
Reincarnation in Tibetan Buddhism examines how the third Karmapa hierarch, Rangjung Dorj� (1284-1339) transformed reincarnation from a belief into a lasting Tibetan institution. Born the son of an itinerant, low-caste potter, Rangjung Dorj� went on to become a foundational figure in Tibetan Buddhism and a teacher of the last Mongolian emperor. He became renowned for his contributions to Buddhist philosophy, literature, astrology, medicine, architecture, sacred geography and manuscript production. But, as Ruth Gamble demonstrates, his most important legacy was the transformation of the Karmapa reincarnation lineage to ensure that, after his death, subsequent Karmapas were able to assume power in the religious institutions he had led. The inheritance model of reincarnation instituted by Rangjung Dorj� changed the Tibetan Plateau's power relations, which until that time had been based on family associations, and created a precedent for later reincarnate institutions, including that of the Dalai Lamas.Drawing on Rangjung Dorj�'s hitherto un-translated autobiographies and autobiographical songs, this book shows that his reinvention of reincarnation was a self-conscious and multi-faceted project, made possible by Rangjung Dorj�'s cultural, social, and political standing and specific historical and geographical circumstances. Exploring this combination of agency and historical coincidence, this is the first full-length study of the development of the reincarnation institution.
This book investigates how the third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, transformed the concept of reincarnation from a spiritual belief into a formalized, institutionalized system of power in Tibetan Buddhism. Ruth Gamble, a scholar of Tibetan history and culture, utilizes previously untranslated autobiographical texts and songs to analyze the life and influence of Rangjung Dorje. She argues that the institutionalization of reincarnation was a deliberate, multi-faceted project that shifted power dynamics on the Tibetan Plateau away from traditional family-based inheritance models.
What You Will Find
Scope Limits
Scholars and historians recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of Tibetan institutional history. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the value of the primary source translations provided by the author.
Page Count:
0
Publication Date:
1900-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0190053429
ISBN-13:
9780190053420
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