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From Buddha-Nature
The 2019 Vienna Symposium
Increased attention to the tathāgatagarbha doctrine in the last decade has lead to significant publications and meetings on the topic of buddha-nature and related themes. Scholars in Asia, Europe, and the Americas have published new translations and studies of the foundational scriptures and commentaries, and are examining the history and literature of the doctrine. In July 2019 Tsadra Foundation partnered with the University of Vienna to bring many of these scholars together for an international symposium titled Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia.
Over three days the symposium surveyed the differing forms of tathāgatagarbha doctrine that developed as its primary Indian scriptural sources were translated, transmitted, and interpreted by religious schools across Asia. Contemporary Buddhist teachers joined academics at the podium. Presentations ranged from the historical-philological analysis of the primary sources to issues of reconstruction and comparison in the target languages and cultures and included how tathāgatagarbha is taught in Buddhist communities today. Although primarily focused on the Indian and Himalayan material, the diversity in approaches and subject matter made for fruitful comparisons and discussions.
All presentations were recorded, and the videos are available below. Organizers are planning on publishing the proceedings of the symposium in book form, and for this reason transcripts of the talks are not being released.
The Symposium Sessions
The Symposium Sessions
Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Welcome Speech of the 2019 Tathāgatagarbha Symposium: Opening Remarks by Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. “Welcome Speech of the 2019 Tathāgatagarbha Symposium.” Opening remarks presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 5:55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3eFot99daI.;
Donald Lopez
Tathāgatagarbha: A Brief History
Lopez, Donald S., Jr. “Tathāgatagarbha: A Brief History.” Keynote lecture at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 40:17. https://youtu.be/0SSSdNNbeu8.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, Key Terms/guṇapāramitā, People/Asaṅga, Texts/Laṅkāvatārasūtra, Texts/Śrīmālādevīsūtra, Texts/Tathāgatagarbhasūtra, Texts/Aṅgulimālīyasūtra, Texts/Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra, Texts/Bde gshegs snying po gsal ba'i rgyan, People/Tsong kha pa, Key Terms/ālayavijñāna, People/Gimello, R., Key Terms/tathatā, People/Obermiller, E., Articles/A History of Buddha-Nature Theory: The Literature and Traditions, Texts/Dasheng qixin lun, People/Vasubandhu, People/Schopen, G., People/Bhāvaviveka, People/Burnouf, E., People/Lcang skya rol pa'i rdo rje, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Tibet, Topics/History of buddha-nature in China, Topics/History of buddha-nature in India, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Japan, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa’s Defense of Dol po pa’s Clear-Cut Distinction between Buddha Nature and the Ground Consciousness
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. “Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa’s Defense of Dol po pa’s Clear-Cut Distinction between Buddha Nature and the Ground Consciousness.” Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 40:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-ALrY63cho.; People/'gos lo tsA ba gzhon nu dpal, Key Terms/trisvabhāva, Key Terms/pariniṣpannasvabhāva, Key Terms/paratantrasvabhāva, Key Terms/parikalpitasvabhāva, Key Terms/Jonang, Texts/Laṅkāvatārasūtra, Texts/Śrīmālādevīsūtra, People/Karmapa, 3rd, Texts/Tathāgatagarbhasūtra, Texts/Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśaparivarta, People/Dol po pa, Texts/Mahāyānottaratantraśāstropadeśa, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā, Key Terms/ālayavijñāna, Key Terms/Yogācāra, People/Zhang ston bsod nams grags pa, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Filippo Brambilla
Empty of True Existence, Yet Full of Qualities. Tshogs gnyis rgya mtsho (1880–1940) on Buddha Nature
Brambilla, Filippo. "Empty of True Existence, Yet Full of Qualities. Tshogs gnyis rgya mtsho (1880–1940) on Buddha Nature." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 41:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1cTYaIFa4g; Key Terms/neyārtha, Key Terms/nītārtha, Key Terms/prasajyapratiṣedha, Key Terms/tridharmacakrapravartana, Key Terms/Jonang, Key Terms/Geluk, People/Dol po pa, Texts/Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra, Topics/Buddha-nature as Emptiness, Key Terms/guṇa, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra, People/Ngag dbang tshogs gnyis rgya mtsho, Texts/Kun mkhyen jo nang pa chen po'i dgongs pa gzhan stong dbu ma'i tshul legs pa bshad mthar 'dzin gdung 'phrog, Texts/Kun mkhyen jo nang pa'i bzhes dgongs dbu tshad kyi gzhung spyi dang gung bsgrigs te spyod pa'i spyi don rab gsal snang ba
