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Materials of Buddhist Culture: Aesthetics and Cosmopolitanism at Mindroling Monastery
Materials of Buddhist Culture: Aesthetics and Cosmopolitanism at Mindroling Monastery Dominique Townsend Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2012 © 2012 Dominique Townsend All rights reserved ABSTRACT Materials of Buddhist Culture: Aesthetics and Cosmopolitanism at Mindroling Monastery Dominique Townsend This dissertation investigates the relationships between Buddhism and culture as exemplified at Mindroling Monastery. Focusing on the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, I argue that Mindroling was a seminal religio-cultural institution that played a key role in cultivating the ruling elite class during a critical moment of Tibet’s history. This analysis demonstrates that the connections between Buddhism and high culture have been salient throughout the history of Buddhism, rendering the project relevant to a broad range of fields within Asian Studies and the Study of Religion. As the first extensive Western-language study of Mindroling, this project employs an interdisciplinary methodology combining historical, sociological, cultural and religious studies, and makes use of diverse Tibetan sources. Mindroling was founded in 1676 with ties to Tibet’s nobility and the Fifth Dalai Lama’s newly centralized government. It was a center for elite education until the twentieth century, and in this regard it was comparable to a Western university where young members of the nobility spent two to four years training in the arts and sciences and being shaped for positions of authority. This comparison serves to highlight commonalities between distant and familiar educational models and undercuts the tendency to diminish Tibetan culture to an exoticized imagining of Buddhism as a purely ascetic, world renouncing tradition. -
SNOW LION PUBLI C'ltl Olss JANET BUDD 946 NOTTINGHAM DR
M 17 BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID ITHACA, NY 14851 Permit No. 746 SNOW LION PUBLI C'lTl OLsS JANET BUDD 946 NOTTINGHAM DR REDLANDS CA SNOW LION ORDER FROM OUR NEW TOLL FREE NUMBER NEWSLETTER & CATALOG 1-800-950-0313 SPRING 1992 SNOW LION PUBLICATIONS PO BOX 6483, ITHACA, NY 14851, (607)-273-8506 ISSN 1059-3691 VOLUME 7, NUMBER 2 Nyingma Transmission The Statement of His Holiness How 'The Cyclone' Came to the West the Dalai Lama on the Occasion by Mardie Junkins of the 33rd Anniversary of Once there lived a family in the practice were woven into their he danced on the rocks in an ex- village of Joephu, in the Palrong lives. If one of the children hap- plosion of radiant energy. Not sur- the Tibetan National Uprising valley of the Dhoshul region in pened to wake in the night, the prisingly, Tsa Sum Lingpa is Eastern Tibet. There was a father, father's continuous chanting could especially revered in the Dhoshul mother, two sisters, and two be heard. region of Tibet. As we commemorate today the brothers. Like many Tibetan fam- The valley was a magical place The oldest of the brothers was 33rd anniversary of the March ilies they were very devout. The fa- with a high mountain no one had nicknamed "The Cyclone" for his 10th Uprising in 1959,1 am more ther taught his children and the yet climbed and a high lake with enormous energy. He would run optimistic than ever before about children of the village the Bud- milky white water and yellow crys- up a nearby mountain to explore the future of Tibet. -
The Fourteenth Dalai Lama's Oral Teachings on the Source of The
