Soo Hyun Hong Here is a website comparing the experience of the traditional Tibeto-Himalayan momo dumpling meal at three different Tibetan restaurants in New York City; accompanied by short interviews with restaurant staff on the history and establishment of their business, the provenance of their chefs and other employees, and how they perceive Tibeto-Himalayan dishes to … [Read more...]
Pekar Monsal: A Tibetan Woman Artist
Pema Tamang Here is a website created by Pema Tamang introducing the contemporary Tibetan female artist Pekar Monsal, one of the few established female figures of modern Tibetan art. Pekar Monsal advocates for gender equity and the empowerment of Tibetan women. Through numerous examples of Pekar Monsal’s artworks, the author analyses her artistic reflections on specific … [Read more...]
The Science of Tibet in Pema Tseden’s Films
Siqi Deng Introduction For Tibet scholars and film enthusiasts, Tibetan director Pema Tseden’s name will not be unfamiliar. Internationally recognized as the father of contemporary Tibetan Cinema, Pema Tseden’s film depicts the dynamics of contemporary Tibetan life from an inside point of view, presenting to international audiences a Tibetan society that is vivacious and … [Read more...]
The Lawudo Lama: Stories of Reincarnation from the Mount Everest Region
Jamyang Wangmo, The Lawudo Lama: Stories of Reincarnation from the Mount Everest Region. Boston: Wisdom. 2004. Summary by Scarlett Bach Abstract The Lawudo Lama: Stories of Reincarnation from the Mount Everest Region captures the lives of two Lawudo Lamas: Kunzang Yeshe, born in approximately 1865, and his successor, Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, born in 1946, both in the … [Read more...]
A Golden Swan in Turbulent Waters: The Life and Times of the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje
Shamar Rinpoche. A Golden Swan in Turbulent Waters: The Life and Times of the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje. Lexington, Virginia: Bird of Paradise Press, 2012 Summary by Mariah Johnson Abstract The biography of The Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje (1604 - 1674) titled A Golden Swan in Turbulent Waters: The Life and Times of the Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje (2012) by Shamar … [Read more...]
Tales of a Mad Yogi: The Life and Wild Wisdom of Drukpa Kunley
Monson, Elizabeth L. Tales of a Mad Yogi: The Life and Wild Wisdom of Drukpa Kunley. Shambhala Publications, 2021. Summary by Leif Wood Abstract The Tales of the Mad Yogi is the story of Drukpa Kunley (1455-1529), reconstructed by Elizabeth Monson from the four volumes of The Liberation Tales. The Liberation Tales are episodic, non-chronological, writings about … [Read more...]
Lion of Speech: The Life of Mipham Rinpoche
Khyentse, Dilgo, and Jamgon Mipham. Lion of Speech: The Life of Mipham Rinpoche. Shambhala Publications, 2020. Summary by Michael Deng Abstract Lion of Speech recounts the life of Mipham Rinpoche (1846–1912), one of the greatest 19th-century masters. It was written by Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, who taught many renowned Tibetan figures including the Dalai Lama. Dilgo … [Read more...]
The Life of One Merit Intellect, Summarized
D. L. Snellgrove. Four Lamas of Dolpo, Autobiographies of Four Tibetan Lamas (15th–18th Centuries). By Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1967. Summary by Michaela Sawyer Abstract MERIT INTELLECT (bSod-nams blo-gros) 1456-1521, Abbot of Margom (dMar-sgom). A biography constructed by Merit Intellect's favorite disciple and eventual successor Religious … [Read more...]
The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava
Bsam gtan gling pa (b.1655). The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava the Indian consort of Padmasambhava, Lama Chonam and Sangye Kandro (trans). Boston, Mass: Wisdom Publications, 1998. Summary by Jeffrey Khau Abstract The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava recounts the different manifestations of Pandaravasini with a focus on the life of Mandarava, a … [Read more...]
The Life of My Teacher: A Biography of Ling Rinpoché
His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama. The Life of My Teacher: A Biography of Kyabje Ling Rinpoché. Translated by Gavin Kilty, Wisdom Publications, 2017 [Tibetan text published 1989]. Summary by Jeffrey Khau Abstract Written by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, The Life of My Teacher: A Biography of Ling Rinpoché honors the memory and work of Kyabjé Ling Rinpoché … [Read more...]
Enlightened Vagabond: the Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche
Patrul Rinpoche 1808-1887: Ricard, Matthieu, Enlightened Vagabond: the Life and Teachings of Patrul Rinpoche. Shambhala Publications: Boulder, Colorado, 2017. Summary by Darius Rubin Abstract Enlightened Vagabond is a biography of Patrul Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist monk who was given the name Orgyen Jikme Chokyi Wangpo. He lived from 1808 to 1887 and was a … [Read more...]
Delog: Journey to Realms beyond Death.
Delog: Journey to Realms beyond Death. Composed by Delog Dawa Drolma and Translated by Richard Barron (2002 [1995]). Summary by Gaskin Karlton Abstract In Delog: Journey to Realms Beyond Death, Dawa Drolma provides her account of her journey through the various realms that exist after death. Born in the early 20th century, Dawa Drolma lived most of her life in … [Read more...]
The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal
Nick Vaughan Abstract The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal: Autobiography of the Great Wisdom Queen is the secret autobiography of Yeshé Tsogyal, originally authored in the 8th century by one of Padmasambhava’s main disciples, Bendé Sangyé Yeshé, and subsequently concealed by Yeshé Tsogyal as an earth Treasure. This treasure text was revealed by Drimé Kunga in 1357 and … [Read more...]
