Property:Bio
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Dr. Advaitavadini Kaul is Editor in the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) in New Delhi. Here, she is mainly responsible for the preparation of two fundamental series of publications, viz., the Kalatattvakosa (a lexicon of Indian Art Concepts) and the Kalamulasastra (fundamental texts on Indian Arts). She has edited the fourth volume of the Kalatattvakosa series on Manifestation of Nature. She is also an associate editor of the fifth volume on Form/Shape. Basically an M.A. (Sanskrit) and Ph.D. (Buddhist Studies) Dr. Kaul has already published her book: Buddhist Savants of Kashmir: Their Contribution Abroad. Her next book on Kashmir's Contribution to Buddhism in Central Asia is forthcoming. She has contributed several research papers to various national/international conferences where her main interest remains to unravel perennial traditions with special emphasis upon the traditions prevalent in Kashmir. ([https://readersend.com/product/a-history-of-kashmiri-pandits/ Source Accessed Aug 31, 2021]) +
A student of Ju Mipam Jamyang Namgyal Gyatso. +
Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje (Tib. ཨ་འཛོམ་རྒྱལ་སྲས་འགྱུར་མེད་རྡོ་རྗེ་, Wyl. a 'dzom rgyal sras 'gyur med rdo rje) aka Agyur Rinpoche (Wyl. a 'gyur rin po che) (1895-1969) — the third son and student of Adzom Drukpa. He was recognized by Jamgön Kongtrul as an emanation of Orgyen Terdak Lingpa.
Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje was the third son and student of Adzom Drukpa Drodul Pawo Dorje. His mother was Tashi Lhamo (Tib. bkra shis lha mo), the daughter of a popular merchant named Budo (Tib. bum dos), who became Adzom Drukpa’s spiritual wife at the recommendation of Jamgön Kongtrul. While regarded as the incarnation of several eminent master, Adzom Gyalse was recognised as the incarnation of Minling Terchen Gyurme Dorje. Adzom Drukpa oversaw the spiritual education of Adzom Gyalse and transmitted to him especially his own terma treasures and the teachings of the Great Perfection such as the Longchen Nyingtik and the Chetsün Nyingtik. These in turn became also the main focus of Adzom Gyalse’s study and practice. Thus Adzom Gyalse rose to become of the main holders of the lineage and transmission of the Great Perfection teachings.
Adzom Gyalse took over the legacy of his father and became responsible for, the by his father in 1886 established, Adzom Gar (Tib. A ’dzom gar).[2] Unlike his father, Adzom Gyalse took monastic ordination and remained a monk throughout his entire life. He further developed and expanded Adzom Gar and became its main teacher and holder. While Adzom Gyalse had the potential to become a great tertön he decided to focused instead on the preservation and continuation of existing practices and teachings.
In 1958, Adzom Gyalse was arrested and put in prison where he gave teachings to his fellow inmates. He passed away in 1969 with many miraculous signs, and left a letter predicting the date and place of his future rebirth and the names of his future parents. In accordance with this letter, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche recognised a child born in Bhutan in 1980 as the reincarnation of Adzom Gyalse Gyurme Dorje. This child became a monk at Shechen Monastery and received numerous teachings and initiations from Khyentse Rinpoche. ([https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Adzom_Gyalse_Gyurme_Dorje Source Accessed Sep 30, 2022])
Born in Barcelona in 1965, Oriol Aguilar received his Ph.D in cultural anthrolopogy from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona in 2005. Focusing on religious studies, particularly the Buddhism of Tibet, he studied Tibetan language in Barcelona and Paris (École Pratique des Hautes Études) and trained in translation with the Shang Shung Institute. He met Chögyal Namkhai Norbu in 1987, and since 1998 has collaborated with Shang Shung Publications as a member of the International Publications Committee (IPC) of the Dzogchen Community on the publication, particularly in the Spanish editions, of the teachings of Chögyal Namkhai Norbu, including translations from Tibetan.
[http://www.shangshungpublications.org/oriol-aguilar/] +
Zahiruddln Ahmad was a Senior Lecturer in the Department of History at La Trobe University, Bundoora, Australia. He is the author of several books on Tibetan history, including ''China and Tibet, 1708-1959'' (Oxford University Press, 1960); ''Tibet and Ladakh: A History'' (Chatto & Windus, 1963); ''Sino-Tibetan Relations in the 17th Century'' (Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente, 1970); ''Life of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Vol. IV, Part I'' (International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 1999); ''An introduction to Buddhist Philosophy in India and Tibet'' (International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 2007); ''The Song of the Queen of Spring'' (International Academy of Indian Culture and Aditya Prakashan, 2008); and ''The Historical Status of China in Tibet'' (Aditya Prakashan, 2012). He is also the author of numerous articles on Tibetan history and related subjects. +
Chah Subhaddo (Thai: ชา สุภัทโท, known in English as Ajahn Chah, occasionally with honorific titles Luang Por and Phra) also known by his honorific name "Phra Bodhiñāṇathera" (Thai: พระโพธิญาณเถร, Chao Khun Bodhinyana Thera; 17 June 1918 – 16 January 1992) was a Thai Buddhist monk. He was an influential teacher of the Buddhadhamma and a founder of two major monasteries in the Thai Forest Tradition.
