Property:Bio
From Buddha-Nature
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David Need is Lecturing Fellow of Religion at Duke University. He has taught at Duke since 1999, primarily in Religious Studies. He developed the ICS gateway class and taught it from 2005–2012. His academic expertise is in Asian Religions and in Literature and Religion, with a focus on poetics, ritual, and meditation systems.
In addition to scholarly articles, he has published three books — two are translations and essays on Rainer Maria Rilke, the third is a selection of his own poetry, including a long poem set alongside the Gospel of Mark.
===Current Research Interests===
* Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke
* Non-dual awareness and poetics
* Influence of Buddhism on 20th Century American Poetry
* Women's Religious Experience & Poetics +
Heidi Nevin studied Tibetan language at Manjushri Center for Tibetan Culture (1996-8); apprenticed to Kyabje Chatral Rinpoche (1996-2003); served Lama Tharchin by helping to translate the mkha’ ‘gro thugs thig (Vol. Ma of Dudjom Rinpoche’s Collected Works) and other texts (2006-present). She translated the autobiography of Khenpo Ngakchung (Wondrous Dance of Illusion, Shambhala, 2013, restricted text) and volume one of Dungse Trinley Norbu Rinpoche’s three-volume Collected Works (Shambhala 2022, as Ruby Rosary). She is currently translating volume 20 of the Complete Nyingma Tradition (mdo rgyud mdzod), among other things. Heidi lives in Corvallis, Oregon, USA. +
Celebrated contemporary Sakya scholar who held the office of abbot of Dzongsar Monastery. A brief biography can be found in his obituary published [https://khyentsefoundation.org/project/part-x-khenpo-kunga-wangchuk/ here], and a short video tribute can be watched [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDLFFlEDIyY here]. +
Born in Phadru Lhok village in the Lato Dingri region, he joined school for about four years. Then, he left Tibet and joined Mindrolling Monastery in Dehradun, India. For three years, he learned monastic rituals and language. He got his novice ordination from H.H. Trulzhik Rinpoche and his full monastic ordination from H.H. Taklung Tsetrul Rinpoche. He entered the monastic college in Mindrolling to undertake the nine-year program of studying the 13 great treatises. Even before completing his study, he served as an assistant lecturer, and in 2014, he completed his higher Buddhist education and became a lecturer in the same college for four years and the chief of examination for one year. In 2018, he was awarded the Khenpo title by Mindrolling Monastery. He taught in the Mindrolling college for three years and also worked for four months in the project of creating an extensive catalogue of the Kangyur canon under the aegis of H.H. Darthang Rinpoche. He participated in the Nyingma conferences at Namdrolling twice and currently serves as a teacher at Zhelpa Monastery in Kathmandu. +
He was born in Drukrephud village in Latolho in the Tsang region. From seven to eight, he went to local school, and in 2005 he joined Dongachodzong Monastery in Shar Khambu. In 2007, he joined Sakya College and studied the eighteen great treatises and other sciences for 10 years. In 2015, he obtained the Kachupa degree, in 2017 the Lopen title, and he was conferred the Khenpo title in 2022. After serving as assistant lecturer at Sakya College for two years, he was appointed in 2017 as lecturer for the Sakya tradition at the Central Institute for Higher Tibetan Studies, where he currently works. +
Born in Gayul in Kham in 1974, he joined Labda Ganden Monastery in 1988 and learned prayers and rituals. In 1994, he arrived in India and joined Sera Je Monastery and started his study of Buddhist literature, including the five great treatises. In 1998, he received full monastic ordination from H.H. the Dalai Lama and finished training in the Middle Way and Perfection Studies in 2002 and 2006 respectively. In 2012, 2014, and 2016, he sat for the Grand Geluk Examinations and received the certificates of Karam, Lopen, and Lharam Geshe respectively. Following this, in 2017, he undertook tantric studies at Gyume College and was awarded first place. He presented a paper at the conference on Abhidharma among Buddhist and Bön and organized the conference on the Middle Way view at Sera Monastery and the conference on reality in Pramāṇa literature at Ganden Monastery. Since 2006, he has also been teaching Buddhism and Tibetan language to youth and regularly writes and speaks in newspapers, radio, online forums on Tibetan religion and culture, and gives classes and lectures. Currently, he is about to complete his research on the Middle Way views of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions and is undertaking an in-depth study of Middle Way literature while also teaching at Sera Je. +