The Fourteenth Dalai Lama’s Oral Teachings on the Source of the Kālacakratantra Ronit Yoeli-Tlalim1 Warburg Institute, School of Advanced Studies, University of London THIS PAPER WILL PRESENT some rhetorical and discursive elements in oral versions of the history of the Kālacakratantra as currently presented by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Focusing on the definition of the Kālacakra’s “word of the Buddha” (buddha vacana), the paper will show how the Fourteenth Dalai Lama constructs an innovative version in his teachings, manifesting the relations between the esoteric tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and its contemporary religious milieux as it is being defined in exile. These rela- tions are apparent both in the information that is being taught and in the argumentation that constructs it. DEFINING THE KĀLACAKRATANTRA AS BUDDHA VACANA The issue of the source of the Kālacakratantra, or in other words, defin- ing the Kālacakratantra as buddha vacana, is of prime importance, not only for the study of the Kālacakra itself, but for the study of tantra in general.2 From the esoteric perspective connection with the Buddha is significant, not simply as a quasi-historical element, but as an element of practice, one that establishes a direct link with the possibility of enlightenment. According to the prevailing version in the Kālacakra tradition, the Buddha Śākyamuni taught the Kālacakratantra to King Suchandra of Shambhala. According to the Kālacakra tradition, it was at this occasion that the Buddha taught all of the tantra-s. From a traditional hermeneutical perspective the source of the teaching is of prime importance as it defines the fourfold relationship of: original au- thor/original audience // current teacher/current audience. -
The Nine Yanas
The Nine Yanas By Cortland Dahl In the Nyingma school, the spiritual journey is framed as a progression through nine spiritual approaches, which are typically referred to as "vehicles" or "yanas." The first three yanas include the Buddha’s more accessible teachings, those of the Sutrayana, or Sutra Vehicle. The latter six vehicles contain the teachings of Buddhist tantra and are referred to as the Vajrayana, or Vajra Vehicle. Students of the Nyingma teachings practice these various approaches as a unity. Lower vehicles are not dispensed with in favor of supposedly “higher” teachings, but rather integrated into a more refined and holistic approach to spiritual development. Thus, core teachings like renunciation and compassion are equally important in all nine vehicles, though they may be expressed in more subtle ways. In the Foundational Vehicle, for instance, renunciation involves leaving behind “worldly” activities and taking up the life of a celibate monk or nun, while in the Great Perfection, renunciation means to leave behind all dualistic perception and contrived spiritual effort. Each vehicle contains three distinct components: view, meditation, and conduct. The view refers to a set of philosophical tenets espoused by a particular approach. On a more experiential level, the view prescribes how practitioners of a given vehicle should “see” reality and its relative manifestations. Meditation consists of the practical techniques that allow practitioners to integrate Buddhist principles with their own lives, thus providing a bridge between theory and experience, while conduct spells out the ethical guidelines of each system. The following sections outline the features of each approach. Keep in mind, however, that each vehicle is a world unto itself, with its own unique philosophical views, meditations, and ethical systems. -
THE RELIGIOUS and SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE of CHENREZIG in VAJRĀYANA BUDDHISM – a Study of Select Tibetan Thangkas
SSamaama HHaqaq National Museum Institute, of History of Art, Conservation and Museology, New Delhi THE RELIGIOUS AND SOCIAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CHENREZIG IN VAJRĀYANA BUDDHISM – A Study of Select Tibetan Thangkas INTRODUCTION he tradition of thangkas has earned itself the merit of pioneering Tibetan art in the 21st century. The purpose behind the effulgent images Tis not to simply lure worshippers with their exuberant colours and designs; it also follows an intricate system of iconometric and iconologic principles in order to beseech the benefaction of a particular deity. As a result, a thangka is worshipped as a didactic ‘visual aid’ for Tibetan Buddhist reli- gious practices. Tracing the origin of the artistic and socio-cultural practices behind a thangka recreates a texture