Respected and loved in his own country as a man of great wisdom, he was also instrumental in establishing Theravada Buddhism in the West. Beginning in 1979 with the founding of Cittaviveka (commonly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery) in the United Kingdom, the Forest Tradition of Ajahn Chah has spread throughout Europe, the United States and the British Commonwealth. The dhamma talks of Ajahn Chah have been recorded, transcribed and translated into several languages.
More than one million people, including the Thai royal family, attended Ajahn Chah's funeral in January 1993[5] held a year after his death due to the "hundreds of thousands of people expected to attend".[3] He left behind a legacy of dhamma talks, students, and monasteries. ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajahn_Chah Source Accessed Nov 20, 2023]) +
'''SIT BIO: Matthew Akester, Lecturer and Faculty Advisor'''<br>
Matthew is a translator of classical and modern literary Tibetan with 25 years of fieldwork experience as an independent researcher throughout the Tibetan world. His discipline is history, both religious and political history, which corresponds with the program’s double specialization. Matthew's special interests include the history of Lhasa, the life and times of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, historical geography of central Tibet, and history and memoir in occupied Tibet. His published book-length translations include [[The Life of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo]] by Jamgon Kongtrul ([[Shechen Publications]] 2012); [[Memories of Life in Lhasa Under Chinese Rule]] by Tubten Khetsun ([[Columbia University Press]] 2008, Penguin India 2009); and [[The Temples of Lhasa]] (with [[Andre Alexander]], [[Serindia Publications]] 2005). In addition, he has worked as active consultant and contributor for the Tibet Information Network, Human Rights Watch, Tibet Heritage Fund, and [[Tibetan Buddhist Resource Center]]; as translator, editor, and advisor for countless publications on Tibet in English, French, and Tibetan; and as lecturer on contemporary Tibet for student programs including SIT in Nepal and India. ([http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/faculty_npt.cfm SOURCE]) +
Born in Toyohashi City in Aichi Prefecture on January 21, 1915, Hirakawa studied as an undergraduate and then graduate student (1939-1945) at the Department of Indian Philosophy and Sanskrit Philology, Faculty of Letters, Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo), and became Research Assistant of that department in 1946. He was appointed Associate Professor of the newly established Department of Indian Philosophy at Hokkaido University in 1950. After teaching for four years in Hokkaido University, he returned to Tokyo in 1954 to become Associate Professor of Buddhist Studies at his alma mater. Hirakawa was granted a full professorship in 1962, a position he held until reaching the University of Tokyo’s mandatory retirement age of 60 in 1975, at which time he received the title of Professor Emeritus. After his retirement he taught for 10 years (1975-1985) Buddhist Studies at Waseda University, Department of Oriental Philosophy, School of Literature. Hirakawa also served as Chairman of the Directors of the Japanese Association of Indian and Buddhist Studies for eight years (1983-1991), where he made tremendous contributions toward the advancement of the Association. In 1993 he was selected to be a member of the Japan Academy. He went on to become Chairman and Professor at the International College for Advanced Buddhist Studies (established in 1996), where in addition to his duties as the director of research and education, he was responsible for the general administration of the College. He held this position until passing away. ([https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/jiabs/article/download/8928/2821/ Source Accessed Dec 5, 2019])
[https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/jiabs/article/download/8928/2821/ See also, ''In Memoriam'', Professor Akira Hirakawa] +
Akira Sadakata, professor at Tokai University, is a specialist in Indian Philosophy and the author of many books on Buddhism. +
Prof. Akira Saito is a faculty member at the International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies in Tokyo Japan. He holds an M.A. from the University of Tokyo (1979) and received his Ph.D. from Australian National University (1985). His primary area of specialization is the History of Indian Buddhist Philosophy and Madhyamaka Studies. His teaching activities at ICPBC include: Reading Buddhist Studies in Foreign Languages; Inner Asian Buddhist Philology; Ph.D. Tutorials; and Special topics in Buddhist Studies. ([http://www.icabs.ac.jp/en/research/faculty/saito Adapted from Source Aug 3, 2020]) +
Tudeng Nima is the 2nd Alak Zenkar Rinpoche. The 1st Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Pema Ngödrup Rolpai Dorjé, lived from 1881 to 1943. For a short biography, see Tulku Thondup, ''Masters of Meditation and Miracles'' (Shambhala Publications, 1996), 275–77.