Martina Draszczyk
Buddha Nature as Seen by Early Bka’ brgyud Masters
Draszczyk, Martina. "Buddha Nature as Seen by Early Bka’ brgyud Masters." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 37:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoMUdg40Qv8.; Key Terms/paryudāsapratiṣedha, Key Terms/prasajyapratiṣedha, Key Terms/Kagyu, Key Terms/Kadam, People/Karmapa, 3rd, People/Sgam po pa, People/Btsan kha bo che, Texts/Dam chos yid bzhin gyi nor bu thar pa rin po che'i rgyan, Key Terms/Tsen Tradition, Key Terms/dharmakāya, People/La yag pa byang chub dngos grub, Topics/Buddha-nature as Emptiness, Key Terms/guṇa, Topics/Defining buddha-nature, Topics/Mahamudra
Khenpo Tamphel
The Difference Between a Sentient Being and a Buddha: 'Jig rten gsum mgon’s Instruction on the Process of Confusion
Tamphel, Khenpo Könchok. "The Difference Between a Sentient Being and a Buddha: 'Jig rten gsum mgon’s Instruction on the Process of Confusion." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 47:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GbYgx3ozDM.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, People/'bri gung skyob pa 'jig rten mgon po, Key Terms/Ngok Tradition, Key Terms/Tsen Tradition, Key Terms/dharmakāya, Key Terms/dharmatā, Key Terms/kun gzhi, Topics/Mahamudra, Topics/Sentient beings, Topics/Drikung Kagyu, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Uttaratantraśāstra: A New French Translation from Tibetan According to ‘Jam mgon Kong sprul’s Commentary
Charrier, Christian, and Patrick Carré. "Uttaratantraśāstra: A New French Translation from Tibetan According to ‘Jam mgon Kong sprul’s Commentary." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 40:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgz0XThTwGE.; People/'jam mgon kong sprul, Topics/Textual study, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra, Texts/Phyir mi ldog pa seng ge'i nga ro
Douglas Duckworth
Sentient Beings Within: Buddha-Nature and the Great Perfection
Duckworth, Douglas. "Sentient Beings Within: Buddha-Nature and the Great Perfection." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 42:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slBWdnUfS8w.; Key Terms/gotra, Key Terms/rang stong, Key Terms/Nyingma, Texts/Bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng+ge'i nga ro, People/Mi pham rgya mtsho, Key Terms/dharmakāya, Texts/Gzhan stong khas len seng ge'i nga ro, Topics/Buddha-nature as Emptiness, Key Terms/guṇa, Key Terms/sarvākāravaropetāśūnyatā, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Topics/Sentient beings, Topics/Buddha-nature as Luminosity, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism, Topics/Production model, Dzogchen, Disclosure model
David Higgins
Buddha-Nature and Selfhood
Higgins, David. "Buddha-Nature and Selfhood." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 41:28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHzI1PxptpI.; People/'gos lo tsA ba gzhon nu dpal, Key Terms/guṇapāramitā, People/Karmapa, 8th, Key Terms/ālayavijñāna, Key Terms/dharmakāya, Key Terms/ātman, Key Terms/anātman, Key Terms/sarvākāravaropetāśūnyatā, Key Terms/gzhi, Key Terms/rgyu'i rgyud, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism, Topics/Buddha-nature as Self - Atman, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Indian Buddhism, Topics/Karma Kagyu, Topics/Vajrayana
Shenpen Hookham
The impact of a Shentong interpretation of Tathāgatagarbha doctrine from the point of view of a western Buddhist practitioner
Hookham, Shenpen. "The Impact of a Shentong Interpretation of Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine from the Point of View of a Western Buddhist Practitioner." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 41:03. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IM93AeQIR4I.; Key Terms/rang stong, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Topics/History of buddha-nature in India, Topics/Contemporary, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Early Buddhism, Topics/The Path, Topics/Terminology
Hong Luo
Observing the Link between Self-awareness and Buddha Nature in Ratnākaraśānti’s Prajñāpāramitopadeśa
Luo, Hong. "Observing the Link between Self-awareness and Buddha Nature in Ratnākaraśānti’s Prajñāpāramitopadeśa." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 39:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5iFwWLJUAc.; Key Terms/trisvabhāva, People/Ratnākaraśānti, Key Terms/ālayavijñāna, People/Sthiramati, Key Terms/Yogācāra, People/Paramārtha, Key Terms/svasaṃvedana, Key Terms/prabhāsvaracitta, Topics/History of buddha-nature in India, Topics/Buddha-nature as Luminosity, Key Terms/prabhāsvaratā