Enlightened Beings: Life Stories from the Ganden Oral Tradition
Phoebe Lummis Abstract Enlightened Beings: Life Stories from the Ganden Oral Tradition traces the life stories of six Tibetan Siddhas from the 14th through 17th centuries. The narratives describe these figures' early childhoods and characteristics, their entrance into monasticism, and inauguration into the Ganden Oral Tradition, a secret lineage of oral teachings deriving … [Read more...]
The Twelve Deeds: A Brief Life Story of Tonpa Shenrab
The Twelve Deeds: A Brief Life Story of Tonpa Shenrab, the founder of the Bon Religion. Translated by Sangye Tandar & Edited by Richard Guard (1995) Ethan Blattman Abstract The Twelve Deeds tells the story of Tonpa Shenrab, the founder and most important figure of the Bon religion. The Bon religion is essentially a variant of Tibetan Buddhism with many ancient … [Read more...]
Tsongkhapa: A Buddha in the Land of Snows
Jinpa, Thupten. Tsongkhapa: A Buddha in the Land of Snows. Shambhala Publications, 2019. Summary by Nicholas Lillis Abstract Tsongkhapa: A Buddha in the Land of Snows details the entire life of Je Tsongkhapa, one of the greatest Buddhist teachers in Tibetan history. Born in 1357 in Amdo, northeastern Tibet, Tsongkhapa led a life that exemplified the importance of … [Read more...]
Lobsang Gyatso, Ngawang & Karmay, Samten Gyaltsen (trans). The Illusive Play: The Autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama. Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2014.
Mollie Miller Abstract The Illusive Play: The Autobiography of the Fifth Dalai Lama tells the story of Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (Ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho), the fifth Dalai Lama, also known as the “Great Fifth.” As an autobiographical account, The Illusive Play tells Lobsang Gyatso’s life story, having been designated from a young age as an incarnate of the Dalai … [Read more...]
The Lamp That Enlightens Narrow Minds
The Lamp That Enlightens Narrow Minds: The Life and Times of a Realized Tibetan Master, Khyentse Chökyi Wangchug. Kate Greene Abstract: Khyentse Chökyi Wangchug (1909-1960) was a recognized tulku and tertön from Derge. He was recognized as an emanation of the bodhisattva Manjushri and the body reincarnation of influential teacher and tertönJamyang Khyentse … [Read more...]
Tenzin Norbu, Yolmo. The Illuminated Life of the Great Yolmowa, Benjamin Bogin (trans). Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2013.
Tenzin Norbu, Yolmo. The Illuminated Life of the Great Yolmowa, Benjamin Bogin (trans). Chicago: Serindia Publications, 2013. Summary by Raymond Wayne Heimann Abstract The autobiography (written and illustrated) of Yolmo Tenzin Norbu (Yol mo Bstan 'dzin nor bu) is translated and collected by Benjamin Bogin in his The Illuminated Life of the Great Yolmowa.[1] As a … [Read more...]
Dorjee, Lama Dudjom. Falling Off the Roof of the World: The Autobiography of the Venerable Lama Dudjom Dorjee. PA: Infinity Publishing, 2006.
Dudjom Dorjee was born to a nomadic family in eastern Tibet in the middle 20th century. He was born near a mountain called Pajiri. He is the second child in his family. The first boy, however, died at age one or two. His father’s name was Karma Tsultrim, who was a monk when he was young, and later gave up his vows and got married. His mother’s name was Chodun Dorjee, who was … [Read more...]
The Life of Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo
Tracy Howard Abstract Jamyang Khyentsé Wangpo (‘jam dbyangs mkhyen brtse dbang po) was a nineteenth-century Tibetan lama, scholar, and visionary from Kham. Born in 1820 to an aristocratic family from the Kingdom of Derge (sde dge), he was recognized at a young age as an incarnate lama (sprul sku). Within his lifetime he was renowned for his impressive scholarship, … [Read more...]
Spiritual Biography of Marpa the Translator
Summary of the Spiritual Biography of Marpa the Translator India Wilson In 2000 Sri Satguru Publications published The Spiritual Biography of Marpa the Translator, providing an insightful English Language biography of one of the most influential figures in the Kagyu Lineage. Written by the 20th-century teacher, Thrangu Rinpoche (Geshe Lharampa), the biography … [Read more...]
Fearless in Tibet
The Biography of Tertön Sogyal Tertön Sogyal or Lerab Linpa was a treasure reveler, a tertön, who was born in the year of the Fire Dragon (1856) in Shiwa Village, in Nearing, Eastern Tibet. His family was descended from a financially secure lineage in upper Nyarong in Kham. Dargye, Sonam Gyalop’s father, encouraged his son to follow in the footsteps of the warrior chief … [Read more...]
Xue yu qiu fa ji (Seeking the Dharma in the Snow Land)
Review of Xue yu qiu fa ji by Xing Suzhi. Yiqiang Gong Abstract: Xue yu qiu fa ji (Seeking the Dharma in the Snow Land) is an autobiography based on the oral history of Xing Suzhi, whose Tibetan name is Blo bzang brtson 'grus. The book, only published in Chinese, mainly records Xing’s journey to and experience in Tibet from the 1930s to 1949. Xing was a Han Chinese born in … [Read more...]
The Magical Play of Illusion
Review of The Magical Play of Illusion Brittany Remark ABSTRACT: Trijang Rinpoche’s book The Magical Play of Illusion: The Autobiography of Trijang Rinpoche (skyabs rje khri byang rdo rje 'chang chen po'i gsung rnam 'khrul snang sgyu ma'i zlos gar) describes his life and his work as junior tutor to the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. It covers the time from his birth in 1901 to 1975, … [Read more...]