Tibetan Graduate Studies Seminar
Activity Overview
Episode publication activity over the past year
Episodes
Nidhi (treasure) in the Jayadrathayāmala, a 10th century tantric compendium from Kashmir (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Olga Serbaeva describes how the Jayadrathayāmala envisaged magically discovered nidhi (treasure) as an integral part of its soteriological program. T...
Treasure and archaeology: reflections on the Begram hoard and the interpretation of deposits of valuable objects (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lauren Morris examines archaeologically discovered hoards: how does one tell if their concealment was pragmatic, or ritual? And can one always even ma...
Do they think money grows on trees? Yakṣas, nāgās and nidhis (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
19 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Guy looks at the embracing presence of gods of place in early Buddhist art. This talk begins with the premise that subcontinental ancient India w...
Deep Histories: the ground-waters of serpentine treasure guardians (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
29 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Veronica Strang explores the role of serpentine water beings as guardians of treasures. Drawing examples from a major comparative study of water deiti...
Asian Territorial Deity Cosmologies as Vehicles for the Transmission of Buddhadharma (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Mayer's analysis of Guru Chowang's enduring connection between territorial deity cosmologies and the preservation of hidden teachings in Tibeta...
Asian Territorial Deity Cosmologies as Vehicles for the Transmission of Buddhadharma (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Mayer's analysis of Guru Chowang's enduring connection between territorial deity cosmologies and the preservation of hidden teachings in Tibeta...
Nāgas and relic treasures in the Mahāvaṃsa (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Scheible uncovers the hidden role of nāgas in defining Buddhist treasures and explores their surprising significance in safeguarding sacred r...
Nāgas and relic treasures in the Mahāvaṃsa (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
05 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Kristin Scheible uncovers the hidden role of nāgas in defining Buddhist treasures and explores their surprising significance in safeguarding sacred r...
The Successive Avatars of the Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī: Termas as Continuous Revelation (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Team presentation on the project "For a Critical History of the Northern Treasures" (FCHNT) Research into the main rDzogs chen cycle of the Northern T...
The Successive Avatars of the Heart Essence of the Ḍākinī: Termas as Continuous Revelation (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Team presentation on the project "For a Critical History of the Northern Treasures" (FCHNT) Research into the main rDzogs chen cycle of the Northern T...
Concealed Prosperity: Why People and Territorial Deities Need Treasures (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the intricate cosmology of territorial deities in Tibet and related concepts of land, prosperity, and fecundity, as well as sociali...
Concealed Prosperity: Why People and Territorial Deities Need Treasures (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This talk explores the intricate cosmology of territorial deities in Tibet and related concepts of land, prosperity, and fecundity, as well as sociali...
Unseen Beings and Tibetan Eco-Daemonology
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Erik Jampa Andersson's presentation delves into the intricate world of Tibetan eco-daemonology and advocates for a deeper understanding of Traditional...
Unseen Beings and Tibetan Eco-Daemonology (Transcript)
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Erik Jampa Andersson's presentation delves into the intricate world of Tibetan eco-daemonology and advocates for a deeper understanding of Traditional...
Recalibrating the Perspective on Tibetan and Himalayan History: Identity- and Nation-Building in Bhutan
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Dr. Dagmar Schwerk presents the work-in-progress of her current research project, an investigation into identity- and nation-building in...
‘Treasures’ (gter ma) and treasure-finders in Yungdrung Bön: a Tibetan tradition spanning a thousand years (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This talk presents an outline of the Yungdrung Bön ’Treasure’ tradition The Tibetan Bön religion, often called Yungdrung (‘Eternal’) Bön by...
‘Treasures’ (gter ma) and treasure-finders in Yungdrung Bön: a Tibetan tradition spanning a thousand years (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This talk presents an outline of the Yungdrung Bön ’Treasure’ tradition The Tibetan Bön religion, often called Yungdrung (‘Eternal’) Bön by...
Yoginīs, Revelation, and Hidden Knowledge in Tantric Śaivism (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This presentation examines Śākta transformations of conceptions of revelation and the transmission of esoteric knowledge in Mantramārga Śaivism Th...
Yoginīs, Revelation, and Hidden Knowledge in Tantric Śaivism (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This presentation examines Śākta transformations of conceptions of revelation and the transmission of esoteric knowledge in Mantramārga Śaivism Th...
Nectar, Water, or Blood? A Buddhist History of Perceptual Relativism
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Jacob Fisher presents his research on a history of the Buddhist discussions surrounding perceptual relativism, in India and Tibet Indian...
