Property:Bio
From Tsadra Commons
This is a property of type Text.
R
Rago Choktrul Tupten Shedrup Gyatso (Wyl. Rag mgo mchog sprul thub bstan bshad sgrub rgya mtsho) (1879–1972) — a prolific author of the Palyul tradition.
Texts:<br>
*''Vines of Amṛta: A Prayer to the Lineage of the Bodhicaryāvatāra'' (''Spyod 'jug brgyud pa'i gsol 'debs bdud rtsi'i 'khri shing'')
**English translation: ''Vines of Amṛta: A Prayer to the Lineage of the Bodhicaryāvatāra'', translated by Adam Pearcey, 2019.
*''The Short Commentary on the Tantra of Twenty-one Homages to Tara called The Treasure Vase of Benefit and Happiness'' (''Sgrol ma phyag 'tshal nyer gcig rgyud kyi 'grel chung phan bde'i gter bum mchog sbyin'')
**English translation: ''The Short Commentary on the Twenty-One Homages to Tara called The Treasure Vase of Benefit and Happiness'', translated by Khenpo Tenzin Norgey, 2004.
*''Lute of Lotus Flowers: A Concise Fulfilment for the Female Practice of the Queen of Great Bliss, from the Heart Essence of the Vast Expanse'' (''Klong chen snying gi thig le las/ yum bka' bde chen rgyal mo'i skong bsdus pad+ma'i rgyud mangs'') +
Rainier Ibana teaches Ethics, Environmental Ethics, Social Philosophy and Philosophy of Education at Ateneo de Manila University. He chairs COMEST’s Environmental Ethics Committee and served as Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Section of UNESCO’s South-south Philosophical Dialogue. He is also President of the Asia-Pacific Philosophy Education Network for Democracy and Vice President of the Philosophy with Children and Youth Network for Asia-Pacific. ([https://transformationstosustainability.org/people/dr-rainier-ibana/ Source Accessed June 1, 2023]) +
Hon. Director, Adyar Library and Research centre, Chennai and formerly Professor and Head of Sanskrit Department, Madras University.
<br><br>
Born in an aristocratic family in Central Kerala famous for scholarship and patronage, he had his education in B.A. Maths (Trichur), M.A. (Sanskrit) and Ph.D. at Madras University.
<br><br>
On a British council scholarship in London (1952-1954) took Ph.D in Sanskrit. President’s awards for scholarship in Sanskrit in 1991.
<br><br>
Publications includes Indian Theories of Meaning (Adyar), Contribution of Kerala to Sanskrit Literature, New Catalogues Catalogorum, Vol III-V (Associate Editor) volumes VI-XII (chief Editor), Madras. Encyclopaedia of Indian Philosophies (gen. Ed. Potter) volume V. Philosophy of the grammarians (with Coward) member of Editorial Board Foundation of Language) (volumes I-XII), Adyar Library Bulletin from 1954, chief Editor, Annuals of Oriental Research, University of Madras (1970-80). Participated in International Congress of Orientalists in 1961, Member of Government delegation to Mexico conference, closely associated with IGNCA., ICPR, Rastirya Sanskrit Samstham Sahitya Academi.
<br><br>
Visited Scandinavian Countries at the invitation of Scandinavian Institute of Oriential Research. Visiting Professor at Lund University participated in many world Sanskrit conferences, Oriental Conferences, Produced more than 25 Phd.s wrote more than 300 research papers and about 100 books in Sanskrit, English and Malayalam. Source: ([https://kkraja.wordpress.com/ Biography of Dr. K Kunjunni Raja]) +
Raja Rajendralal Mitra (16 February 1822 – 26 July 1891) was among the first Indian cultural researcher and historian[s] writing in English. A polymath, and a member of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, he was a pioneer figure in the Bengali Renaissance. He was an Indian Sanskrit critic. Mitra belonged to a respected family of Bengal writers. After studying by himself, he was hired in 1846 as a librarian in the "Asian Society of Bengal", for which he then worked throughout his life as second secretary, vice president and finally as the first native president in 1885. Mitra published a number of Sanskrit texts (due to lack of accuracy early obsolete) (''sic'') mainly in Bibliotheca indica and major works: The Antiquities of Orissa (2 volumes, 1875-80), Bodh Gaya (1878), Indo-Aryans (2 volumes, 1881), and more. ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajendralal_Mitra Source Accessed Mar 24, 2021]) +
Raji C. Steineck, Ph.D. (1999), Bonn University, is Professor of Japanology at the University of Zurich. He has published extensively on Japanese intellectual history and philosophy and pursues a long-term project on the ''Critique of Symbolic Forms'' (Frommann-Holzboog 2014, 2017). ([https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/32218?contents=editorial-content Source Accessed July 6, 2023]) +
Rakra Rinpoche (Rakra Thubten Choedar) was born in 1925 to the governor of Derge. After being recognized as the 6th Rakra incarnate of Pakshoe monastery in Kham, he studied at Pakshoe and then at Drepung (Gomang College) and studied poetry and literature with Gedun Chophel. He excelled as a Geshe, but gave up his monastic vows to his root guru Mogchok Rimpoche shortly before moving to India in 1950. In 1960 Rakra was asked by the Dalai Lama’s brother Taktser Rimpoche, to take charge of Tibetan refugee children at the Pestalozzi International Children’s Village in Switzerland, set up for displaced European children after World War II. He painted, sketched, and wrote often and produced children's books to help educate young Tibetans.