Born in 1979 in Khyungpo Tengchen, he became a monk at the age of eight under Lamrim Lama Pema Dorje and joined Dilgo Samtenling Monastery, where he studied reading, writing, prayers, and rituals. In 1996, he arrived in India and joined Ganden Shartse College. He finished his study of the five great treatises and in 2012 sat for the series of Grand Geluk Examinations. In 2018, he finished the course with the final defense for Lharam Geshe at the Grand Prayer Festival. After this, he undertook tantric studies at Gyuto Monastery and in 2019 he served on the Academic Council of Ganden Shartse. He currently teaches at Ganden Shartse and is also undertaking research on the Middle Way under the International Geluk Commission. +
Cuong Tu Nguyen received his PhD from Harvard University (specializing in Indian Buddhism). His works on Vietnamese Buddhism include "Rethinking Vietnamese Buddhist History: Is the ''Then Uyen Tap Anh'' a 'Transmission of the Lamp Text'?" "Tran Thai Tong and Khoa Hu Lue: A Study of Syncretic Ch'an in 13th Century Vietnam," and ''Zen in Medieval Vietnam: A Study and Translation of the Thien Uyen Tap Anh.'' With A. Charles Muller he co-edited ''Wonhyo's Philosophy of Mind'', Volume II, (University of Hawai'i Press). He is Assistant Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at George Mason University. +
Solvej Hyveled Nielsen was born in Denmark in 1987. She mostly translates Tibetan-English (written and oral). Her mother tongue is Danish, and she understands a little bit of German.
Solvej has a B.A. in Buddhist Studies with Himalayan languages rrom Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Kathmandu University. She also has a B.A. and M.A. in Tibetology from Copenhagen University.
She studied Drikung texts and Tibetan history with Dr. Jan-Ulrich Sobisch and also worked with him on a project about Tibetan divination. Since 2015 she has spent her summers with Khenchen Nyima Gyaltsen and the Vikramashila Translation Group at the Milarepa Center, Schneverdingen. ([https://www.drikungtranslation.com/translators/#Solvej Source Accessed Sep 7, 2022]) +
Kosen Nishiyama Roshi is Zen master, teacher and priest, as well as abbot (31st Patriarch) of the Daimanji Temple, a large temple in the northern Japanese metropolis of Sendai with approx. 450 active members. He is also a professor of Buddhology and English at Tohoku Fukushi University. Nishiyama Roshi was born in Sendai in 1939. He received his instruction in Zen in the main monastery of the Japanese Soto School of Zen, the Sojiji Temple in Yokohama. In 1975 his translation of Dogen Zenji's ''Shobogenzo'' was published in English. Nishiyama Roshi also translated Keizan Jokin's ''Denkoroku'' into English (published 1994). The German translations of parts of ''Shobogenzo'' in Theseus and Angkorverlag are based on these translations. ([http://www.weltfriede.at/nishiyama01.htm Source Accessed June 29, 2021]) +
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay Rinpoche was born in Bhutan in 1965. He became a senior colleague at Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the prestigious Buddhist studies and research center, at Namdroling Monastery in Mysore. At the Institute he studied under Khenchen Pema Sherab, Khenpo Namdrol Tsering, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso, and other visiting professors, including Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok and Khenpo Pema Tsewang from Tibet. He completed the Shedra program in 1995 and joined the Institute staff, teaching there for three years. He was formally enthroned as Khenpo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1998 and was assigned by His Holiness to teach at the Buddhist college at Palyul monastery in Tibet. He is now the main resident master at [http://www.palyulnyc.org/npdc/ Palyul Dharma Center] in the New York City metropolitan area.
Official Bio from Palyul Dharma Center:
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay Rinpoche was born in the Tashigang District of Bhutan in 1965. After completing Jigme Sherubling High School in 1986, he joined Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, the prestigious Buddhist studies and research center, at Namdroling Monastery in Mysore. At the Institute he studied under Khenchen Pema Sherab, Khenpo Namdrol Tsering and Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso and other visiting professors, including Khenchen Jigme Phuntsok and Khenpo Pema Tsewang from Tibet.
He completed the Shedra program at the Institute in 1995 and joined the Institute staff, teaching there for three years. He was formally enthroned as Khenpo by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche in 1998 and was assigned by His Holiness to teach at the Buddhist college at Palyul monastery in Tibet.
