DOCSLIB.ORG

Female Conversion Experiences in Contemporary

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Female Conversion Experiences in Contemporary STORIES, SYMBOLS, AND SELVES: FEMALE CONVERSION EXPERIENCES IN CONTEMPORARY TIBETAN BUDDHIST MONASTICISM A Thesis Submitted to the College of Graduate Studies and Research In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctorate In the Department of Psychology University of Saskatchewan Saskatoon By RAISSA GRAUMANS Copyright Raissa Graumans, November, 2016. All rights reserved. PERMISSION TO USE In presenting this thesis/dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Postgraduate degree from the University of Saskatchewan, I agree that the Libraries of this University may make it freely available for inspection. I further agree that permission for copying of this thesis/dissertation in any manner, in whole or in part, for scholarly purposes may be granted by the professor or professors who supervised my thesis/dissertation work or, in their absence, by the Head of the Department or the Dean of the College in which my thesis work was done. It is understood that any copying or publication or use of this thesis/dissertation or parts thereof for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. It is also understood that due recognition shall be given to me and to the University of Saskatchewan in any scholarly use which may be made of any material in my thesis/dissertation. DISCLAIMER This document was exclusively created to meet the thesis and/or exhibition requirements for the degree of Doctorate at the University of Saskatchewan. Reference in this thesis/dissertation to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the University of Saskatchewan. The views and opinions of the author expressed herein do not state or reflect those of the University of Saskatchewan, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Requests for permission to copy or to make other uses of materials in this thesis/dissertation in whole or part should be addressed to: Dean College of Graduate Studies and Research University of Saskatchewan 107 Administration Place Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5A2 Canada ii ABSTRACT This research traces the experiences of sixteen persons as they go from modern lay women to Buddhist converts to Buddhist nuns, ending with their adjustments to the institutional world of Tibetan Buddhism. Situated in the social science field of cultural psychology, this study adopts a critical phenomenological approach to describing and interpreting the experiences, narratives and field observations of this diverse group of nuns. Representing nine different countries (Korea (4), Australia (4), Indonesia (2), Denmark (1), Germany (1), Holland (1), Southern Europe (1), United States (1), Venezuela (1)), these sixteen nuns were recruited during a five month period at Thosamling nunnery, in Sidhpur, India, in 2011. In tracing the narrative, symbolic, and identity- based elements of their experiences, the author shows that the changes undergone by these women are emplotted as three separate phases: conversion, ordination, and post-ordination adjustment, defined by distinct social, symbolic, and personal experiences, and marked by diverse thresholds of transition and transformation. Prior to their conversions these women were embedded in modern secular societies where they felt dissatisfied and disconnected. Their progressive involvement with Buddhism moves them away from those mundane worlds, and ordination enmeshes them fully into a sacred and enchanted lifeworld. Their adoption and application of Buddhist concepts, symbols, and discourses help to unify their private and public selves, imbuing them with greater meaning, purpose and authenticity. The author argues that conversion and ordination are not passive processes, uniformly experienced and resulting in consistent positions and personas. Instead, when the women in this study become Buddhist nuns they do so for reasons and in ways that are both shared and unique and which reflect agentic engagement and innovative appropriation. In occupying distinct positions along a continuum from the center to the periphery of the Tibetan Buddhism, these nuns’ postures and positions inform ideological and utopian visions that intersect with forces within the Tibetan Buddhist world to create a spiral of growth and change that enables both Tibetan Buddhism itself and its female convert nuns to continue along paths of transformation and adaptation. Key findings are brought into dialogue with relevant areas of the literature (Buddhism and psychology, contemporary Buddhism, women in Buddhism, and religious conversion) and suggestions regarding future avenues of research are also included. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am deeply indebted to the nuns whose words and lives fill these pages. Their willingness to share their thoughts, feelings and stories has enabled a rich portrait of contemporary Buddhist monastic experience to emerge, and many lasting friendships to develop. A second crucial contributor to this work is my supervisor Michel Desjardins. His fearless creativity and playful wisdom will always and forever be a source of inspiration. Your mentorship in the academic and ‘real’ world have eased my passage along the winding path of this nearly decade long adventure. Merci. I am eternally grateful to my family, whose love, support, and distraction have kept me sane and brought balance and joy to this process. The fabulous women in my research lab are likewise owed many thanks for their support, encouragement, inspiration, and commiseration. Your laughter and lightness have solidified lifelong friendships and I very much appreciate each one of you. Finally, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of my committee members. Your thoughtful advice has greatly improved this work and I am thankful for your keen insights as well as your patience and support. iv DEDICATIONS This work is dedicated to the founder and head of Thosamling Nunnery and Institute. Without your vision, courage, and tireless dedication the fascinating and magical place of Thosamling would not be. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PERMISSION TO USE ................................................................................................................................ ii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... iv DEDICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................ v TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................................................. vi LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... ix PART I: INTRODUCTIONS 1. Introductions ........................................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Literature Review .............................................................................................................................. 12 1.2. Research Approach .......................................................................................................................... 33 1.4. Thosamling: The Research Site and Participants ............................................................................. 45 1.5. Dissertation Structure ....................................................................................................................... 51 PART II: THE TRANSFORMATIVE PATH CONVERSION 2. Conversion: Becoming Buddhist ............................................................................................................ 52 2.1. Todorov’s Syntactic Analytic Model ............................................................................................... 53 2.2. Prototypical Plot #1: The Language of Loss .................................................................................... 54 2.3. Prototypical Plot #2: The Language of Distress .............................................................................. 59 2.4 Prototypical Plot #3: The Language of Investigation ....................................................................... 61 2.5. Prototypical Plot #4: The Language of Choice ................................................................................ 63 2.6. Interpreting the Immediate Causal Order of the Prototypical Plot-Forms ....................................... 66 2.7. Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 67 3. Following ‘The Path’: Discursive Appropriation and Symbolic Reversal ............................................. 69 in the Conversion Phase .............................................................................................................................. 69 3.1. Revelatory Turning Points ............................................................................................................... 69 3.2. Analyzing the Discursive Turning Points in the Women's Narratives of Conversion ..................... 72 3.3. ‘The Path’: Discursive Appropriation
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Buddhism in America
    Buddhism in America The Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series Columbia Contemporary American Religion Series The United States is the birthplace of religious pluralism, and the spiritual landscape of contemporary America is as varied and complex as that of any country in the world. The books in this new series, written by leading scholars for students and general readers alike, fall into two categories: some of these well-crafted, thought-provoking portraits of the country’s major religious groups describe and explain particular religious practices and rituals, beliefs, and major challenges facing a given community today. Others explore current themes and topics in American religion that cut across denominational lines. The texts are supplemented with care- fully selected photographs and artwork, annotated bibliographies, con- cise profiles of important individuals, and chronologies of major events. — Roman Catholicism in America Islam in America . B UDDHISM in America Richard Hughes Seager C C Publishers Since New York Chichester, West Sussex Copyright © Columbia University Press All rights reserved Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Seager, Richard Hughes. Buddhism in America / Richard Hughes Seager. p. cm. — (Columbia contemporary American religion series) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN ‒‒‒ — ISBN ‒‒‒ (pbk.) . Buddhism—United States. I. Title. II. Series. BQ.S .'—dc – Casebound editions of Columbia University Press books are printed on permanent and durable acid-free paper.