“He managed to finish a translation of the travels of the earliest Chinese traveler to India, the monk Fa-hien (faxian) (CE 399-414) in search of the vinaya-pitaka texts (dulwa). He was assisted in this project by his younger brother Tsewang Chogyal. In this translation published by LTWA, Rakra included accounts of early Buddhist sites in India, to complement Fa-hien’s original travelogue. He also completed his first draft of the history of the Tethong family.
Rakra Rimpoche passed away on July 10, 2012, at the age of 87.
[https://www.jamyangnorbu.com/blog/2013/06/26/poet-artist-scholar-teacher-and-reluctant-rimpoche/ Read more details about his life here] and [https://tibetanwhoswho.wordpress.com/2018/12/09/rakra-rinpoche/ here… (Source Accessed Oct 1, 2024]) +
Raktrul Rinpoche (also known as Do Tulku) was born in 1985 in South India. At 17 years old, H.H. Sakya Trizin recognized him as the sixth Raktrul Rinpoche, a Sakya monastery’s tulku (a recognized reincarnation). He then entered the Dzongsar Khyentse Chökyi Lodro Institute, where he received his education in Buddhist philosophy, practice, and debate. After 11 years of studies, he successfully graduated with the title of Acharya. He taught in the Dzongsar Institute for a year and guided retreats for monks in Mustang as well. Moreover, he has received teachings, transmissions and initiations from some of the great masters of our time, such as H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Sakya Trizin, Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk, Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, Dagchen Rinpoche, Luding Khenchen Rinpoche, and many others. He is also a translator for the 84000 project. He is a laic master. ([https://www.casavirupa.com/post/2016/12/12/raktrul-rinpoche-teachings-spain Source Accessed June 10, 2021]) +
Ralf Kramer (born 1971) studied Tibetan, Japanese, and Social Anthropology at the Universities of Hamburg and London. He was Aris Librarian for Tibetan & Himalayan Studies at the Bodleian Library, University of Oxford (2000–2005), before working on a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the University of Munich (2006–2007). He is currently employed as Tibetan specialist at the Bavarian State Library in Munich. +
Ralph Flores teaches literature at Thammasat University in Thailand and is the author of ''A Study of Allegory in Its Historical Context and Relationship to Contemporary Theory''. +
Ralph Weber, Ph.D. (2007), University of St. Gallen, is Assistant Professor for European Global Studies at the University of Basel. His publications focus on Chinese and comparative philosophy as well as methodological and conceptual aspects of translinguistic and transcultural research. ([https://brill.com/edcollbook/title/32218?contents=editorial-content Source Accessed July 6, 2023]) +
Dr. Ram Kumar Rana is Associate Professor in the Department of Buddhist Studies at the University of Delhi. +
Prof. Ram Shankar Tripathi was born in Sodalpur village of Harda district in Madhya Pradesh, not far from Sanchi. After completing his secondary education in Sanskrit in ltarsi, Madhya Pradesh, he came to Sampūrṇānanda Sanskrit University (Varanasi) for higher education, focusing on Sanskrit Grammar and Ayurveda. While studying there he came in contact with Prof. Jagannath Upadhyay and elicited a keen interest in Buddhist philosophy. To further his knowledge of Buddhism, he studied extensively with Prof. Jagannath Upadhyaya, and with scholars of traditional schools of Buddhism and Vedanta, including scholar-monks from Myanmar and Tibet. Later, he visited Nalanda, Bihar, for two years to study Pali language and literature from Prof. Jagdish Kashyap. At a more personal level of Buddhist practice, he most notably received Guhyasamaja initiation and other transmissions from his main Guru, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.
