Markus Viehbeck

Markus Viehbeck - A Restless Rnying ma Reviver:
The Life of 'Ju Mi pham (1846–1912) and the Debates with the Dge lugs pa-Tradition

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December 6, 2009 at IBA
'Ju Mi pham was undoubtedly one of the most influential figures of the Rnying ma tradition. Not only was he known as a great yogi, but also for his effort in forming a distinctive scholastic system for his own radition. This effort manifested itself in the composition of commentaries on the most important Indian texts, which he wrote – at times – in sharp contrast to the interpretations of other Tibetan philosophers.

The first part of the lecture addresses important stations of the unsettled life of Mi pham, illustrated by the use of maps and photos. The second part of the lecture focuses on one specific episode in Mi pham's life, the debates that evolved between him and certain Dge lugs pa scholars after the composition of his controversial commentary on the Bodhicaryāvatāra.

Markus Viehbeck is a doctoral student of Tibetan and Buddhist studies at the University of Vienna. 

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