Nectar, Water, or Blood? A Buddhist History of Perceptual Relativism (Transcript)
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Jacob Fisher presents his research on a history of the Buddhist discussions surrounding perceptual relativism, in India and Tibet Indian...
Nectar, Water, or Blood? A Buddhist History of Perceptual Relativism
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Jacob Fisher presents his research on a history of the Buddhist discussions surrounding perceptual relativism, in India and Tibet Indian...
A Chorus of Voices Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī Rong-zom Chos-kyi-bzang-po’s Commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, and Its Indian Sources
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Bajetta takes us through Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo's commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, a hymn of praise dedicated to Mañjuśrī Among the circa ...
A Chorus of Voices Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī Rong-zom Chos-kyi-bzang-po’s Commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, and Its Indian Sources (Transcript)
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicola Bajetta takes us through Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo's commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, a hymn of praise dedicated to Mañjuśrī Among the circa ...
Sūtra in Early Buddhist Treasure Texts (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Reinier Langelaar’s talk on early Tibetan treasure literature’s influences, inspirations, and narrative themes Early Tibetan treasure literature w...
Sūtra in Early Buddhist Treasure Texts (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Reinier Langelaar’s talk on early Tibetan treasure literature’s influences, inspirations, and narrative themes Early Tibetan treasure literature w...
Early Teachings on the Four Phurpas and the Relationship between the Revelatory and Transmitted Textual Tradition (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Early teachings on the Four Phurpas in the light of the Eightfold Buddha Word, Embodying the Sugatas (bka' brgyad bde gshegs 'dus pa) revelation of My...
Early Teachings on the Four Phurpas and the Relationship between the Revelatory and Transmitted Textual Tradition (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Early teachings on the Four Phurpas in the light of the Eightfold Buddha Word, Embodying the Sugatas (bka' brgyad bde gshegs 'dus pa) revelation of My...
Exploring relationships between theory of practice and practice by looking at the Abhisamayālaṃkāra in Gelukpa scholasticism (Transcript)
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chandra Ehm's investigation into the foundations of the Geluk monastic curriculum The commentarial corpus of the Abhisamayālaṃkāra, as we find it ...
Exploring relationships between theory of practice and practice by looking at the Abhisamayālaṃkāra in Gelukpa scholasticism
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chandra Ehm's investigation into the foundations of the Geluk monastic curriculum The commentarial corpus of the Abhisamayālaṃkāra, as we find it ...
The Transformation of Nyingma Identity: Some Key Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education (Transcript)
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Hobhouse on Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education This presentation, which draws upon the speaker’s ongoing PhD research,...
The Transformation of Nyingma Identity: Some Key Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education
17 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Hobhouse on Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education This presentation, which draws upon the speaker’s ongoing PhD research,...
Forms of Buddhist treasures (re)discovered in Kalmykia (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Valeriya Gazizova's talk on several cases of ‘treasure’ concealment and discoveries in the Buddhist society of postsocialist Kalmykia I shall disc...
Forms of Buddhist treasures (re)discovered in Kalmykia (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
01 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Valeriya Gazizova's talk on several cases of ‘treasure’ concealment and discoveries in the Buddhist society of postsocialist Kalmykia I shall disc...
Exploring Rendawa’s Madhyamaka Legacy
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Drukgyel Tsering's talk on Rendawa Shonu Lodro (1349–1412), the famed teacher of Lama Tsongkhapa and important progenitor of Madhyamaka philosophy i...
Exploring Rendawa’s Madhyamaka Legacy (Transcript)
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Drukgyel Tsering's talk on Rendawa Shonu Lodro (1349–1412), the famed teacher of Lama Tsongkhapa and important progenitor of Madhyamaka philosophy i...
The Rgyud sde spyi rnam ascribed to Rin chen bzang po (958–1055) and its authoritative sources
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sonam Choden discusses Lo tsā ba Rin chen bzang po's composition of his "General Presentation of the Tantric Systems" and its authoritative sources W...
The Rgyud sde spyi rnam ascribed to Rin chen bzang po (958–1055) and its authoritative sources (Transcript)
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sonam Choden discusses Lo tsā ba Rin chen bzang po's composition of his "General Presentation of the Tantric Systems" and its authoritative sources W...
How Tibetans Received and Perceived the Yuan Edicts: Some Preliminary Observations
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This lecture highlights Tibetan responses to the Mongol imperial bureaucratic practices during the 14th century The value of government documents for ...