Prof. Tripathi's published output in both Hindi and Sanskrit is vast, and covers many aspects of Buddhism, from Theravada Abhidhamma, to Sautrantika, Yogacara and Madhyamaka philosophy, and Tantra. His students, all over the world, are too many to count; he taught very generously both in his official capacities (Sampūrṇānanda Sanskrit University, Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies) and privately.
Prof. Tripathi was awarded the honorary title of Padmaśrī by the Government of India; he is well-known and respected in the Tibetan tradition as the modern-day heir of the Nalanda tradition. Until recently, Prof. Tripathi was working on a further installment of his commentary on Ācārya Dharmakīrti's Pramāṇavārttika.
He never said no to any serious learner of Buddhism; nor did he ever let his students feel that he is facing any kind of difficulty while teaching. Thus, he kept up with his mission of reviving Sanskrit Buddhism in India, till his last breath. ([https://m.facebook.com/739952462785648/photos/a.743091002471794/2130408170406730/?type=3&source=48 Source Accessed Mar 22, 2021])
PROF. M.R. BHAT was a well known Samskrta scholar, teacher, poet and astrologer, who retired in 1974 as the Head of Sanskrit Department of Hindu College, Delhi University. He had served the cause of Samskrta learning and Indian culture for more than half a century. Prof. Bhat edited with translation classical works like the Brhat Samhita of Varahamihira (2 Volumes), Horasarah of Prthuyasas, Prasnajnanam of Bhattotpala. Author of Fundamentals of Astrology. Prof. Bhat had revised the translation of Uttara-kalamrtam, and Phaladipika. He was the founder-editor of the Sanskrit _English Journal Amrtavani and had contributed a large number of articles on oriental learning and culture of various journals and periodicals. In recognition of his erudition and devotion to oriental learning and culture Prof, Bhat was conferred the titles Vidyabhaskara, Vidyasagara and Kavitacatura. Prof. Bhat died in 1990. Source: ([https://www.mlbd.in/products/brhat-samhita-of-varahamihira-vol-1-with-english-translation-exhaustive-notes-and-literary-comments-m-r-bhat-9788120800984-8120800982?_pos=2&_sid=bc2a5917e&_ss=r Motilal Banarsidass]) +
Ramanath Pandey works as a Research Officer at the Oriental institute of The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in Vadodara, India. His specializations include: Vedic Literature, Sanskrit, Buddhist Sanskrit, Pali and Prakrit Language & Literature, Linguistics, Vedanta, Logic, Buddhist Philosophy & Manuscriptology. ([https://philpeople.org/profiles/ramanath-pandey Adapted from Source May 4, 2021]) +
Count Raniero Gnoli (20 January 1930 – 5 May 2025) was an Italian orientalist, indologist and historian of religion. Pupil of Giuseppe Tucci and Mario Praz, Raniero Gnoli was a Professor of Indology at the University of Rome La Sapienza 1964 to 2000, as well as dean of the "School of Oriental Studies" in the same university. A famous Sanskritist, his scope of research covered the theologies and religious philosophies of India, especially those related to Tantric Shaivism (i.e., Kashmir Shaivism), medieval schools of Buddhist logic, and doctrines mentioned in Kālacakratantra.
Gnoli was also the first to translate many texts belonging to the Indian religious traditions from Sanskrit into Western languages, contributing decisively to a more precise definition of the relevant terminology. He remained the only one in the world to have translated the voluminous work Tantrāloka written in the 10th century by Indian philosopher Abhinavagupta.
An expert also in Greek and Roman culture, he compiled Marmora Romana, a thorough "study of the decorative stones used by the ancients, that is, of marbles which, in the classical meaning of the word, include all decorative stones susceptible to polishing."
The full list of works by Raniero Gnoli was published in a collection of studies in his honor: Le Parole e i Marmi (The words and the marbles - ed. by Raffaele Torella ). Rome, IsIAO, 2001, pp. XVII-XX. These include:
* Marmora Romana. Rome, Elephant Editions, 1988
* Thirteen poems. Rome, Elephant Editions, 1981
* La Rivelazione del Buddha (The Revelation of the Buddha - ed. by Raniero Gnoli, transl. by Claudio Cicuzza and Francesco Sferra) 2 vols. - I Testi Antichi (The Ancient Texts), 2001. Il Grande Veicolo (The Great Vehicle), 2004. Milan, Meridiani Mondadori.
* Memory of Giuseppe Tucci, Rome, IsIAO, 1985.