    [Show full text]
  • Mt. Kailash Pilgrimage Kora Grand Tour
    MT. KAILASH PILGRIMAGE KORA GRAND TOUR Tashi delek! Tibetan Guide Travel Tours is a small travel agency based in Lhasa. We always work hard and take responsible for our clients by using local services as much as possible. Of course we use Tibetan drivers and tour guides. Who are experienced, have rich knowledge about Tibetan culture and also excellent attitude. We are confident that you would not be disappointed if you choose our services letting us show you our mother land. Proposed itinerary Day 1: Lhasa arrival [3650m] Upon arrival in Lhasa you will be welcomed by your English-speaking Tibetan Guide and Tibetan Driver who will bring you to your hotel. Acclimatization to high altitude: please, drink lots of water and take plenty of rest in order to minimize altitude sickness. Overnight at Shambhala Palace or House of Shambhala Hotel, which are a Tibetan style hotel located in Lhasa city center (Barkhor) Day 2: Lhasa sightseeing We begin visiting Ramoche Temple, built in honor of the image of Jowo Rinpoche that Chinese princess Wencheng brought by marrying Songtsen Gampo, the first king of Buddhist doctrine and who unified the Tibetan empire in the 7th century. Thereafter, we continue with Jokhang Temple, the most sacred monastery in Tibet. It was also founded in the 7th century by Songtsen Gampo. Later you can explore the surrounding Barkhor old quarter and spend time walking around Jokhang Temple following pilgrims from all over the Tibetan plateau. In the afternoon we go to Sera Monastery, one of three great universities of Gelugpa Sect. We will attend the debating session of the monks.
    [Show full text]
  • Mahayana Buddhism: the Doctrinal Foundations, Second Edition
    9780203428474_4_001.qxd 16/6/08 11:55 AM Page 1 1 Introduction Buddhism: doctrinal diversity and (relative) moral unity There is a Tibetan saying that just as every valley has its own language so every teacher has his own doctrine. This is an exaggeration on both counts, but it does indicate the diversity to be found within Buddhism and the important role of a teacher in mediating a received tradition and adapting it to the needs, the personal transformation, of the pupil. This divers- ity prevents, or strongly hinders, generalization about Buddhism as a whole. Nevertheless it is a diversity which Mahayana Buddhists have rather gloried in, seen not as a scandal but as something to be proud of, indicating a richness and multifaceted ability to aid the spiritual quest of all sentient, and not just human, beings. It is important to emphasize this lack of unanimity at the outset. We are dealing with a religion with some 2,500 years of doctrinal development in an environment where scho- lastic precision and subtlety was at a premium. There are no Buddhist popes, no creeds, and, although there were councils in the early years, no attempts to impose uniformity of doctrine over the entire monastic, let alone lay, establishment. Buddhism spread widely across Central, South, South-East, and East Asia. It played an important role in aiding the cultural and spiritual development of nomads and tribesmen, but it also encountered peoples already very culturally and spiritually developed, most notably those of China, where it interacted with the indigenous civilization, modifying its doctrine and behaviour in the process.
    [Show full text]
  • Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticisms'
    H-Buddhism Ohnuma on Clarke, 'Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticisms' Review published on Thursday, September 18, 2014 Shayne Neil Clarke. Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticisms. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2014. xiii + 275 pp. $52.00 (cloth), ISBN 978-0-8248-3647-4. Reviewed by Reiko Ohnuma (Dartmouth University) Published on H-Buddhism (September, 2014) Commissioned by Daniel A. Arnold In recent decades—thanks in large part to the voluminous and influential work of Gregory Schopen—scholarship in South Asian Buddhist studies has paid more and more attention to the social history of Indian Buddhism, or Buddhism as lived and practiced “on the ground” in India.