How Tibetans Received and Perceived the Yuan Edicts: Some Preliminary Observations (Transcript)
15 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This lecture highlights Tibetan responses to the Mongol imperial bureaucratic practices during the 14th century The value of government documents for ...
Theorizing Buddhist Revelation in the Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture and its theory on scriptual revelation in the Mahāyāna tradition. The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dh...
Theorizing Buddhist Revelation in the Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture and its theory on scriptual revelation in the Mahāyāna tradition. The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dh...
A typology of modes of revelations in Chinese religious history (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Vincent Goossaert's talk on the ritual production of revelation in Chinese religious history This talk will provide an overview of the modes of produc...
A typology of modes of revelations in Chinese religious history (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Vincent Goossaert's talk on the ritual production of revelation in Chinese religious history This talk will provide an overview of the modes of produc...
Towards a textual discourse analysis of Longchenpa’s writings on Buddha nature
10 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Gregory Forgues presents his research on Longchenpa's writings on Buddha nature This presentation offers a new perspective on the discourse of Longche...
Variants of the Rudra Subjugation Myth: Contrasting Themes in the Legends of Mahākāla and Vajrabhairava (Transcript)
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Bailey's talk on wrathful deities and their myths While the Rudra/Maheśvara subjugation myth is well known in Tantric Studies there exist a g...
Variants of the Rudra Subjugation Myth: Contrasting Themes in the Legends of Mahākāla and Vajrabhairava
11 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Cameron Bailey's talk on wrathful deities and their myths While the Rudra/Maheśvara subjugation myth is well known in Tantric Studies there exist a g...
The Rise of Guru Yoga in Twelfth-Century Tibet
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zim Pickens looks at the origins of guru or lama worship in Tibet, introducing us to the Indian antecedents and the Tibetan emphasis on the role and s...
The Rise of Guru Yoga in Twelfth-Century Tibet (Transcript)
09 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Zim Pickens looks at the origins of guru or lama worship in Tibet, introducing us to the Indian antecedents and the Tibetan emphasis on the role and s...
Treasure Hunting in the Philippine Islands (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Where to Look for the Missing Plunder of Pirates, Ghosts, Rebels, Fairies, Colonisers, and Dictators Lost treasure is a recurrent motif in Philippine ...
Treasure Hunting in the Philippine Islands (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Where to Look for the Missing Plunder of Pirates, Ghosts, Rebels, Fairies, Colonisers, and Dictators Lost treasure is a recurrent motif in Philippine ...
'Tibetanness' in Dharamsala - how does the youngest generation of artists define their identity?
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Paulina Koniuch introduces us to the latest Tibetan art trends in social media and how Tibetan identities are negotiated Expressing one’s identity w...
Displacement: Tibetan Buddhist Contributions to the International Humanitarian Field
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Kilby's talk explores Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on displacement that can inform the international humanitarian response to the displacement cri...
Dharmabhāṇakas, Siddhas, Avatārakasiddhas, and gTer stons (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This lecture offers a new look at the origins of Gter ma literature in an intertextual framework. Academic authors on the origins of gter ma have gene...
Early Explanations for the Appearance of Mahāyāna sūtras (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
08 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A presentation looking at how early Mahayana sutras explain where they came from. This presentation argues that the authors of these texts shared a ge...
Revelation and Rediscovery: Early Medieval Indian Origin Myths of the Tantras (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
David Gray talks about revelatory or "treasure" texts from Indian and Tibetan perspectives in a comparative framework. This presentation will attempt ...
Perfected Beings in Human Form: The Siddha Tradition in Śaiva Tantra (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Nemec's talk on the origin of siddha and its polysemic application in Sanskrit textual sources. It is well known that the term “siddha” comes...
Perfected Beings in Human Form: The Siddha Tradition in Śaiva Tantra (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
John Nemec's talk on the origin of siddha and its polysemic application in Sanskrit textual sources. It is well known that the term “siddha” comes...
The Dharmabhāṇaka’s Body and the Ontologization of Authority (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series)
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This talk by Natalie Gummer explores the role of Dharmabhāṇaka – those who recite the Dharma – in Mahāyāna Sutras In this presentation, Natal...
The Dharmabhāṇaka’s Body and the Ontologization of Authority (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This talk by Natalie Gummer explores the role of Dharmabhāṇaka – those who recite the Dharma – in Mahāyāna Sutras In this presentation, Natal...
Medicine Mountains along the Himalayas: Healing, Trade, and Ecology
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Greater Himalayas extend through many different kinds of community. This lecture considers several ‘medicine mountains’, particular mountains ...