of Central Asian and Indian influences. The origin of ceremonial banners used all across Central Asia depicts a similar practice and philosophy. Yet, a close affinity can also be traced to the Indian art of paṭa painting, which was still prevalent around the eastern province of India around the Pala period.1) This present paper discusses the tradition of thangka painting as a medium for visualisation and a means to meditate upon the principal deity. The word thangka is a compound of two words – than, which is a flat surface and gka, which means a painting. Thus, a thangka represents a painting on a flat sur- 1) Tucci (1999: 271) “Pata, maṇḍala and painted representation of the lives of the saints, for the use of storytellers and of guides to holy places, are the threefold origin of Tibetan tankas”. -
And Daemonic Buddhism in India and Tibet
Florida State University Libraries Electronic Theses, Treatises and Dissertations The Graduate School 2012 The Raven and the Serpent: "The Great All- Pervading R#hula" Daemonic Buddhism in India and Tibet Cameron Bailey Follow this and additional works at the FSU Digital Library. For more information, please contact [email protected] THE FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES THE RAVEN AND THE SERPENT: “THE GREAT ALL-PERVADING RHULA” AND DMONIC BUDDHISM IN INDIA AND TIBET By CAMERON BAILEY A Thesis submitted to the Department of Religion in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Religion Degree Awarded: Spring Semester, 2012 Cameron Bailey defended this thesis on April 2, 2012. The members of the supervisory committee were: Bryan Cuevas Professor Directing Thesis Jimmy Yu Committee Member Kathleen Erndl Committee Member The Graduate School has verified and approved the above-named committee members, and certifies that the thesis has been approved in accordance with university requirements. ii For my parents iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank, first and foremost, my adviser Dr. Bryan Cuevas who has guided me through the process of writing this thesis, and introduced me to most of the sources used in it. My growth as a scholar is almost entirely due to his influence. I would also like to thank Dr. Jimmy Yu, Dr. Kathleen Erndl, and Dr. Joseph Hellweg. If there is anything worthwhile in this work, it is undoubtedly due to their instruction. I also wish to thank my former undergraduate advisor at Indiana University, Dr. Richard Nance, who inspired me to become a scholar of Buddhism. -
OLD FLORIDA BOOK SHOP, INC. Rare Books, Antique Maps and Vintage Magazines Since 1978
William Chrisant & Sons' OLD FLORIDA BOOK SHOP, INC. Rare books, antique maps and vintage magazines since 1978. FABA, ABAA & ILAB Facebook | Twitter | Instagram oldfloridabookshop.com Catalogue of Sanskrit & related studies, primarily from the estate of Columbia & U. Pennsylvania Professor Royal W. Weiler. Please direct inquiries to [email protected] We accept major credit cards, checks and wire transfers*. Institutions billed upon request. We ship and insure all items through USPS Priority Mail. Postage varies by weight with a $10 threshold. William Chrisant & Sons' Old Florida Book Shop, Inc. Bank of America domestic wire routing number: 026 009 593 to account: 8981 0117 0656 International (SWIFT): BofAUS3N to account 8981 0117 0656 1. Travels from India to England Comprehending a Visit to the Burman Empire and Journey through Persia, Asia Minor, European Turkey, &c. James Edward Alexander. London: Parbury, Allen, and Co., 1827. 1st Edition. xv, [2], 301 pp. Wide margins; 2 maps; 14 lithographic plates 5 of which are hand-colored. Late nineteenth century rebacking in matching mauve morocco with wide cloth to gutters & gouge to front cover. Marbled edges and endpapers. A handsome copy in a sturdy binding. Bound without half title & errata. 4to (8.75 x 10.8 inches). 3168. $1,650.00 2. L'Inde. Maurice Percheron et M.-R. Percheron Teston. Paris: Fernand Nathan, 1947. 160 pp. Half red morocco over grey marbled paper. Gilt particulars to spine; gilt decorations and pronounced raised bands to spine. Decorative endpapers. Two stamps to rear pastedown, otherwise, a nice clean copy without further markings. 8vo. 3717. $60.00 3. -