[1] Shayne Clarke’s cleverly titled Family Matters in Indian Buddhist Monasticisms—a substantially revised version of his 2006 PhD dissertation (written under Schopen’s supervision)[2]—makes a major contribution to this trend and establishes definitively that family did indeed matter, far more than has previously been supposed, to Buddhist monks and nuns in premodern India. Exemplifying the meticulous, multilingual scholarship, the careful argumentation, and the copious footnotes of his mentor, Clarke marshals an impressive body of evidence from all six complete texts of the vinaya[3] (with some support provided by epigraphical evidence), to argue that the common scholarly perception of the Buddhist monk or nun as one who has severed all familial ties is simply “not supported by the preponderance of our premodern evidence” (p. 3). In chapter 1, “The Rhinoceros in the Room: Monks and Nuns and Their Families,” Clarke first demonstrates the pervasiveness of the common scholarly misperception of an anti-familial monastic through a brief review of early, later, and contemporary scholarly sources.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020-Commencement-Program.Pdf
    One Hundred and Sixty-Second Annual Commencement JUNE 19, 2020 One Hundred and Sixty-Second Annual Commencement 11 A.M. CDT, FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 2020 2982_STUDAFF_CommencementProgram_2020_FRONT.indd 1 6/12/20 12:14 PM UNIVERSITY SEAL AND MOTTO Soon after Northwestern University was founded, its Board of Trustees adopted an official corporate seal. This seal, approved on June 26, 1856, consisted of an open book surrounded by rays of light and circled by the words North western University, Evanston, Illinois. Thirty years later Daniel Bonbright, professor of Latin and a member of Northwestern’s original faculty, redesigned the seal, Whatsoever things are true, retaining the book and light rays and adding two quotations. whatsoever things are honest, On the pages of the open book he placed a Greek quotation from the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 14, translating to The Word . whatsoever things are just, full of grace and truth. Circling the book are the first three whatsoever things are pure, words, in Latin, of the University motto: Quaecumque sunt vera whatsoever things are lovely, (What soever things are true). The outer border of the seal carries the name of the University and the date of its founding. This seal, whatsoever things are of good report; which remains Northwestern’s official signature, was approved by if there be any virtue, the Board of Trustees on December 5, 1890. and if there be any praise, The full text of the University motto, adopted on June 17, 1890, is think on these things. from the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Philippians, chapter 4, verse 8 (King James Version).
    [Show full text]
  • THE GROUND BENEATH HIS FEET an Artist's Sacred Sojourn In
    THE GROUND BENEATH HIS FEET An Artist’s Sacred Sojourn in Western Tibet Modern life has made us busy every waking hour. The pervasive running out of time has become a sport befitting the strongest of urbanites. Success is measured by the ability to stay on top and we find purpose for our daily existence in the order and accumulation of things, which make us too preoccupied and anxious in the first place1. Then all of a sudden some tragic event with irreversible consequences turns everything on its head and shakes up the security of this hard‐earned status quo at its foundation. The void left in the aftermath creates an opening for a new vision to emerge in the mind’s awareness. It is often a desire for a more peaceful and spiritually focused way of being. The thought of this newfound horizon becomes so overwhelmingly vivid, and the urge to reach it so profound, that one takes in stride to make it a reality—above all else. Such a seismic shift catapulted Arthur Liou in search of something greater than life—he became a pilgrim on a quest. The vision to embark on an epic spiritual and creative journey into the Himalayan Mountains was triggered by the mysterious voice of a Tibetan singer heard in a bookstore in Taiwan. The soulfulness of her voice resonated deeply within his grieving heart, sparking an inner inkling for the distant land it came from. Not long after, a Buddhist monk friend showed him a photograph of Mount Kailash: the image looked astonishingly familiar to him despite having never been to this remote part of the world.
