Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Buddha-Nature and the Divine

Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Buddha-Nature and the Divine - 12 of 12

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Practical Implications of Shentong Interpretations of Tathāgatagarbha by Lama Shenpen Hookham

Secondary Publications Mentioned

Book

The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga

Tathagatagarbha—Buddha Nature—is a central concept of Mahayana Buddhism crucial to all the living practice traditions of Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. Its relationship to the concept of emptiness has been a subject of controversy for seven hundred years. Dr. Hookham's work investigates the divergent interpretations of these concepts and the way the TIbetan tradition is resolving them.

In particular she does this with reference to the only surviving Indian commentary on the Tathagatagarbha doctrine, the Ratnagotravibhaga. This text addresses itself directly to the issue of how to relate the doctrine of emptiness (the illusory nature of the world) to that of the truly existing, changeless Absolute (the Buddha Nature).

This is the first work by a Western writer to present an analysis of the Shentong tradition based on previously untranslated sources. The Shentong view rests on meditative experience that is inaccessible to the conceptualizing mind. It is deeply rooted in the sutra tradition of Indian Buddhism and is central to an understanding of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions and Tantric practice among the Kagyupas and Nyingmapas.

(Source: SUNY Press)

Hookham, S. K. The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991.

Hookham, S. K. The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991.;The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga;Kagyu;Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra;gzhan stong;'jam mgon kong sprul;Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos snying po'i don mngon sum lam gyi bshad pa srol dang sbyar ba'i rnam par 'grel ba phyir mi ldog pa seng ge'i nga ro;Mahamudra;Terms;gotra;Shenpen Hookham;The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga

About the video

Featuring	Shenpen Hookham, Karma Phuntsho
Creator	Tsadra Foundation
Director	Perman, M.
Producer	Tsadra Foundation
Event	Practical Implications of Shentong Interpretations of Tathāgatagarbha by Lama Shenpen Hookham (30 July 2022, Wales and Bhutan)
Related Website	Buddha-Nature
Creation Date	30 July 2022
Citation	Hookham, Shenpen. "On Buddha-Nature and the Divine." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP_GgoGx93c.