- Paperback: 460 pages
- Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (Jan 28 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0520232607
- ISBN-13: 978-0520232600
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 15.4 x 2.9 cm
- Shipping Weight: 635 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #420,248 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"Dreyfus provides an engaging and comprehensive study of Tibetan scholasticism as a living tradition among exile communities in India."--Buddhadharma
Book Description
A unique insider's account of day-to-day life inside a Tibetan monastery, The Sound of Two Hands Clapping reveals to Western audiences the fascinating details of monastic education. Georges B. J. Dreyfus, the first Westerner to complete the famous Ge-luk curriculum and achieve the distinguished title of geshe, weaves together eloquent and moving autobiographical reflections with a historical overview of Tibetan Buddhism and insights into its teachings.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
To contextualize Tibetan scholasticism, I here sketch Tibetan Buddhism, presenting its main elements, describing its lines of evolution, and introducing its main figures. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
To contextualize Tibetan scholasticism, I here sketch Tibetan Buddhism, presenting its main elements, describing its lines of evolution, and introducing its main figures. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Valuable Inside Look at Ge-luk Monasticism,
This review is from: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (Paperback)
Georges Dreyfus is a scholar of truly prodigious learning. In this book he reflects on his unique experience studying in various Ge-luk-ba monastic education centers in the Tibetan exile community in India, particularly at Drepung Loseling and the Institute of Dialectics. Dreyfus displays his great erudition in a fashion that is illuminating and not pedantic. Most of the book is occupied with a historical and philosophical analysis of the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism. In particular, he focuses on two tensions within Ge-luk-ba. The first is the tension between exegesis and debate. The second is the tension between doctrinal allegiance to canonical texts and free and open inquiry into ideas. The picture of Ge-luk-ba scholasticism that emerges from Dreyfus' careful analysis of these twin tensions is a conservative institution that produces brilliant, and sometimes daring, thinkers. This work is extremely valuable to scholars and dedicated practitioners alike, because it provides a unique insider's view of Tibetan Buddhist monastic education. Dreyfus is not only well steeped in the tradition he analyzes; he also maintains his scholarly rigor and critical acumen. Dreyfus explains many practical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are not frequently discussed in Western scholarship. For example, I found it very illuminating to learn that, for scholars, Lam Rim texts and the related "Grounds and Paths" Prajnaparamita literature are not typically treated as literal, programmatic instructions on meditation courses. Rather, they are regarded as presenting systematic, overarching depictions of the Buddhist philosophical universe. This book is filled with important observations of this type. If there is a weakness to this book (other than its rather unfortunate title), it is admittedly one-sided in its sphere of interest. It struck me as highly significant that the word "compassion" scarcely appears in this book. I believe it can be read in part as an apology for a style of monastic engagement, which places an enormous emphasis on study and debate, while not formally encouraging meditative praxis. This book focuses on the development of prajna on the basis of study and reflection, but strongly underemphasizes the soteriological aspect of Buddhism. Of course, it is the author's prerogative to focus on their area of interest, and Dreyfus has done so with a magisterial understanding of the issues in question, carefully honed by decades of research. A wonderful book.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews) 44 of 44 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely Valuable Inside Look at Ge-luk Monasticism,
By Barnaby A Thieme - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (Paperback)
Georges Dreyfus is a scholar of truly prodigious learning. In this book he reflects on his unique experience studying in various Ge-luk-ba monastic education centers in the Tibetan exile community in India, particularly at Drepung Loseling and the Institute of Dialectics. Dreyfus displays his great erudition in a fashion that is illuminating and not pedantic. Most of the book is occupied with a historical and philosophical analysis of the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism. In particular, he focuses on two tensions within Ge-luk-ba. The first is the tension between exegesis and debate. The second is the tension between doctrinal allegiance to canonical texts and free and open inquiry into ideas. The picture of Ge-luk-ba scholasticism that emerges from Dreyfus' careful analysis of these twin tensions is a conservative institution that produces brilliant, and sometimes daring, thinkers. This work is extremely valuable to scholars and dedicated practitioners alike, because it provides a unique insider's view of Tibetan Buddhist monastic education. Dreyfus is not only well steeped in the tradition he analyzes; he also maintains his scholarly rigor and critical acumen. Dreyfus explains many practical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are not frequently discussed in Western scholarship. For example, I found it very illuminating to learn that, for scholars, Lam Rim texts and the related "Grounds and Paths" Prajnaparamita literature are not typically treated as literal, programmatic instructions on meditation courses. Rather, they are regarded as presenting systematic, overarching depictions of the Buddhist philosophical universe. This book is filled with important observations of this type. If there is a weakness to this book (other than its rather unfortunate title), it is admittedly one-sided in its sphere of interest. It struck me as highly significant that the word "compassion" scarcely appears in this book. I believe it can be read in part as an apology for a style of monastic engagement, which places an enormous emphasis on study and debate, while not formally encouraging meditative praxis. This book focuses on the development of prajna on the basis of study and reflection, but strongly underemphasizes the soteriological aspect of Buddhism. Of course, it is the author's prerogative to focus on their area of interest, and Dreyfus has done so with a magisterial understanding of the issues in question, carefully honed by decades of research. A wonderful book. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous...,
By book addict - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (Paperback)
Wonderful book providing factual insights into a seemingly mysterious world. I thought that I would look at just a few pages but now I don't want to miss any of it. The book makes it easier understand the rigorous scholastic training that enables the Dalai Lama to speak fluently and logically on any given topic to any audience - without written notes.Minor details: the Western reader could use a map of Tibet's various regions and the locations of the major monasteries, Also useful for the non-Tibetan scholar would be notes reminding the non-Buddhist scholar of the meaning of terms such as Theravada, Hinayana, Mahayana and Vipassana. Overall totally captivating. 2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Incisive look at the Gelugpa monastic training,
By P.J. Neastroem "Psychologist,author 'The Scie... - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (Paperback)
Dreyfus is to be congratulated for having written a very readable and penetrating look into the training in the Gelugpa tradition. It portrays a fascinating journey deep into the worldview and mind of a very different culture, which unveils some interesting, fundamental assumptions of both his own Western culture as well as that of the Tibetan. It is an honest and balanced account, which sometimes identifies painfully troubling aspects, sometimes wonderful features of this most profound tradition. He also makes enlightening and relevant reflections, based on Western thinkers, which sheds refreshing perspectives on the monastic life. The book is of particular interest to those who have done some reading, and perhaps practice, in the Tibetan tradition and who are interested in getting a better look at, for instance, debate in practice.Thank you Mr. Dreyfus! |
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