He has received all the major empowerments of the Rinchen Terzod, Nam Cho, Nyingthik Yabshi and Nyingma Kama from His Holiness Penor Rinpoche as well as the Mipham Kabum from His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
Because of his knowledge and experience, and fluent command of the English language, His Holiness Penor Rinpoche has assigned him to teach students in the United States in conjunction with the ongoing teaching programs offered by Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.([http://www.palyulnyc.org/npdc/about/our-teachers/venerable-khenpo-tenzin-norgay-rinpoche/ Source Accessed April 18, 2022])
Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche is a world-renowned teacher and meditation master in the Kagyu and Nyingma traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He was born in Tibet in 1951 as the oldest son of his mother Kunsang Dechen, a devoted Buddhist practitioner, and his father Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, an accomplished master of Buddhist meditation. As a young child, Chokyi Nyima—"Sun of the Dharma"—was recognized as the 7th incarnation of the Tibetan meditation master Gar Drubchen.
In 1959, following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, Rinpoche's family fled to India where Rinpoche spent his youth studying under some of Tibetan Buddhism’s most illustrious masters, such as His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Khunu Lama Tenzin Gyaltsen, and his father, Kyabje Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche.
In 1974, Rinpoche left India to join his parents in Kathmandu, Nepal, where he assisted them in establishing Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery. Upon its completion in 1976, H.H. the Karmapa enthroned Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche as the monastery's abbot. To this day, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling remains the heart of Rinpoche’s ever-growing mandala of activity. (Source: [https://shedrub.org/about-us/ Shedrub.org]) +
Eugene Obermiller (1901–1935), as a Buddhist scholar, inherited the tradition of Ivan Minayev (1840-1890), the founder of Russian school of Indology and Buddhist studies through his teacher Fyodor Ippolitvich Shcherabatskoy (1866–1942), who was a pupil of Minayev. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Leningrad, he joined Academy of Sciences at Leningrad as an Under Secretary to the Director of the Bibliotheca Buddhica.
His published works include the translation of Bu-ston's ''Tibetan History of Buddhism'' (1932) in two volumes. He also translated the ''Uttaratantra'' or ''Ratnagotravibhaga'' (of Maitreya Asaṅga) from Tibetan and published it in 1932. Obermiller's other important work is the Sanskrit text and Tibetan translation of the ''Abhisamayālamkara'', which he undertook as a joint venture with his teacher Shcherabatskoy and published in 1929. He also contributed papers to the ''Indian Historical Quarterly''. +
Rev. Ichijo Ogawa is the Director of Shinshu Otani-ha Research Institute for Shin Buddhist Studies, Kyoto, Japan, Professor Emeritus, and former President of Otani University, Kyoto, Japan. His main areas of specialization are Chinese, Indian and Buddhist philosophy, and he is the author of numerous articles and books on these topics. +
Shinsui (Mamiko) Okada, a professor emerita at the University of Hyogo, earned a Dr.Phil. at the University of Bonn, Germany. She is an ordained Nichiren-shū priest and a member of the Science Council of Japan. She was also one of the organizers of the Japan Religion Coordinating Project for Disaster Relief, which was organized after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. ([https://rk-world.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/DW18_7-12.pdf Source Accessed Sep 17, 2021]) +
Shohaku Okumura was born in Osaka, Japan in 1948. He is an ordained priest and Dharma successor of Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi in the lineage of Kōdō Sawaki Roshi. He is a graduate of Komazawa University and has practiced at Antaiji with Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi, Zuioji with Narasaki Ikkō Roshi in Japan, and Pioneer Valley Zendo in Massachusetts. He taught at Kyoto Sōtō Zen Center in Japan and Minnesota Zen Meditation Center in Minneapolis. He was the director of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center (previously called Soto Zen Education Center) in San Francisco from 1997 to 2010.
His previously published books of translation include ''Dōgen’s Extensive Record: A Translation of the Eihei Kōroku''; ''Shikantaza: An Introduction to Zazen''; ''Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki: Sayings of Eihei Dōgen Zenji''; ''Heart of Zen: Practice without Gaining-mind'' (previously titled ''Dōgen Zen''); ''Zen Teachings of "Homeless" Kōdō''; ''Opening the Hand of Thought''; ''The Whole Hearted Way: A Translation of Eihei Dōgen’s Bendōwa with Commentary by Kōshō Uchiyama Roshi''; and ''Dōgen’s Pure Standards for the Zen Community: A Translation of Eihei Shingi''. Okumura is also the editor of ''Dōgen Zen and Its Relevance for Our Time''; ''Soto Zen: An Introduction to Zazen''; and ''Nothing is Hidden: Essays on Zen Master Dōgen’s Instructions for the Cook''.
