Rheingans, J.

Rheingans, J. on the DRL

Professors • Authors of English Works • Authors of German Works • Translators

Jim Rheingans

English Phonetics	Jim Rheingans

Tibetan calendar dates

Dates of birth

Day
Month
Gender
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Animal
Rab Jyung

Dates of passing

Day
Month
Gender
Element
Animal
Rab Jyung

Contact information

Website:	https://www.buddhismuskunde.uni-hamburg.de/en/personen/rheingans.html

About

Primary Affiliation (Workplace)

The University of Sydney

Secondary Affiliation

University of Hamburg

PhD University

University of the West of England (taught at Bath Spa University)

Education

MA in Tibetan Studies, University of Hamburg (with minors in Classical Indology and Ethnology) PhD from the University of the West of England (taught at Bath Spa University)

Biographical Information

Jim holds an MA in Tibetan Studies from the University of Hamburg (with minors in Classical Indology and Ethnology) and a PhD from the University of the West of England (taught at Bath Spa University). Next to various postdoctoral research projects at the University of Hamburg, he has taught at the University of Copenhagen and as Acting Professor for Tibetan Studies in Bonn. Jim has been engaged in various interdisciplinary teaching projects and acted as interpreter for Tibetan. His research focuses on Tibetan literary genres, religious history of the Tibetan plateau and Buddhist meditative traditions. Recent publications include Tibetan Literary Genres, Texts, and Text Types (2015) and the monograph The Eighth Karmapa's Life and His Interpretation of the Great Seal (2017). He is currently completing a monograph about The Life and Works of the First Karma phrin las pa (1456–1539). (Source Accessed Jan 23, 2020)

Links

Wiki Pages

• Rheingans, J. on the DRL
• Rheingans, J. on the LIB
• Rheingans, J. on the BNW

Buddha Nature Project

Person description or short bio

Expand to see this person's philosophical positions on Buddha-nature.

Is Buddha-nature considered definitive or provisional?
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All beings have Buddha-nature
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If "Qualified", explain:
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Which Wheel Turning
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Yogācāra vs Madhyamaka
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Zhentong vs Rangtong
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Promotes how many vehicles?
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Analytic vs Meditative Tradition
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What is Buddha-nature?
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Svātantrika (རང་རྒྱུད་) vs Prāsaṅgika (ཐལ་འགྱུར་པ་)
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Causal nature of the vajrapāda
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Full Name

Jim Rheingans

Affiliation

“Wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter” in Tibetan Studies at the University of Bonn, Abteilung für Mongolistik und Tibetstudien.

Education

Magister Artium in Tibetan Studies at Hamburg University in 2004 with a thesis about the Sa-skya and bKa’-brgyud luminary Karma-’phrin-las-pa.

PhD research about “The Eighth Karmapa’s Life and his Interpretation of the Great Seal” at UWE Bristol from 2005–2008.

Other Information

Dr. Jim Rheingans

Email: jim.rheingans@uni-bonn.de

Other Publications

• Forthcoming. “Uniting the Two Traditions: The Life and Works of the First Karma 'phrin las pa (1456-1539)”. Munich: Indus Verlag, Collectanea Himalayica Series 3 (series editor Prof. Dr. Franz-Karl Ehrhard), ca. 220 pages.
• Forthcoming. “Contributions to Tibetan Literature: Texts, Genres, and Generic Terms, PIATS 2010.” (To be published at Brill, Leiden 2012).
• Forthcoming. “Great Seal Dialogues in a Spiritual Biography about Mi bskyod rdo rje (1507–1554).” In Klaus-Dieter Mathes (ed.), Yogācāra Models of Truth or Reality in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies Special Volume, ca. 35 pages.
• 2011. “Das Verschenken der Ganzen Welt: Mandala-Meditation.” In Burkhard Scherer (ed.), Mögen alle Wesen glücklich sein: Meditationstexte des Buddhismus. Herder: Freiburg, 50 pages.
• 2011. “The Eighth Karmapa’s Answer to Gling drung pa: A Case Study.” In Matthew T. Kapstein & Roger R. Jackson (eds.), Proceedings of the 11th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies Bonn. Halle: IITBS GmbH, pp. 345–386.
• 2010. “Narratives of Reincarnation, Politics of Power and the Emergence of a Scholar: the Very Early Years of Mi bskyod rdo rje and its Sources.” In Linda Covill, Ulrike Roesler & Sarah Shaw (eds.), Lives Lived, Lives Imagined: Biography in the Buddhist Traditions. Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies Series. Boston: Wisdom Publications, pp. 241–299.
• 2009. “Preliminary Reflections on Guru Devotion in Medieval Tibetan bKa’ brgyud pa Great Seal.” In Nick Kucharnov et al. (ed.), Vajrayāna Buddhism in Russia: History and Modernity. St. Petersburg: Unlimited Space, pp. 186–209 (English), pp. 209–249 (Russian).
• 2008. The Eighth Karmapa’s Life and His Interpretation of the Great Seal. PhD Thesis, University of the West of England, Bristol, 307 pages.
• 2005. with Frank Müller-Witte (tr.). “Die Meditation auf den Lama in vier Sitzungen.” In Douglas N. & M. White, Karmapa: König der Verwirklicher. Wuppertal: Buddhistischer Verlag, pp. 167–185.

