Welcome Speech of the 2019 Tathāgatagarbha Symposium

Gwen Witt Dorring2022-11-16T23:39:20-07:00

Prof. Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mathes, the Head of the Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna, introduces the Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia Symposium by reviewing his initial encounters with and research on the five treatises of Maitreya and his longstanding interest, in particular, the Ratnagotravibhāga, also known as the Uttaratantra Śāstra. He notes that “Buddha-Nature is an ideal touchstone for systematically comparing the philosophical positions and hermeneutical systems of various masters of central and east Asia.” The topic thus becomes a particularly interesting lens with which to look at Buddhist thinkers and schools throughout history. Thanks […]

Welcome Speech of the 2019 Tathāgatagarbha SymposiumGwen Witt Dorring2022-11-16T23:39:20-07:00

Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa’s Defense of Dol po pa’s Clear-Cut Distinction between Buddha Nature and the Ground Consciousness

Gwen Witt Dorring2022-11-16T23:39:21-07:00

Dol po pa Shes rab rgyal mtshan’s (1292-1361) doctrinal position is well known for its clear-cut distinction between an ultimate, unconditioned buddha-nature, which is identical with the ultimate and buddhahood, and the conditioned ground consciousness (ālayavijñāna), including all saṃsāric states of mind emerging from it. This strict distinction excludes from the ultimate anything dependently arisen. Dol po pa’s disciple Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa (1292-1370) defends his master’s view by addressing opposing statements in the Laṅkāvatārasūtra and the Gaṇḍavyūhasūtra that equate buddha-nature with the ground consciousness. Zhang ston’s discussion constitutes the major part of the introduction to his commentary […]

Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa’s Defense of Dol po pa’s Clear-Cut Distinction between Buddha Nature and the Ground ConsciousnessGwen Witt Dorring2022-11-16T23:39:21-07:00

Accuracy and Inspiration: Translating Mahamudra Texts

Marcus Perman2022-10-26T05:39:16-06:00

The craft of translation often involves the tension between the need for accuracy and the need to express inspirational text in appropriately inspirational language. In this session, Elizabeth Callahan shares her experience wrestling with these issues on her work with Dakpo Tashi Namgyal’s Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā (Phyag chen zla ba’i ‘od zer) and the Ninth Karmapa’s Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance (Ma rig mun sel). Professor Mathes discusses difficulties arising from translating quotations of Indian texts found in Tibetan works, such as Phyag rgya chen po gsal sgron and the Zla ba’i ‘od zer.

Accuracy and Inspiration: Translating Mahamudra TextsMarcus Perman2022-10-26T05:39:16-06:00

Translating Philosophical Materials B

Marcus Perman2022-10-30T22:46:16-06:00

This session offers advice for translators working with philosophical materials. John Dunne presents a specific problem of finding that your good translation has gone bad. Douglas Duckworth speaks about collaborative translation and its rewards while offering advice about the process as it relates specifically to philosophical texts, and Klaus-Dieter Mathes discusses specific phrases and their meaning as they support one’s comprehension of philosophical concepts.

Translating Philosophical Materials BMarcus Perman2022-10-30T22:46:16-06:00