    [Show full text]
  • Groundwork Buddhist Studies Reader
    ...thus we have heard... (may be reproduced free forever) Buddhist Studies Reader Published by: Groundwork Education www.layinggroundwork.org Compiled & Edited by Jeff Wagner Second Edition, May 2018 This work is comprised of articles and excerpts from numerous sources. Groundwork and the editors do not own the material, claim copyright or rights to this material, unless written by one of the editors. This work is distributed as a compilation of educational materials for the sole use as non-commercial educational material for educators. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. You are free to edit and share this work in non-commercial ways. Any published derivative works must credit the original creator and maintain this same Creative Commons license. Please notify us of any derivative works or edits. "53 Wearing the broad-brimmed hat of the west, symbolic of the forces that guard the Buddhist Studies Reader wilderness, which is the Natural State of the Dharma and the true path of man on Earth: Published by Groundwork Education, compiled & edited by Jeff Wagner all true paths lead through mountains-- The Practice of Mindfulness by Thích Nhất Hạnh ..................................................1 With a halo of smoke and flame behind, the forest fires of the kali-yuga, fires caused by Like a Leaf, We Have Many Stems by Thích Nhất Hạnh ........................................4 the stupidity of those who think things can be gained and lost whereas in truth all is Mindfulness
    [Show full text]
  • In the Stream of Blessings: Ordained Buddhist Women in Britain
    In the Stream of Blessings: Ordained Buddhist Women in Britain Caroline Starkey Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The University of Leeds School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science December 2014 2 The candidate confirms that the work submitted is her own and that appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. This copy has been supplied on the understanding that it is copyright material and that no quotation from the thesis may be published without proper acknowledgement ©2014 The University of Leeds and Caroline Starkey The right of Caroline Starkey to be identified as Author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. 3 Acknowledgements This thesis would not have been possible without the support, guidance, and advice of a number of people and institutions. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to the Arts and Humanities Research Council, the University of Leeds, and to the Spalding Trust, each of whom provided vital funding. The School of Philosophy, Religion, and History of Science at the University of Leeds was extremely supportive, providing me with space to work, funding for conferences, and a collegiate atmosphere. A very special and truly heartfelt thank you is due to both of my academic supervisors – Professor Kim Knott and Dr Emma Tomalin. I am grateful for their attention to detail, their thought-provoking questions, and the concern that they showed both for my research and for me as a researcher.
    [Show full text]
  • The Resistance of the Monks RIGHTS Buddhism and Activism in Burma WATCH
    Burma HUMAN The Resistance of the Monks RIGHTS Buddhism and Activism in Burma WATCH The Resistance of the Monks Buddhism and Activism in Burma Copyright © 2009 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 1-56432-544-X Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor New York, NY 10118-3299 USA Tel: +1 212 290 4700, Fax: +1 212 736 1300 [email protected] Poststraße 4-5 10178 Berlin, Germany Tel: +49 30 2593 06-10, Fax: +49 30 2593 0629 [email protected] Avenue des Gaulois, 7 1040 Brussels, Belgium Tel: + 32 (2) 732 2009, Fax: + 32 (2) 732 0471 [email protected] 64-66 Rue de Lausanne 1202 Geneva, Switzerland Tel: +41 22 738 0481, Fax: +41 22 738 1791 [email protected] 2-12 Pentonville Road, 2nd Floor London N1 9HF, UK Tel: +44 20 7713 1995, Fax: +44 20 7713 1800 [email protected] 27 Rue de Lisbonne 75008 Paris, France Tel: +33 (1)43 59 55 35, Fax: +33 (1) 43 59 55 22 [email protected] 1630 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Suite 500 Washington, DC 20009 USA Tel: +1 202 612 4321, Fax: +1 202 612 4333 [email protected] Web Site Address: http://www.hrw.org September 2009 1-56432-544-X The Resistance of the Monks Buddhism and Activism in Burma I. Summary and Key Recommendations....................................................................................... 1 Methodology ....................................................................................................................... 26 II. Burma: A Long Tradition of Buddhist Activism ....................................................................... 27 Buddhism in Independent Burma During the Parliamentary Period ...................................... 33 Buddhism and the State After the 1962 Military Takeover ...................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Curriculum Vitae
