Crazy for wisdom [electronic resource] : the making of a mad yogin in fifteenth-century Tibet / by Stefan Larsson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Larsson, Stefan, 1968-

Series:

Brill's Tibetan Studies Library 30.

Brill's Tibetan studies library ; v. 30

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Buddhists--Biography--15th century.

Buddhists.

Gtsang-smyon He-ru-ka, 1452-1507.

Gtsang-smyon He-ru-ka.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (374 p.)

Place of Publication:

Boston : Brill, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

In his early twenties, the Tibetan monk Sangyé Gyaltsen (1452–1507) left his monastery to become a wandering tantric yogin. As he moved from place to place, seeking enlightenment beyond the bounds of monasticism, his behavior became increasingly erratic. While some were shocked or even angered by his actions, others were drawn to him. Tsangnyön’s followers described his transgressive behaviors as enlightened action, rooted in authoritative Buddhist scripture. Using biographical sources, Stefan Larsson explores Sangyé Gyaltsen’s transformation into the charismatic ‘Madman of Tsang,’ Tsangnyön Heruka. Best known today as the author of the Life of Milarepa , Tsangnyön Heruka was one of the most influential mad yogins of Tibet. His biography brings its reader face-to-face with an unexpected aspect of Buddhist practice that flourished in fifteenth-century Tibet.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

1 Introduction

2 Sources

3 Birth and Childhood

4 The Exceptional Monk

5 The Birth of a Heruka

6 The Mad Yogin

7 A Mad Yogin Turns the Wheel of Dharma

8 Tsangnyön Heruka and Tantric Buddhism

9 Tsangnyön’s Own Works

10 Some Key Figures and Texts

Conclusions

Epilogue

Glossary

Tibetan Spelling Key

Appendix 1 Tentative Chronology of the Life of Tsangnyön

Appendix 2 A Summary of the Life of Tsangnyön Heruka

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Revision of the author's thesis (doctoral--University of Stockholm, 2009) under the title: Birth of a Heruka : How Sangs rgyas rgyal mtshan became gTsang smyon Heruka : A Study of a Mad Yogin.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

90-04-23287-7

OCLC:

812481749

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004232877 DOI