Sina Joos
The Role of the Ratnagotravibhāga in Tā ra nā tha’s dBu ma theg mchog
Joos, Sina. "The Role of the Ratnagotravibhāga in Tā ra nā tha’s dBu ma theg mchog." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 40:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxn5XgPGnSU.; Key Terms/gotra, Key Terms/dharmadhātu, Key Terms/guṇapāramitā, Key Terms/nītārtha, Key Terms/paryudāsapratiṣedha, Key Terms/prasajyapratiṣedha, Key Terms/āgantukamala, Key Terms/tridharmacakrapravartana, Key Terms/Jonang, People/Dol po pa, Key Terms/prakṛtisthagotra, Key Terms/dharmakāya, Key Terms/Great Madhyamaka, Texts/Theg mchog shin tu rgyas pa'i dbu ma chen po rnam par nges pa, People/TA ra nA tha, Key Terms/guṇa, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Topics/Terminology, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra, Disclosure model, People/Kun dga' ye shes rgya mtsho
Ngawang Jorden
Revisiting Gorampa on Buddha Nature
Jorden, Khenpo Ngawang. "Revisiting Gorampa on Buddha Nature." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 45:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmhgtw5HwCE.; Key Terms/rang stong, Key Terms/śūnyatā, Key Terms/trisvabhāva, Key Terms/pariniṣpannasvabhāva, Key Terms/paratantrasvabhāva, Key Terms/parikalpitasvabhāva, Key Terms/paramārthasatya, Key Terms/saṃvṛtisatya, Key Terms/Jonang, Key Terms/Sakya, People/Dol po pa, People/Rong ston shes bya kun rig, Texts/Sdom gsum rab dbye, People/Red mda' ba gzhon nu blo gros, People/Go rams pa bsod nams seng ge, Key Terms/Madhyamaka, Texts/Dharmadhātustava, People/Nāgārjuna, Debates / Debate, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Tibet, Topics/Two Truths
Christopher Jones
Selfhood, Secrecy, Singularity: Reassessing the Early Life of the Tathāgatagarbha in India
Jones, Christopher V. "Selfhood, Secrecy, Singularity: Reassessing the Early Life of the Tathāgatagarbha in India." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 45:01. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARzGpIOwFYc.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, Key Terms/buddhadhātu, Texts/Laṅkāvatārasūtra, Texts/Śrīmālādevīsūtra, Texts/Tathāgatagarbhasūtra, Texts/Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśaparivarta, Texts/Mahābherīsūtra, Texts/Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra, Texts/Aṅgulimālīyasūtra, People/Radich, M., Texts/Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā, People/Takasaki, J., Key Terms/dharmakāya, Key Terms/ātman, Key Terms/ekayāna, Topics/History of buddha-nature in India, Topics/Buddha-nature as Self - Atman, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Indian Buddhism, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Early Buddhism, Topics/Terminology, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Kazuo Kano
Examples of the Term tathāgatagarbha Appearing in Indic Tantric Literature
Kano, Kazuo. "Examples of the Term tathāgatagarbha Appearing in Indic Tantric Literature." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 42:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIVDu1Ig7H8.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, People/Ratnākaraśānti, Key Terms/Yogācāra, Key Terms/Madhyamaka, People/Abhayākara, Key Terms/ekayāna, Key Terms/triyāna, Topics/Vajrayana, Topics/Terminology
Casey Forgues
The Luminous Basis for Buddhahood: ’Jig rten mgon po’s Pith Instructions for Merging the Nature of Mind with the Dharmakāya
Kemp, Casey. "The Luminous Basis for Buddhahood: ’Jig rten mgon po’s Pith Instructions for Merging the Nature of Mind with the Dharmakāya." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 41:36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7VQkhK1CE0.; Key Terms/āgantukamala, People/'bri gung skyob pa 'jig rten mgon po, Key Terms/Kagyu, People/Sgam po pa, Key Terms/dharmakāya, People/Mar pa chos kyi blo gros, Key Terms/prabhāsvaracitta, Key Terms/tha mal gyi shes pa, Topics/Mahamudra, Topics/Drikung Kagyu, Topics/Buddha-nature as Luminosity, Topics/Vajrayana, Key Terms/prabhāsvaratā
Seiji Kumagai
How the Concepts of “buddha-nature” (Tathāgatagarbha) and “innate enlightenment” (Hongaku) were interpreted by Shinran (1173-1263)
Kumagai, Seiji. "How the Concepts of 'Buddha-Nature' (Tathāgatagarbha) and 'Innate Enlightenment' (Hongaku) Were Interpreted by Shinran (1173–1263), Founder of the Jōdo-Shin-Shū School of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 47:28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KwdudJF4hc.; People/Shinran, People/Genshin, People/Tanluan, People/Tamura, Y., People/Hōnen, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Japanese Buddhism, Topics/Tien Tai, Topics/Pure Land, Key Terms/original enlightenment