* The aesthetic experience according to Functional Abhinavagupta. Rome, IsIAO, 1956.
* Nepalese inscriptions in gupta characters. Rome, IsIAO, 1956.
'''Translations'''
* Abhinavagupta, Abhinavagupta. Light of scripture, Turin, typographical Union-Turin-based publishing, 1972.
* Abhinavagupta, Abhinavagupta's comment to Paratrimsika, (Parātrimśikātattvavivarana), Rome, IsIAO, 1985.
* Dharmakirti, The Pramanavarttikam of Dharmakirti. The First Chapter with Autocommentary (Pramānavārttikasvavrtti), Rome, IsIAO, 1960.
* Gabriele Faerno, Fables choices. Rome, Elephant Editions, 1970.
* Nāgārjuna, Le Stanze del Cammino di Mezzo (The Stanza of the Middle Way, Mūlamadhyamakakārikā), introduction, translation and notes, Turin, Basic Books, 1979.
* Udbhata, Udbhata's commentary on the Kavyalankara Bhamaha of Rome, IsIAO, 1962.
([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raniero_Gnoli Source Accessed May 7, 2025])
Raoul Birnbaum works in the interdisciplinary field of Buddhist studies, with special focus on China. Trained in visual studies, history of religions, and ethnography, his research is rooted in historical approaches. These studies have concentrated on three great themes in the history of Chinese Buddhist life: the major deity cults, visions of the landscape intertwined with religion, and close examination of dimensions of the lives of individuals within this religious field. Following an earlier focus on medieval times in China, in recent decades he has concentrated on significant figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the 17th-century figures and phenomena to which they often turned as the models and sources for their practical and conceptual foundations.
The largest on-going project focuses on the artist-monk Hongyi 弘一大師 (1880-1942), a remarkably complex, inventive, and influential figure in Chinese Buddhist worlds. A project on one of his contemporaries, the prominent lay Buddhist Gao Henian 高鶴年 (1872–1962), is on the horizon. And in a comparative vein as a project parallel to the Hongyi studies, he has been investigating the many worlds of St. Francis, with field research in that medieval saint's Umbrian homeland.
Birnbaum's work has been strongly influenced by intensive field study over several decades within Chinese Buddhist monastic communities and across a wide variety of the mountain sites that form the backbone of this tradition’s conceptual geography. ([https://havc.ucsc.edu/faculty/raoul-birnbaum Source Accessed Aug 9, 2021]) +
Marion Rastelli studied Indology and Sociology at the University of Vienna, completing her PhD in 1998. She qualified as professor (habilitation) in 2006.
Rastelli does research on the religious history of Hindu traditions. Her special field is the Vaiṣṇava tradition of Pāñcarātra in all its aspects, including historical development, social structure, religious rituals, yoga practice, as well as cosmological and theological teachings. She is also interested in the relationship of Pāñcarātra to the philosophical school of Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta, with a focus on the works of Veṅkaṭanātha (13th/14th century) (see Veṅkaṭanātha and the tradition of Pāñcarātra).
Rastelli has been involved since 1995 in the international project "Tāntrikābhidhānakośa: Dictionnaire des termes techniques de la littérature hindoue tantrique" (Dictionary of Technical Terms from Hindu Tantric Literature), for which she writes articles. Since 2006 she has served as one of the dictionary's editors, together with Dominic Goodall (École française d'Extrême-Orient). ([https://www.oeaw.ac.at/en/ikga/team/direction/rastelli-marion/ Source Accessed March 23, 2021]) +
Ratnarakṣita was one of the most popular scholar monks at the Vikramaśīla monastery in the last period of Indian Buddhism. According to Tāranātha,[6] he was most likely ordained in the Mahāsāṃghika school. Sometimes he is compared with his contemporary colleague, Śākyaśrībhadra. Although both of them are equally knowledgeable, Śākyaśrībhadra had stronger knowledge of the Pramāṇa, while Ratnarakṣita had a mastery of the Mantranaya (i.e. Vajrayāna). They evacuated to Nepal before their monastery was invaded by the Muslim army in 1203. Tāranātha also relates that Ratna- rakṣita prophesied this tragic incident two years in advance. After having moved to Nepal, he energetically taught many Nepalese and Tibetan disci- ples. Although his biography is still far from clear, his ''floruit'' could be placed in ca. 1150–1250, since Ratnarakṣita had already been one of the popular monks in the Vikramaśīla around 1200, i.e., the time of the end of this monastery, and also he taught Chag lo tsā ba (Dharmasvāmin) in 1226 in Kathmandu, Nepal.[7] After moving to Nepal, Ratnarakṣita seems to have been based there. Although it is said that he visited Tibet to teach, it is like- ly that he came back to Nepal and died there, since there is no record of his death in Tibet. (Kuranishi, "A Study on Scholarly Activities in the Last Period of the Vikramaśīla Monastery: Quotations in Ratnarakṣita's ''Padminī''," 50)<br><br>
====notes====
6. SCHIEFNER 1963: 192(4–8).<br>
7. Cf. ROERICH 1959: iv-v; 6; 54, NAKAYAMA 1994: 239–240. +
Ratnavajra was originally a Kashmiri brahmana who became a great Buddhist master. Taranatha relates a story of his patronage according to which he was the son of a brahmana named Haribhadra. The story runs as follows: Once a Kashmiri brahmana appeased Mahesvara. Thus, it was predicted that all his descendents would become renowned scholars. The prophecy came through and amongst this twenty-five descendants the last was Brahmana Haribhadra. This brahmana once entered in a debate with Buddhists having staked his own creed. He was defeated in debate, as a result of which he was converted to Buddhism. Having become a Buddhist, he acquired proficiency in the doctrine. Ratnavajra was son of this converted brahmana.
