang Tulku]] which were published as [[Calm]] and Clear and [[The Legend of the Great Stupa]]. In 1974 he moved to {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, [[Nepal]], and remained in [[retreat]] for two years. In [[Boudhanath]], {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, he began ten years of intensive translation of [[Tibetan texts]], particularly the {{Wiki|biography}} of [[Drukpa Kunley]] published as [[The Divine Madman]], {{Wiki|Legends}} of the [[Indian]] [[Mahasiddhas]] published as [[Masters of Mahamudra]] and the {{Wiki|biography}} of [[Guru Rinpoche's]] [[khandro]], [[Yeshe Tsogyel]], |
| − | published as Sky Dancer which he worked on with | + | published as [[Sky Dancer]] which he worked on with [[Choemphel Lama]] and [[Choegyel Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche]]. |
| − | At the [[Tersar]] wangs of [[Dudjom Rinpoche]] in [[Boudha]], {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, he met Chimme Rikdzin | + | At the [[Tersar]] wangs of [[Dudjom Rinpoche]] in [[Boudha]], {{Wiki|Kathmandu}}, he met [[Chimme Rikdzin Rinpoche]] and has maintained a close relationship with his [[lineage]] ever since. |
| − | The summers of the years 1985-88 he spent on [[pilgrimage]] in [[Tibet]] following the 19th century Central [[Tibetan]] [[pilgrimage]] route of [[Khyentse Wangpo]], documenting the destruction and the remnants of the great [[monastery]], hermitages and {{Wiki|cave}} sites. | + | The summers of the years 1985-88 he spent on [[pilgrimage]] in [[Tibet]] following the 19th century Central [[Tibetan]] [[pilgrimage]] route of [[Khyentse Wangpo]], documenting the destruction and the remnants of the great [[monastery]], hermitages and {{Wiki|cave}} sites. [[The Power-places of Central Tibet]]: [[The Pilgrim's Guide]], was the product of those journeys. He translated The [[Flight of the Garuda]] an important [[Dzokchen]] text of [[Shabkar Lama]] during these years published with other [[Dzokchen]] texts as [[The Flight Of the Garuda]]. |
Following a bout of serious {{Wiki|illness}}, in 1993 invited to {{Wiki|Switzerland}} he taught an introduction to [[vajrayana]] and thereafter he has taught [[Tibetan Buddhist]] topics and [[meditation]] [[retreats]] throughout the [[world]]. | Following a bout of serious {{Wiki|illness}}, in 1993 invited to {{Wiki|Switzerland}} he taught an introduction to [[vajrayana]] and thereafter he has taught [[Tibetan Buddhist]] topics and [[meditation]] [[retreats]] throughout the [[world]]. | ||
Revision as of 13:19, 2 January 2014
Keith Dowman is a Buddhist translator and teacher based in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he has lived as a genyen for 25 years. His important translations from the Tibetan include Calm and Clear, The Divine Madman, Sky Dancer, Masters of Mahamudra, The Flight of the Garuda and The Sacred Life of Tibet as well as Longchenpa texts.
Keith Dowman has been practicing Tibetan Buddhism for more than thirty years, living among Newars, Tibetans and Western Buddhists in India, Nepal and Tibet. A spiritual refugee from his native England he travelled overland to India in 1966 where he explored Hindu religious practice in Banares, India, for some years before encountering the refugee Tibetan Lamas in the sacred places of Northern India. He then studied Tibetan language at the Tibetan Institute at Sanskrit university Banares and took refuge with Tartang Tulku who taught there. He practised vipassana meditation with Munindraji in Bodh Gaya according to the Burmese method of Maharsi Sayadaw over three years but he found his Root Guru in Kanjur Rinpoche and Dudjom Rinpoche in Darjeeling where he lived for some time and began to study and translate Nyingma texts with Tulku Pema Wangyel in Sarnath.
These years were a mixture of pilgrimage, study and retreat and receiving teaching from the great Lamas then in Northern India. In particular years he met HH the 16th Karmapa and received initiation authorization and instruction in the Milarepa tradition from him, extensive instruction from Lama Kalu Rinpoche, Mahamudra instruction from Kamtrul Rinpoche in Tashi Jong, Kangra Valley, and initiation and instruction from HH the Dalai Lama. He took lay ordination (Genyen) from Kanjur Rinpoche and initiation from Dudjom Rinpoche, Jorta Lama and other Dzokchen masters.
In 1973 he visited the Nyingma Centre in Berkeley, California, and translated two meditation texts of Mipham Rinpoche under Tartang Tulku which were published as Calm and Clear and The Legend of the Great Stupa. In 1974 he moved to Kathmandu, Nepal, and remained in retreat for two years. In Boudhanath, Kathmandu, he began ten years of intensive translation of Tibetan texts, particularly the biography of Drukpa Kunley published as The Divine Madman, Legends of the Indian Mahasiddhas published as Masters of Mahamudra and the biography of Guru Rinpoche's khandro, Yeshe Tsogyel,
published as Sky Dancer which he worked on with Choemphel Lama and Choegyel Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche.
At the Tersar wangs of Dudjom Rinpoche in Boudha, Kathmandu, he met Chimme Rikdzin Rinpoche and has maintained a close relationship with his lineage ever since.
The summers of the years 1985-88 he spent on pilgrimage in Tibet following the 19th century Central Tibetan pilgrimage route of Khyentse Wangpo, documenting the destruction and the remnants of the great monastery, hermitages and cave sites. The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide, was the product of those journeys. He translated The Flight of the Garuda an important Dzokchen text of Shabkar Lama during these years published with other Dzokchen texts as The Flight Of the Garuda.
Following a bout of serious illness, in 1993 invited to Switzerland he taught an introduction to vajrayana and thereafter he has taught Tibetan Buddhist topics and meditation retreats throughout the world.