WHY HOLY OBJECTS ARE PRECIOUS and WISH-FULFILLING by Lama Zopa Rinpoche Very Time You Look at Holy Objects – Pictures of the Destroy the World
HOLY OBJECTS and the lotus seat on which Tara sits, but the fine detailed procession all around Kopan Hill. I remember that Lama painting of Tara’s facial features, especially her eyes, was was wearing a ceremonial crown of the five dhyani done by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche was truly able to buddhas. We stopped at various points to chant and make bring Tara alive when he “opened the eyes” of the statue. prayers. Lama explained to everyone that we were showing This was the last step before the actual consecration, during Tara around her new home. Then she was placed in her which Tara was invited to come and reside in the statue. house in front of the gompa. I always thought of her as Connie remembers the consecration: “Two monks watching over and protecting Kopan from there.” And she carrying Tara on their shoulders led everyone in a joyous still does to this day. ama Zopa Rinpoche and Lama Yeshe are pictured here at Borobudur LStupa, Java, Indonesia, in 1979. Peter Kedge remembers the details of this visit to one of the world’s greatest Buddhist pilgrimage sites, dating back to 800 CE. “It was blisteringly hot the day we were there, humid and absolutely the worst conditions for Lama [Lama Yeshe had a heart condition that was especially aggravated by the heat]. But he insisted on circumam - bulating the shrine several times, while prostrating. Rinpoche joined him, but I couldn’t keep up at all and went off and found some shade.” WHY HOLY OBJECTS ARE PRECIOUS AND WISH-FULFILLING By Lama Zopa Rinpoche very time you look at holy objects – pictures of the destroy the world. -
Sita Locked out a Telugu Women’S Song of Sita V
Sita Locked Out A Telugu Women’s Song of Sita V. Narayana Rao She is born of Earth and raised by a belt of gold with bells on it, Rama says, Janaka. bracelets with sapphires inlaid, “If you lose sleep, what do I care! She serves her in-laws with devotion. and a necklace of precious stones. The lamp standing here keeps me Her loving husband calls her, but she She brushes kohl along her lashes company. does not come. and looks at herself in the life-size If you stand out there, what do I care! Flowers in his hair, perfume on his mirror. Flowers and bukka scents keep me body, her husband is in a joyous mood. Pleased with herself, the woman smiles. company. Looking for her, he waits and waits. She eats her dinner – If you stand out there, what do I He is impatient at the time she takes. five different courses, sweets and all – care! “Why doesn’t she come, what is taking then washes her hands. Sandal and musk keep me company. her so long?” She covers herself in a golden shawl, If you stand out there, what do I The solar hero1 is upset with her. takes water to drink in a jug of gold; care! He closes the door and bolts it. betel leaves, areca nuts, perfumes, The mattress and pillows keep me “You and your chores, Daughter of sandal paste, jasmine water, company.” Earth! fruits and snacks on a platter of gold. Upset at Rama’s words, Sita quickly You have grown too proud,” he says She wears jasmine and jaji flowers in runs to her mother-in-law’s house. -
Journal of Indian History and Culture JOURNAL of INDIAN HISTORY and CULTURE