Tudeng Nima Rinpoche is the Director of the Paltseg Tibetan Rare Texts Research Center, TBRC board member, visiting scholar at the University of Virginia, and board member of the China Association for Preservation and Development of Tibetan Culture. In 2000-2003, he was a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University in the East Asian Institute. From 2004 to the present he has been a visiting scholar at the University of Virginia. Tudeng Nima Rinpoche has written many papers for which he has received numerous awards. He has rescued and reproduced thousands of important and rare Tibetan texts. He has made outstanding contributions to Tibetan culture and education and is renowned as one of the world’s leading Tibetan Buddhist scholars. ([https://www.tbrc.org/#!footer/about/board Adapted from BDRC September 17, 2020])
[http://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Alak_Zenkar_Rinpoche Rigpa Wiki Bio] +
Dr. Mrs. Alaka Chattopadhyaya obtained her doctorate degrèe of the Calcutta University with her highly acclaimed work based on Tibetan sources published with the title ''Atisa and Tibet''. By
profession she was until recently the principal of the Vidyasagar College of Women, Calcutta. Her other published works include the translation (in Bengali) of the ''Caturasitisiddha-pravrtti''—life of
the 84 Siddhacaryas available hithertobefore only in its Tibetan version, besides many other Tibetan studies. She has extensively toured abroad, delivering lectures in [the] USSR, China, Oxford, Cambridge, Budapast and other places. (Source: inside jacket, ''Tāranātha's History of Buddhism in India'') +
Alan Fox is an Professor of Asian and Comparative Philosophy and Religion in the Philosophy Department at the University of Delaware. He earned his Ph.D. in Religion from Temple University in 1988, and was a Fulbright Scholar in Taiwan in 1986-87. He came to the University in 1990. He received the University of Delaware’s Excellence in Teaching Award in 1995 and 2006, and the College of Arts and Sciences’ Outstanding Teacher Award in 1999. In 2006 he was named Delaware Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. In 2008 he was named a finalist for the National Inspiring Integrity Award, and in 2012 he was named a Teaching Fellow by the American Association of Philosophy Teachers. He is a former director of both the University Honors Program and the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies Program, as well as advisor to the undergraduate Religious Studies Minor. He has also served as President of the Faculty Senate at both the College and University levels. He has published on Buddhism and Chinese Philosophy. His research is currently focused on Philosophical Daoism. ([https://udel.edu/~afox/ Source Accessed May 18, 2021]) +
Alan J. Berkowitz was the Susan W. Lippincott Professor of Modern and Classical Languages and Professor of Chinese at Swarthmore.
Berkowitz, who chaired Asian Studies and served as the Chinese section head for 15 years, joined the Swarthmore faculty in 1989 when Chinese was the smallest section of Modern Languages & Literatures (MLL). As the sole professor of Chinese, he exercised wise leadership and worked tirelessly to make the fledgling section into a vibrant program and became its first tenured professor. Chinese is now the second largest program in MLL after Spanish. ([https://www.swarthmore.edu/news-events/memory-alan-berkowitz Source Accessed June 2, 2023]) +
Born in Mexico City in 1961, Alan Murillo studied as a professional translator at the Higher Institute of Interpreters and Translators in Mexico City and has dedicated himself for 25 years to the translation of legal, financial and technical documents.
As part of the Casa Tíbet translation team, he has translated several books on Buddhism into Spanish: ''Buddhism with an Attitude'' by Alan Wallace; ''Iridescent Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche''; and ''Geshe Lhundup Söpa's Autobiography'' , as well as numerous texts and teachings for Casa Tíbet México.
A student of Casa Tíbet since 1998, he is part of the group of instructors under the guidance and instruction of his main teacher, Marco Antonio Karam, founder and director of Casa Tíbet México.
As a student of said institution, he has received teachings on the theory and practice of Buddhist teachings, fundamentally the study and analysis of consciousness and the cultivation of human potential based on transcendental values, in order to develop a more meaningful life for the benefit of other beings and oneself.
During this time he has attended short retreats, seminars and teachings of great masters of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, such as Geshe Sopa, Geshe Thabke, Khenpo Pema Wangdak, Alan Wallace, Matthieu Ricard, Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins, Khandro Rinpoché, Marcia Dechen Wangmo, among others.
From 2008 to 2012 he was part of the editorial project at the Autonomous University of Mexico City (UACM) as a translator in the Department of Educational Innovation and Critical Thinking, translating four books on these topics.
He currently coordinates the Editorial Committee of Casa Tíbet México and is the editorial director of the quarterly human development magazine 84 Thousand - Words that wake up. ([https://casatibet.org.mx/2016/09/05/alan-murillo/ Adapted from Source Apr 6, 2021]) +
Albert Grünwedel (31 July 1856 – 28 October 1935) was a German Indologist, Tibetologist, archaeologist, and explorer of Central Asia. He was one of the first scholars to study the Lepcha language.
