The sound of two hands clapping : the education of a Tibetan Buddhist monk / Georges B.J. Dreyfus.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dreyfus, Georges B. J.

Series:

A Phillip E. Lilienthal book

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhist monks--Education--China--Tibet Autonomous Region.

Buddhist monks.

Buddhist education--China--Tibet Autonomous Region.

Buddhist education.

Monastic and religious life (Buddhism)--China--Tibet Autonomous Region.

Monastic and religious life (Buddhism).

Buddhist monks--Training of.

China--Tibet Autonomous Region.

Physical Description:

xv, 445 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Berkeley, Calif : University of California Press, ©2003.

Summary:

As one of the first Westerners to become a Tibetan monk and Geshe (the equivalent of a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist theology), Dreyfus leads us on a journey through his experience with Tibetan monastic education. Part autobiography, part history, part theoretical discourse -- an insightful study filled with theological debate.

Contents:

PART I. THE CONTEXT

Tibetan Buddhism: a brief historical overview

Tibetan monasticism

Becoming a monk: teacher and discipline

PART II. TIBETAN SCHOLASTIC PRACTICES

Literacy and memorization

General structure of the Tibetan curriculum

Two curricular models

Scholasticism and orality: myth and reality

Commentary and meditation

Supplement: hermeneutical or deconstructive?

Debate as practice

Debate in the curriculum

Is debate a mode of inquiry?

PART III. REFLECTIONS

Rationality and spirit cult

Limits of the inquiry

Conclusion: past and future uncertainties.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 401-417) and index.

ISBN:

0520232593

9780520232594

0520232607

9780520232600

OCLC:

47996118

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license

Online:

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