Re: Western geshes and khenpos
Posted: Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:27 am
Such as?Malcolm wrote:because his views came under such harsh criticism from Sakya scholars such as Gorampa.
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Such as?Malcolm wrote:because his views came under such harsh criticism from Sakya scholars such as Gorampa.
Gorampa, in his commentary on the Madhyamakāvatara lists over a hundred points where he thinks Tsongkhapa erred.Konchog1 wrote:Such as?Malcolm wrote:because his views came under such harsh criticism from Sakya scholars such as Gorampa.
Spillover from another thread. I was talking about the current Karma Kagyu interpretation of Shentong and I said that it was better to ask an ethnically Tibetan lama rather than a white guy. That led to a question about who is authoritative to answer questions about Shentong for the Karma Kagyus, etc.Punya wrote: I wonder why you are asking the question. Not to be provocative but just asking.
The geshe degree is for an academic understanding of Dharma. So they can answer questions and teach within limits.My understanding is that that not all geshes are empowered to teach. I get the impression that a geshe would have a very thorough understanding of the theory but not necessarily be so strong on practice. I'm not so sure about khenpos, but I think this title more specifically designates them as teachers.
Start a new thread!It might be more useful to know which westerners are empowered to teach but I guess that would be a longer list.
What is the difference between loppon and khenpo?Virgo wrote:Malcolm is one of the few people who hold the distinguished title of Loppon.
Kevin
Hmm, no English translation. Could you please bulletpoint some of them here?Malcolm wrote:Gorampa, in his commentary on the Madhyamakāvatara lists over a hundred points where he thinks Tsongkhapa erred.Konchog1 wrote:Such as?Malcolm wrote:because his views came under such harsh criticism from Sakya scholars such as Gorampa.
The standard summary of Gorampa's critiques of Tsongkhapa are to found in his famous "Differentiation of Views".
Thus far, Gorampa's views have not been effectively countered by any Gelug scholar I know as they generally refuse to read Gorampa.
No, there is –look here http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Extremes- ... ds=gorampaKonchog1 wrote:Hmm, no English translation. Could you please bulletpoint some of them here?
Maybe some of my old notes (although they are rather random) could add to your study of the word "Loppon", basically I think when they refer to just "Lopon" this means teacher, especially a scholarly teacher, whereas a "Dorje Lopon" has the connotation of being a "Vajra Master".Adamantine wrote:
.. never been clear on the meaning of loppon.
Odd. I don't know why I didn't find it. Thank you.Adamantine wrote:No, there is –look here http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Extremes- ... ds=gorampaKonchog1 wrote:Hmm, no English translation. Could you please bulletpoint some of them here?
I think that in the Yungdrung Bön tradition:smcj wrote:
Bon geshes? Doesn't sound right. I can't see them having any overlap with Gelugpas.
It means the Tibetan for acharya.Adamantine wrote:What is the difference between loppon and khenpo?Virgo wrote:Malcolm is one of the few people who hold the distinguished title of Loppon.
Kevin
I know a loppon who has a very limited breadth of knowledge, I think it was just an honorary title I guess. . or maybe it acknowledges their competence and capacity in a particular focus of Dharma practice and study, rather than a wide one. I think Khenpo usually indicates someone with a vast breadth of knowledge in the Dharma, that's why I am asking.. never been clear on the meaning of loppon.
I was mistaken Geshe Tenzin Namdak had his graduation on the 6th May and graduated as a Lingse Geshe, some photos on the Sera Jey Monastery facebook page.Lobsang Chojor wrote:I know this is a dead thread
But I thought you might like to know that Ven. Tenzin Namdak is preparing for his Geshe exam in May. And, Geshe Graham Woodhouse is a western Geshe who lives in the UK.
Virgo wrote:It means the Tibetan for acharya.Adamantine wrote:What is the difference between loppon and khenpo?Virgo wrote:Malcolm is one of the few people who hold the distinguished title of Loppon.
Kevin
I know a loppon who has a very limited breadth of knowledge, I think it was just an honorary title I guess. . or maybe it acknowledges their competence and capacity in a particular focus of Dharma practice and study, rather than a wide one. I think Khenpo usually indicates someone with a vast breadth of knowledge in the Dharma, that's why I am asking.. never been clear on the meaning of loppon.
Kevin
A very good book which contains Gorampa's refutation of Tsongkhapa's view of Madhyamaka is 'Mipham's Beacon Of Certainty' by John W Petit. This is an excellent book on many levels and covers a tremendous amount of territory regarding the history Of Madhyamaka, Yogacara, and Vajrayana, up through Dzogchen.Konchog1 wrote:Odd. I don't know why I didn't find it. Thank you.Adamantine wrote:No, there is –look here http://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Extremes- ... ds=gorampaKonchog1 wrote:Hmm, no English translation. Could you please bulletpoint some of them here?
Titles are pretty useless.Adamantine wrote:What is the difference between loppon and khenpo?Virgo wrote:Malcolm is one of the few people who hold the distinguished title of Loppon.
Kevin
I know a loppon who has a very limited breadth of knowledge, I think it was just an honorary title I guess. . or maybe it acknowledges their competence and capacity in a particular focus of Dharma practice and study, rather than a wide one. I think Khenpo usually indicates someone with a vast breadth of knowledge in the Dharma, that's why I am asking.. never been clear on the meaning of loppon.
That is scary.Josef wrote: Titles are pretty useless.
I was on a retreat once with a geshe who was shockingly clueless and didnt believe me when i told him huffing gasoline was dangerous.
No joke.