Katrin Querl
Preliminary Notes on the Notion of Buddha Nature in the Single Intention
Querl, Katrin. "Preliminary Notes on the Notion of Buddha Nature in the Single Intention." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 43:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp3GJz3-5DY.; Key Terms/gotra, People/'bri gung skyob pa 'jig rten mgon po, Key Terms/Kagyu, Key Terms/Tsen Tradition, People/'bri gung spyan snga shes rab 'byung gnas, People/Rin chen byang chub, People/Rdo rje shes rab, People/Ngo rje ras pa, People/Drikung Chungtsang, 1st, Topics/Buddha-nature as Emptiness, Key Terms/ekayāna, Key Terms/guṇa, Texts/Dam chos dgongs pa gcig pa, Key Terms/tha mal gyi shes pa, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Tibet, Topics/Mahamudra, Topics/Drikung Kagyu, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism
Kurtis Schaeffer
Notes from the Cave: 'Jigs med gling pa on Buddha-Nature
Schaeffer, Kurtis. "Notes from the Cave: 'Jigs med gling pa on Buddha-Nature." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 37:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x32COWVlJ38.; Key Terms/Nyingma, People/'jigs med gling pa, Texts/Yon tan rin po che'i mdzod dga' ba'i char, Topics/Textual study, Dzogchen
Michael Sheehy
Tantric Zhentong Visions of Tathāgatagarbha in Tibetan Kālacakra Yoga Manuals
Sheehy, Michael. "Tantric Zhentong Visions of Tathāgatagarbha in Tibetan Kālacakra Yoga Manuals." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 46:01. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm7z5pR1EGA.; Key Terms/Jonang, People/Dol po pa, People/Tsong kha pa, People/Yu mo mi bskyod rdo rje, People/Phyogs las rnam rgyal, People/Jo nang lo tsA ba blo gros dpal, People/Nya dbon kun dga' dpal, Topics/Buddha-nature as Emptiness, Key Terms/gzhan stong, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Tibet, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism, Topics/Vajrayana, Texts/Vimalaprabhā, People/Jo nang chos rje yon tan rgya mtsho
Jacqueline Stone
From Buddha Nature to Original Enlightenment “Contemplating Suchness” in Medieval Japan
Stone, Jacqueline. "From Buddha Nature to Original Enlightenment: 'Contemplating Suchness' in Medieval Japan." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 47:26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zXXWsD39hc.; Key Terms/dharmadhātu, Key Terms/neyārtha, Key Terms/nītārtha, Texts/Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra, Key Terms/tathatā, Key Terms/dharmatā, People/Shinran, People/Genshin, Topics/History of buddha-nature in China, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Japan, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Japanese Buddhism, Topics/Tien Tai, Key Terms/original enlightenment, Disclosure model
Dorji Wangchuk
Rong-zom-pa on the Tathāgatagarbha and Pratītyasamutpāda Theories
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Rong-zom-pa on the Tathāgatagarbha and Pratītyasamutpāda Theories." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 45:33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0slogomESI8.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, Key Terms/śūnyatā, People/Asaṅga, Key Terms/Nyingma, People/Dol po pa, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā, People/Rong zom chos kyi bzang po, People/Nāgārjuna, People/Avalokitavrata, Key Terms/pratītyasamutpāda, Topics/History of buddha-nature in Tibet, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism, Topics/Two Truths, Topics/Critical Buddhism, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Michael Zimmermann
New Research on the Concept of Buddha-Nature in India: The Beginnings
Zimmermann, Michael. "New Research on the Concept of Buddha-Nature in India: The Beginnings." Paper presented at the University of Vienna Symposium, Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia, Vienna, Austria, July 2019. Video, 45:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYkBSSAJ-zo.; Key Terms/tathāgatagarbha, Texts/Tathāgatagarbhasūtra, Texts/Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra, Texts/Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra, People/Radich, M., Topics/History of buddha-nature in India, Topics/Defining buddha-nature, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Indian Buddhism, Topics/The doctrine of buddha-nature in Early Buddhism, Topics/Terminology, Topics/Critical Buddhism, Texts/Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra
Photo Gallery
July 16th 2019 - Welcome
July 17th 2019 - Day One
July 18th 2019 - Day Two
July 19th 2019 - Day Three