Ratnavajra was an ''upasaka'' (a lay disciple). He studied in Kashmir up to the age of thirty under Gangadhara. He learnt by heart the ''sutras'', the tantras and all the branches of knowledge. After that he went to Vikramasila for further studies. In Vikramasila he received the title of Pandita from the king and became the central pillar of the University. Among his expositions there, noteworthy works include the Tantrayana, the seven treatises on Pramana, the five works of Maitreya, etc. Ratnavajra returned to Kashmir. He converted many ''tirthikas'' to the Buddhist faith and established many centres for the study of Vidyasambhara, Sutralankara, Guhyasamaja etc.
From Kashmir, Ratnavajra proceeded to Udyana (Urgyana). It was perhaps here that he converted a Saivaite Kashmiri brahmana, to whom he gave the name Guhyapragna after ordination.
Ratnavajra went to Tho-lin where he assisted in translation of several works and collaborated with the great Tibetan translator Rin-chen-bzan-po. He further visited Central Tibet where he had a chance to supervise the rebuilding of the circular terrace of Bsam-yas, which was burnt in 986 A.D. Ratnavajra supervised five hundred workers including brick-layers, carpenters, goldsmiths, black-smiths and sculptors for three years.
Ratnavajra is believed to have transmitted the ''Prasannapada'' and the ''Madhyamakavatarabhasya'' to Parahitabhadra. ''Dam-pa Sans-rgyas'' (Paramabuddha), a native of South India, was instructed in Mahamudra under him. As a logician Ratnavajra composed the Yuktiprayoga, signifying application of reasoning. Other works of Ratnavarja which deal with the Mantrayana are:
(a) Cycle of Buddhasamyoga:<br>
1. ''Srisarvabuddhasamyogadakinijalasambaramahatantra-rajanamamandalopayika''.
(b) Cycle of Cakrasamvara:<br>
1. ''Abhisekavidhikrama'',<br>
2. ''Sricakrasamvaramandalamangalagatha'',<br>
3. ''Sricakrasamvaramandaladevaganastotra'', and<br>
4. ''Sri Cakrasamvarastotra''
(c) Cycle of Guhyasamaja<br>
1. ''Aksobhyavajrasadhana''
(d) Cycle of Hevajra: <br>
1. ''Balikarmakrama'',<br>
2. ''Snhevajrastotra'', and <br>
3. ''Sarvapapasuddhanagnipujasamadhi''
(e) Cycle of Mahamaya: <br>
1. ''Mahamayasadhana'',<br>
2. ''Meghalokaganapatisadhana'',<br>
3. ''Srinathacaturmukhastotra'',<br>
4. ''Mantrarajasamayasiddhisadhana'',<br>
5. ''Aryajanbhalastotra'', and <br>
6. ''Sricakrasamvaradvayavlrasadhana''.
He also composed ''Vajravidaraninamadharanimandalagatha-krama-praknya''. There exist several other works which are reported to have either been composed or translated by Ratnavajra. (Source: 'Kundan', T. N. Dhar. ''Saints and Sages of Kashmir''. New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing, 2004, p. 24–26.)
KADRI RAUDSEPP is a PhD candidate at Tallinn University, Estonia. Her research
focuses on the formation of Buddhist schools, and more specifically on the development
of rNying rna - gSar rna divide. +