Journal of Indian History and Culture JOURNAL OF INDIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE December 2015 Twenty First Issue C.P. RAMASWAMI AIYAR INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGICAL RESEARCH (affiliated to the University of Madras) The C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation 1 Eldams Road, Chennai 600 018, INDIA December 2015, Twenty First Issue 1 Journal of Indian History and Culture Editor : Dr.G.J. Sudhakar Board of Editors Dr. K.V.Raman Dr. Nanditha Krishna Referees Dr. A. Chandrsekharan Dr. V. Balambal Dr. S. Vasanthi Dr. Chitra Madhavan Dr. G. Chandhrika Published by Dr. Nanditha Krishna C.P.Ramaswami Aiyar Institute of Indological Research The C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation 1 Eldams Road Chennai 600 018 Tel : 2434 1778 / 2435 9366 Fax : 91-44-24351022 E-Mail: [email protected] / [email protected] Website: www.cprfoundation.org Sub editing by : Mr. Rudra Krishna & Mr. Narayan Onkar Layout Design : Mrs.T. PichuLakshmi Subscription Rs. 150/- (for 1 issue) Rs. 290/- (for 2 issues) 2 December 2015, Twenty First Issue Journal of Indian History and Culture CONTENTS 1 The Conflict Between Vedic Aryans And Iranians 09 by Dr. Koenraad Elst 2 Some Kushana Images of Karttikeya from Mathura 39 by Dr. V. Sandhiyalakshmi 3 Para Vasudeva Narayana 43 by Dr. G. Balaji 4 Pallava-Kadamba Interlude in Kerala: An Epigraphical Study 50 by Dhiraj, M.S. 5 Temple Managerial Groups in Early Keralam 69 by Anna Varghese 6 Irrigation and Water Supply During the Kakatiya Period 86 by Dr. D. Mercy Ratna Rani 7 Traditional Health Care in Ancient India with Reference to Karnataka 101 by Dr. -
Notes and Topics: Three Divine Bodies: Tri-Kaya
TIlREE DIVINE BODIES: TRI-KAYA -Prof. P.G.yogi. The universal essence manifests itself in three aspects or modes as symbolized by the three Divine Bodies (Sanskrit-Trikaya). The first aspect, the Dharmakaya or the Essential (or True) Body is the primordial, unmodified, formless, eternally self existing and essentially of Bodhi or divine beingness. The second aspect is the Sambhogakaya or the Reflected Body wherein dweU the Buddhas of meditation (Skt. Dhyana-Buddhas) and other enlightened beings of super human form The third aspect is the Nirmanakaya or the Body of Incarnation or the human form in which state Buddha was born on earth. In the chinese interpretation of the Tri-kaya, the Dharmakaya is the immutable Buddha essence and noumenal source of the cosmic whole. The Sambhogakaya is the phe nomenal appearances and the first reflex of the Dharmakaya on the heavenly planes. In the Nirmanakaya, the Buddha essence is associated with activity on the Earth plane and it incarnates among men as suggested by the Gnostic poem in the Gospel of St.John which refers to the cOming of the word and the mind through human body. See herein book II, p. 217). In its totality, the universal essence is the one mind, manjfested through the myriads of minds in all the states of Sangsaric existence. It is called 'the essence of the Buddha', 'the great symbol', 'the sole seed' 'the potentiality of truth', and 'the all-foundation' as the text states that it is the source of all the bliss of Nirvana and all the sorrow of Sangsara. -
The Civilization of India
'CORNIA, SAN DIEGO usaJH iliii DS 436 D97 HB In SUM^ Hill HI I A ——^— c SS33 1II1& A inos ^ (J REGIO 1 8 MAL 8 I ' 8Bi|LIBRARY 8 ===== 5 ^H •''"'''. F 1 ^^^? > jH / I•' / 6 3 mm^ LIBRARY "*'**••* OK SAN 0fO3O N F CAL,F0RNI in JmNiln 1 M, . * san 3 1822 00059 8219 Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/civilizationofinOOdutt HE TEMPLE PRIMERS THE CIVILIZATION OF INDIA By ROMESH C. DUTT, CLE. A. : » "";. : ;-. ' 1 - fejlSP^^*^-:'H-' : .;.Jlffsil if? W?*^m^^lmSmJpBSS^S I^~lmi ~5%^M'J&iff*^^ ygjBfB^ THE GREAT TEMPLE OF BHUVANESWARA CIVILIZATIOn OF.IHDIA I900& 29 &30 BEDFORD-STREET* LQNDOM All rights reserved CONTENTS PAGE I. VEDIC AGE (2000 TO I4OO B.C.) I II. EPIC AGE (14OO TO 80O B.C.) l 5 III. AGE OF LAWS AND PHILOSOPHY (80O TO 3 I 5 B.C. 2 5 IV. RISE OF BUDDHISM (522 B.C.) 36 V. BUDDHIST AGE (3 I 5 B.C. TO A.D. 500) . 49 VI. PURANIC AGE (a.D. 5OO TO 800) . 65 VII. AGE OF RAJPUT ASCENDENCY (a.D. 800 TO 1200 79 VIII. AGE OF THE AFGHAN RULE (a.D. 1206 TO I 526 89 IX. CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE UNDER THE AFGHA1 RULE ...... 99 X. AGE OF THE MOGHAL RULE (a.D. I 526 TO I707 106 XI. CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE UNDER THE MOGHAL RULE ....... 116 XII. AGE OF MAHRATTA ASCENDENCY (a.D. 1 7 1 8 TO l8l8) 132 Index 144 ' LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS PAGE Asoka's Pillar 54 Chaitya or Church at Karli Chaitya or Church at Ajanta .