Why Go on Pilgrimage? Geomancy and the Transformational Powers of Sacred Places in Tibetan Buddhism and Bon
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
This presentation considers the association between pilgrimage and healing in Tibet through an exploration of the process whereby natural sites are im...
Reading khrims Between the Lines: The Rise of Legality in 13th Century Central Tibet
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Daniel introduces us to the term khrims and looks at the “rise of legality” in 13th century Central Tibet. What were Tibetan ideas concerning the...
Virūpa is Virūpākṣa: Towards an Indo-Tibetan Siddha Corpus
12 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Westin Harris opens the dialogue between Tibetan, Nāth and Yoga studies centred around the figure of Virūpa As the supposed originator of haṭhayog...
Buddhism and Gender Perspectives in Sikkim: Historical and Contemporary Approaches
10 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The talk explores the historical and contemporary influence of women in Sikkim from a Buddhist perspective Sikkim is a former Buddhist kingdom in the...
Connections in the Making and Meaning of the Art of Bhutan and Tibet in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries: A Study of the Wall Paintings at Tango Monastery
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Pu Lan discusses her PhD project, which explores the 17th-century Monastery of Tango and how it illustrates the development of wall painting technolog...
The Geluk Domestication of Tantra
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Brenton Sullivan presents his new book "Building a Religious Empire: Tibetan Buddhism, Bureaucracy, and the Rise of the Gelukpa" and discuss the third...
Layers of Protection: Everyday Life with Empowered Objects
02 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In her talk, Inger Vasstveit discusses “empowered objects” - small Buddhist objects that people wear on their person - in relation to the broader ...
Fervent admiration and devotion: Exploring devotional literature in the collected works of the 3rd Dodrupchen
02 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Renée Ford's introduction to the devotional literature in the collected works of the 3rd Dodrupchen composed in admiration of his late teacher Jamyan...
The Role of Prophecies in the Construction of the Geluk Tradition
03 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this talk, Michael Ium explores the role of prophecies in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition. The focus of this presentation ...
Liu pin fo lou (Building of Six Classes of Sutra and Tantra), the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon in the Forbidden City
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ziyi Shao takes us to the reign of the Qianlong Emperor and will show us around the Fan hua lou (Hall of Buddhist Efflorescence), one of the most comp...
Culture of Emotions: Uses and Interpretations of Musical Heritage in the Tibetan Refugee Community of Dharamsala
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Chloé Lukasiewicz talk on the significance of music in the Tibetan refugee community in Dharamsala, India Little work on emotions in migration exists...
Buddhism and the Rise of ‘the Tibetans’ (bod pa): Religion, Myth and the Promotion of Ethnicity in the Pre-modern Period
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Apropos 'the Tibetans': Reinier Langelaar's talk focuses on the mythical origins and the promotion of ethnicity in historical Tibet There are ongoing ...
Human Remains in Tibetan Material Religion: An object centered approach
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ayesha Fuentes shares a unique and interdisciplinary insight into art conservation of human remains in Tibetan material religion This talk introduces ...
Sacred Trash, Trash Talks, And Personhood
29 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bo Wang discussing the practice of depositing garments as offerings to sacred mountains in Eastern Tibet Different interpretations of what constitutes...
The First Tibetan Block Print: The Khara-Khoto Collection of Precious Dhāraṇīs with the Emperor's Postscript
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Alla Sizova discusses the role of translation activities in the spread of Buddhism in the 12th century and outlines the extent of Tibetan influence on...
Fictional Facts or Factual Fiction? The Social Reality behind Kha stag ʼDzam yag’s "Diary" and Lhag pa Don grub’s "Life of a mule driver"
04 Jun 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fictional Facts or Factual Fiction? Lucia Galli's talk on self-representation and the social reality behind two Tibetan memoirs Cultural meanings and ...
The Mortality of the Dalai Lama and its Scriptural Sources: A Study in Tibetan Buddhist Political Theology
21 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
I am currently focusing on the problem of the Dalai Lama’s mortality that is, the question of how to come to terms with his suffering and death, in ...
Preliminary Practices: Bloody Knees, Calloused Palms and the Transformative Nature of Women’s Labor
14 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Preliminary Practices not only initiate practitioners into a specific tradition, but also more fundamentally, into Vajrayana Buddhism as it is pra...
Writing about the Nechung Oracle
07 May 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Christopher Bell's talk about oracles, protector deities, and other mysteries The Dalai Lama has sought and trusted the advice of the Nechung Oracle f...