Grünwedel was born in Munich in 1856, the son of a painter. He studied art history and Asian languages, including Avestan, and in 1883 earned his doctorate at the University of Munich. In 1881 he began work as an assistant at the Museum of Ethnology in Berlin and in 1883 he was appointed deputy director of the ethnographic collection. Grünwedel won accolades for his numerous publications on Buddhist art, archaeology Central Asia, and Himalayan languages. Two notable works were'' Buddhist art in India'' (1893) and ''Mythology of Buddhism in Tibet and Mongolia'' (1900), which concerned the Greek origins of the Gandharan Greco-Buddhist artistic style and its development in Central Asia.
In 1899 Grünwedel was invited to join a Russian archaeological research expedition led by Vasily Radlov into the north of Xinjiang province, China. In the same year he was appointed a member of the Bavarian Academy of Sciences. In 1902-1903 Grünwedel led the first German expedition to Turpan, in Xinjiang, becoming the first modern European to study the massive ruins near Gaochang. He recorded the events of this expedition in his book ''Report on Archaeological work in Idikutschahri and Surrounding areas in Winter 1902-1903'' (1905). The next expedition was led by Albert von Le Coq, who became famous for removing large numbers of frescos from sites across Xinjiang. Grünwedel himself headed the third German Turfan expedition in 1905–1907, the results of which were published in ''Ancient Buddhist Religion in Chinese Turkistan'' (1912). Grünwedel's expeditions were largely funded by the Krupp family. Grünwedel was joined by Heinrich Lüders who made major contributions to the epigraphical analysis of the Turpan-Expedition findings after being called to the Friedrich-Wilhelms-University Berlin as Professor for oriental languages in 1909.
Grünwedel retired in 1921, and in 1923 moved to Bavaria, where his spent his last years at Bad Tölz writing a number of scientific papers. ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Gr%C3%BCnwedel Source Accessed Jan 15, 2024])
Albion M. Butters (Masters of Theological Studies, Harvard Divinity School; Fulbright scholar, India; Ph.D., History of Religion, Columbia University) has a specialization in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. As an Academy of Finland Research Fellow, he is currently engaged in a study on ideological aspects of "Campus Carry" in Texas, focusing in particular on fear and affect, power, and intersections between gun culture and religiosity.
Butters is the editor of Studia Orientalia Electronica, an online peer-reviewed imprint of the Studia Orientalia journal (est. 1917, Finnish Oriental Society). His multidisciplinary research interests include questions of identity and meaning-making, shifting ideologies (religious and secular), and the integration of spiritual themes in popular culture. Forthcoming is his monograph titled Spi-Fi: Spiritual Fiction in Comics, which examines the significance of stories and art for identity construction and personal transformation; supported by the Kone Foundation, this research project was inspired by Butters’ involvement as one of the creators of the graphic novel Mandala (Dark Horse Comics, 2014). ([https://utu.academia.edu/AlbionButters Source Academia.edu]) +
Aleksa Dokic received a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the University of Delhi in 2001. The dissertation was titled "Samādhirāja Sūtra: An English Translation of Chapters I-XX of the Sanskrit Text with Critical Notes." The supervisor for the dissertation was Karam Tej Singh Sarao. Dokic is currently Assistant Director, Government Office for Human Rights and Rights of National Minorities, Croatia. +
Dr. Aleksandra Wenta is Assistant Professor in the School of Buddhist Studies, Philosophy and Comparative Religions. She was trained at Oxford University, Banaras Hindu University, and Jagiellonian University. She was fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2012-2014) where she worked on the aesthetics of power in medieval Chidambaram. Her scholarly interests range from Buddhism in India and Tibet, through Sanskrit and history of Śaivism in Kashmir and South India, to the performance theories and emotions in pre-modern India. She is currently working on the history of the transmission of the esoteric Buddhist cult from India to Tibet. ([https://nalandauniv.edu.in/faculties/aleksandra-wenta/ Source Accessed Feb 11, 2021]) +
Alexander Gardner is the Director and Chief Editor of the Treasury of Lives, an online biographical encyclopedia of Tibet and the Himalayan Region. He completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies at the University of Michigan in 2007. From 2007 to 2016 he worked at the Shelley & Donald Rubin Foundation, serving as their Executive Director from 2013 to 2016. His research interests are in Tibetan life writing and the cultural history of Kham in the nineteenth century. He is the author of ''The Life of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great'', published by Shambhala in 2019. Alex served as the writer-in-residence for Tsadra Foundation's Buddha-Nature Project from 2017-2019. +