Papers Presented

• 2011. “Songs, Empowerments and Dialogues: Embedded Texts and their Function in Tibetan Spiritual Biographies”. Paper presented at the XVIth Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, Dharma Drum College, Taiwan, 20–25 June.
• 2011. “Remarks about the Question and Answer (dris lan) Texts of Tibetan Literature as a Textual Type.” Paper presented at Genres littéraires au Tibet/Literary Genres in Tibet, Journées d’étude ASIES (Inalco) et TINEMO, Paris, 27 January.
• 2010. Panel convener of “Contributions to Tibetan Literature: Texts, Genres and Generic Terms.” Paper presented: “Collected Writings” (gsung ’bum) in Tibetan Literature: Towards a Systematic Study of Their Compilation, Redaction and Composition and Its Use for Genre Classifications” 12th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Vancouver, 16–21 August.
• 2009. “Kompilation von tibetisch-buddhistischen Textsammlungen. Untersuchungen zu Autorenschaft, Produktion und Tradition,” Innovation oder Plagiat? Kompilationstechniken in der Vormoderne. Universität Bonn, 18 December.
• 2009. “Religio-Political Conflict and its Solutions in Spiritual Biographies of Medieval Tibet.” Peace in the Buddhist Traditions of India and Tibet: an International Conference. Center for Buddhist Studies, Hamburg University, 14 June.
• 2008. “Approaching Religions Inside/out—Outside/in: Methodological Pluralism in Context.” Lecture presented at a Research Seminar Religious Studies, Canterbury Christ Church University, 19 November.
• 2008. “Did Politics Influence Religious Doctrine in Tibet? Wars Between Central Tibet and Tsang During the Period of Rinpungpa Dominance (1478-1565).” Joint Postgraduate Conference for Theology and the Study of Religions, Bristol University, 14 March.
• 2007. “Ontologie, Praxis, Text.” Deutscher Orientalistentag (International Oriental Studies Conference of Germany, Austria and Switzerland), Freiburg, 24 September.
• 2007. “Experiencing the Innate (sahaja): The Eighth Karmapa and his Great Seal (Mahāmudrā) in Context.” Joint Postgraduate Conference for Theology and the Study of Religions, Bristol University, 11 March.
• 2006. “Saraha in the 16th Century: Reception, Utilisation and Polemics in the Work of Karma ’phrin las pa and Karmapa VIII Mi bskyod rdo rje.” 11th Seminar of the International Association for Tibetan Studies, Bonn-Königswinter, 28 August–1 September.
• 2005. “The Life and Works of the First Karma ’phrin las pa.” Conference of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, SOAS, London, 26 August–1 September.
• 2005. “The Liberation Story Narratives of Karma ’phrin las pa: A Non-sectarian Master of the 15th Century.” Paper presented at the Joint Postgraduate Conference for Theology and the Study of Religions, Bristol University, 17 March.
• 2005. “Tibetan Buddhism: Sectarianism, Tolerance and Practice.” World View Society (Study of Religions and Philosophy and Ethics Research seminar series), Bath Spa University, 12 February.
• 2005. “Die Schulen und die Geschichte des Buddhismus.” Keynote address on behalf of Prof. David Jackson at the occasion of an exhibition of Tibetan art and Buddhist relics, Museum für Völkerkunde, Hamburg, 17 April.

Refers to something that is taught for a specific reason, rather than because it is entirely true.

Along with Madhyamaka, it was one of the two major philosophical schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Founded by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu around the fourth century CE, many of its central tenets have roots in the Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra and the so-called third turning of the dharma wheel (see tridharmacakrapravartana).

Along with Yogācāra, it is one of the two major philosophical schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Founded by Nāgārjuna around the second century CE, it is rooted in the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras, though its initial exposition was presented in Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā.

The state of being devoid of that which is wholly different rather than being void of its own nature. The term is generally used to refer to the ultimate, or buddha-nature, being empty of other phenomena such as adventitious defiling emotions but not empty of its true nature.

The state of being empty of self, which references the lack of inherent existence in relative phenomena.

Tsen Khawoche's "meditative tradition" of exegesis of the Uttaratantra; it is one of two major Tibetan traditions of exegesis, both stemming from students of Sajjana.

Mahāmudrā refers to an advanced meditation tradition in Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna forms of Into-Tibetan Buddhism that is focused on the realization of the empty and luminous nature of the mind. It also refers to the resultant state of buddhahood attained through such meditation practice. In Tibet, this tradition is particularly associated with the Kagyu school, although all other schools also profess this tradition. The term also appears as part of the four seals, alongside dharmamūdra, samayamudrā, and karmamudrā.