He is the founding teacher of the Sanshin Zen Community, based in Bloomington, Indiana, where he lives with his family. (''Realizing Genjokoan'', about the author) +
Paul Oltramare was a Sanskritist and historian of religious ideas of Ancient India. Born in Geneva in 1854 to a protestant family of university scholars, he was a lecturer who held the chair for Latin literature and language and the chair for religions at the University of Geneva. He had studied under Louis Havet and Michel Bréal during the 1870s in Paris where he had published his thesis on ''L'histoire des idées théosophiques en Inde'' (''The history of theosophical ideas in India'') in a ''Musée Guimet'' collection. Source: Roland Lardinois, ''Scholars and Prophets: Sociology of India from France in the 19th-20th Centuries'' (London: Routledge, 2018), 16. +
Morten Ostensen is the Digital Curator for the Research Department of Tsadra Foundation where he works to create digital editions of major Tibetan literary collections, as well other online resources developed by the research team and their collaborators. He was a frequent resident of Nepal from the mid 1990's until 2015 where he has studied Buddhism as an undergrad, a graduate student, and a doctoral candidate, as well as in more traditional settings. He now lives in upstate New York with his wife and daughter. +
Dr. Tony Page is lecturer in English Literature in the School of Humanities, Bangkok University. He received his Ph.D. in Austrian/German Literature from Oxford University, England, where he also pursued a special interest in Buddhist philosophy. He received his First Class Honours B.A. in German/French Language and Literature from the University of London. He is the author of three books on Buddhist philosophy, and two books on the scientific invalidity of animal experimentation. He is one of the UK’s leading researchers on the Buddhist scripture, the ''Mahāyana Mahāparinirvāna Sūtra'', of which scripture he is the English-language editor and upon which he has lectured at the University of London. ([https://www.bu.ac.th/knowledgecenter/epaper/jan_june2010/pdf/Page_47.pdf Source Accessed April 28, 2020]) +
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo is a bhikṣuṇī in the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. She is an author, teacher and founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery in Himachal Pradesh, India.
Diane Perry grew up in London's East End. At the age of 18 however, she read a book on Buddhism and realised that this might fill a long-sensed void in her life...
In 1963, at the age of 20, she went to India and met her root guru, His Eminence the 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage.
In 1976 she secluded herself in a remote cave 13,000 feet up in the Himalayas, where she stayed for 12 years between the ages of 33 and 45. In this mountain hideaway she faced unimaginable cold, wild animals, floods, snow and rockfalls, grew her own food and slept in a traditional wooden meditation box, three feet square - she never lay down. In 1988 she emerged from the cave with a determination to build a convent in northern India to revive the Togdenma lineage, a long-forgotten female spiritual elite. (Source: ''Cave in the Snow'', Bloomsbury, 1999.)
In 2001 construction began at the Padhiarkar site for the [https://tenzinpalmo.com Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery]. H.E. Khamtrul Rinpoche gave the nunnery the name ''Dongyu Gatsal Ling'', which translates as “Garden of the Authentic Lineage”.
In February 2008 Tenzin Palmo was given the rare title of Jetsunma, which means Venerable Master, by His Holiness the 12th Gyalwang Drukpa, Head of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage in recognition of her spiritual achievements as a nun and her efforts in promoting the status of female practitioners in Tibetan Buddhism.
Tenzin Palmo spends most of the year at Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery and occasionally tours to give teachings and raise funds for the ongoing needs of the DGL nuns and Nunnery.
In addition to her role as Founding Director of Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery, Jetsunma is a former President of Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women, Founding Director of the Alliance of Non Himalayan Nuns, Honorary Advisor to the International Network of Engaged Buddhists, co-president of the International Buddhist Confederation [IBC], and Founding Member of the Committee for Bhiksuni Ordination.
To find out more about Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo’s life, read Vicki Mackenzie’s biography Cave in the Snow published by Bloomsbury, and see the ‘Cave in the Snow’ DVD directed by Liz Thompson and narrated by Rachel Ward. ([https://tenzinpalmo.com/jetsunma-tenzin-palmo/ Source: TenzinPalmo.com])
*Books:
**1999. ''Cave in the Snow: A Western Woman's Quest for Enlightenment'', Bloomsbury.
**2002. ''Reflections on a Mountain Lake'', Shambhala Publications.
**2011. ''Into the Heart of Life'', Snow Lion Publications.
