Description
Book SynopsisAn insider's account of day-to-day life inside a Tibetan monastery, this text reveals to Western audiences the details of monastic education. Georges B.J. Dreyfus weaves together autobiographical reflections with a historical overview of Tibetan Buddhism and insights into its teachings.
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Note on Translation and Transliteration Acknowledgments Introduction Part I. The Context 1. Tibetan Buddhism: A Brief Historical Overview 2. Tibetan Monasticism 3. Becoming a Monk: Teacher and Discipline Part II. Tibetan Scholastic Practices 4. Literacy and Memorization 5. The General Structure of the Tibetan Curriculum 6. Two Curricular Models 7. Scholasticism and Orality: Myth and Reality 8. Commentary and Meditation 9. The Supplement: Hermeneutical or Deconstructive? 10. Debate as Practice 11. Debate in the Curriculum 12. Is Debate a Mode of Inquiry? Part III. Reflections 13. Rationality and Spirit Cult 14. The Limits of the Inquiry Conclusion: Past and Future Uncertainties Notes Select Bibliography Index