    Candidate for the Standing Committee Name Gabriela FREY Countries Germany, France Contact [email protected] Mobile 0033 609 77 29 85 Age born in 1962 Languages German, French, English, (Tibetan) • 2008 - Introducing the participatory status for the EBU and attending the Council sessions as official representative since then. of Europe • Contributing 4 years in the Human Rights Committee and the report on Human Rights & Religion. Conference • Participating regularly in the CM-Exchanges on the religious dimension of of INGOs intercultural dialogue until 2017. • Joining the GPPP working group (Gender Perspectives in Political Processes). • Co-Organising a side Event in the CoE: are Religions a place for emancipation for women? Progress and setbacks (2016) • Participating in the WG democratic decision making processes, concerning the school project “Religious education for all” in Hamburg • Since 2019 coordinator of the WG Intercultural Cities (Education Committee), aimed to research & report on "Reducing anxiety and exclusion through developing emotional balance and communication skills". • From 1988 until 2017 assistant to several German MEPs (i.a. in the areas European of transport, tourism, regional affairs, development, budget, foreign affairs) Parliament • Head of the Strasbourg office, organising, managing & supervising official visitor groups, delegation trips, industry panels, journalist campaigns, etc. • 16 years Secretary of the E.P.’s Tibet Intergroup (TIG), coordination monthly meetings and activities with relevant NGOs and specialists, organising exhibitions & charity sales. Coordinating visits of the Dalai Lama to Strasbourg and Brussels. Organising 4 delegations journeys of the TIG to Dharamsala (India) for exchanges with the Tibetan government in exile. • 2019 First guest speaker on Buddhism in Europe in the Interreligious Dialogue Unit of the EPP Group.
    [Show full text]
  • Dharma Kings and Flying Women: Buddhist
    DHARMA KINGS AND FLYING WOMEN: BUDDHIST EPISTEMOLOGIES IN EARLY TWENTIETH-CENTURY INDIAN AND BRITISH WRITING by CYNTHIA BETH DRAKE B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1984 M.A.T., Oregon State University, 1992 M.A. Georgetown University, 1999 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of English 2017 This thesis entitled: Dharma Kings and Flying Women: Buddhist Epistemologies in Early Twentieth-Century Indian and British Writing written by Cynthia Beth Drake has been approved for the Department of English ________________________________________ Dr. Laura Winkiel __________________________________________ Dr. Janice Ho Date ________________ The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. Drake, Cynthia Beth (Ph.D., English) Dharma Kings and Flying Women: Buddhist Epistemologies in Early Twentieth-Century Indian and British Writing Thesis directed by Associate Professor Laura Winkiel The British fascination with Buddhism and India’s Buddhist roots gave birth to an epistemological framework combining non-dual awareness, compassion, and liberational praxis in early twentieth-century Indian and British writing. Four writers—E.M. Forster, Jiddu Krishnamurti, Lama Yongden, and P.L. Travers—chart a transnational cartography that mark points of location in the flow and emergence of this epistemological framework. To Forster, non- duality is a terrifying rupture and an echo of not merely gross mismanagement, but gross misunderstanding by the British of India and its spiritual legacy.
    [Show full text]
  • Endangered Oral Tradition in Zanskar Valley
    Stanzin Dazang Namgail ENDANGERED ORAL TRADITION IN ZANSKAR VALLEY MA Thesis in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Central European University Budapest May 2019 CEU eTD Collection ENDANGERED ORAL TRADITION IN ZANSKAR VALLEY by Stanzin Dazang Namgail (India) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ Chair, Examination Committee ____________________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________________ Examiner ____________________________________________ Examiner CEU eTD Collection Budapest May 2019 ENDANGERED ORAL TRADITION IN ZANSKAR VALLEY by Stanzin Dazang Namgail (India) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Arts degree in Cultural Heritage Studies: Academic Research, Policy, Management. Accepted in conformance with the standards of the CEU. ____________________________________________ External Reader Budapest May 2019 CEU eTD Collection ENDANGERED ORAL TRADITION IN ZANSKAR VALLEY by Stanzin Dazang Namgail (India) Thesis submitted to the Department of Medieval Studies, Central European University, Budapest, in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of
    [Show full text]