JOHN J. MAKRANSKY
Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology
Department of Theology, Boston College,
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
EDUCATION
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Ph.D. completed October, 1990
Major: Buddhist Studies. Minor: South Asian Language and Literature
Dissertation: "Controversy Over Dharmakaya in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism:
Historical-critical Analysis of Abhisamayalamkara Chapter 8 and Its
Commentaries in Relation to the Large Prajñaparamita Sutra and the Yogacara
Tradition."
US Advisor: Prof. Geshe Lhundup Sopa (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Advisors in India: Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche (Director: Central Institute of
Higher Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, India), Khenpo Migmar Tsering (Sakya Abbot at
Tibetan Institute, Sarnath, India), Geshe Thubten Tsering (Gelug Abbot at
Tibetan Institute, Sarnath, India).
Yale University
B.A., Cum Laude
Major: Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics
1975
LANGUAGES
Literary Tibetan, Sanskrit, Modern Spoken Tibetan, Hindi, French for
reading.
TEACHING INTERESTS
Buddhism: ancient and modern philosophical developments, Buddhist thought
and practices of India, Tibet, China, Japan, Buddhist meditational systems.
Comparative Topics (Buddhist-Christian): Comparing Christian and Buddhist
theological anthropologies and soteriologies, relationships between conceptual
and non-conceptual modes of practice; religious bases of ethics and altruism;
faith based social action.
PUBLICATIONS
BOOKS:
Awakening Through Love -- Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness.
(Boston: Wisdom Publications 2007). This book provides new access to Tibetan
Buddhist meditation theory and practice of innate love and wisdom for scholars interested
in comparative theology, the interested public, and Buddhist scholars and practitioners.
Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars
(Routledge-Curzon: Critical Studies in Buddhism, 2000), co-edited with Roger
Jackson. Anthology of articles by scholars trained within Buddhist traditions and
within the contemporary academy, to explore what Buddhism can learn from
modern academic findings and what the modern world can learn from Buddhism.
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Wrote introduction and co-organized this anthology in support of a new
movement in the modern academic study of religion and theology: non-Christian
academic constructive theology.
Buddhahood Embodied: Sources of Controversy in India and Tibet (Albany:
State University of New York Press, 1997). Historical and textual analysis of
Buddhist Perfection of Wisdom literature as basis for Buddhist theological
reflection on the nature of buddhahood, fullest enlightenment.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS:
“Compassion in Buddhist Psychology.” Chapter 4 in Wisdom and Compassion in
Psychotherapy, edited by Christopher K. Germer and Ronald D. Siegel. NY, NY:
Guilford Press, February 2012.
“Thoughts on Why, How and What Buddhists Can Learn from Christian
Theologians,” Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 31, 2011
“Compassion Beyond Fatigue: Contemplative Training for Educators, Activists and
other Helping Professionals.” Chapter 8 in Meditation and the Classroom: Contemplative
Pedagogy for Religious Studies edited by Judith Simmer-Brown and Fran Grace.
Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 2011.
“The Awakening of Hospitality.” Chapter 10 in Hosting the Stranger: Between
Religions, ed. by Richard Kearney and James Taylor (New York: Continuum Press,
2011.
"Pure Perception and Equanimity of Heart,” chapter in the book Traversing the
Heart: Journeys of the Inter-religious Imagination, edited by Richard Kearney and Eileen
Rizo-Patron, Leiden, Netherlands: Brill 2010
“Buddhist Reflections on Theological Learning and Spiritual Discipline” in
Spotlight on Theological Education, Religious Studies News, on-line journal of the
American Academy of Religion, March 2010.
“Buddhist Perspectives on Truth in Other Religions” in C. Cornille, ed. Criteria of
Discernment in Interreligious Dialogue. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2009
“The Emergence of Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection in the Academy as a
Resource for Buddhist Communities and for the Contemporary World” by John
Makransky, published in Journal of Global Buddhism Volume 9, 2008, pp. 113-154.
“Pure Perception and Deep Equanimity,” Journal of Religion and the Arts, 2008.
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“Buddhist Inclusivism: Reflections Toward a Contemporary Buddhist Theology of
Religions,” by John Makransky, in: P. Schmidt-Leukel (ed.), Buddhist Attitudes to Other
Religions, St. Ottilien: EOS-Verlag 2008.
“Buddha and Christ as Mediations of Ultimate Reality: A Mahayana Buddhist
Perspective,” and “Response to Dr. Schmidt-Leukel’s Theology of Religions,” in P.
Schmidt-Leukel (ed.), Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue, SCM press England,
2005.
“Buddhist Analogues of Sin and Grace: A Dialogue with Augustine,” in Studies
in Interreligious Dialogue, 2005.
“Tathagata” in Encyclopedia of Religion, second edition, Macmillan Reference Co.
USA, NY, 2005.
PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS (continued)
“No Real Protection without Love and Compassion,” in Journal of Buddhist Ethics,
volume 12, 2005, pp. 25-36.
“A Buddhist Response to Richard Kearney on Religious Good and Evil,” in the
Journal of Interdisciplinary Crossroads, 2005.
“Buddhahood and Buddha Bodies,” in Encyclopedia of Buddhism, edited by
Robert Buswell, Macmillan Reference 2004.
“Buddhist Perspectives on Truth in Other Religions: Past and Present,” Theological
Studies Journal, vol. 64 no.2 (2003), 334 – 36.
“Contemporary Academic Buddhist Theology: Its Emergence and Rationale”
in Buddhist Theology, edited by Roger Jackson and John Makransky, RoutledgeCurzon, 2000, 14-24.
"Historical Consciousness as an Offering to the Trans-historical Buddha," in
Buddhist Theology, edited by Roger Jackson and John Makransky, RoutledgeCurzon, 2000, 111-135.
"Buddhist Ritual and Ethical Activity in the World,” Buddhist-Christian
Studies Journal, 20 (2000), 54-59.
"Offering (mChod pa) in Tibetan Ritual Literature." in Tibetan Literature:
Studies in Genre, edited by Roger Jackson and Jose Cabezon, Snow Lion Press,
1995, 312-330.
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"Proposal of a Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem: Literary-Historical
Evidence that the Abhisamayalamkara Teaches Three Buddha Kayas," Journal
of Indian Philosophy 20 (1992), 149-190.
"Controversy over Dharmakaya in India and Tibet: A Reinterpretation of its
Basis, Abhisamayalamkara Chapter 8," Journal of the International Association of
Buddhist Studies, Vol. 12, No.2 (1989), 45-78.
Tricycle: The Buddhist Review: “On Parenting” (Summer 2001), “Cartoon as
Path” (Fall 2001), “Love is All Around” (Fall 2007).
ANNOTATED TRANSLATION:
The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path by rJe Tsong kha pa (15th century,
Tibetan). Annotated translation from Tibetan of the section on the six perfections
of the bodhisattva path. Pages 113 to 232 in Volume 2 of The Great Treatise,
Snow Lion, 2004.
WORKS IN PROGRESS--BOOKS
Awakening with Help of Religious Others: A Buddhist Comparative Theology. This
book develops a Buddhist theology of religions as a basis for Buddhist learning from
religious others. Buddhist theological learning in conversation with writings of
Rahner, MacQuarrie, Tillich, Buber, Tillard, Coakley, Sobrino, Reinhold Neihbuhr,
Emilie Townes, and M.L. King.
Active Compassion: Meditations to Empower People Who Serve Others. Co-authored
with Leah Weiss Ekstrom. Tibetan Buddhist meditations of innate compassion and
wisdom are adapted for people of all faiths to shine new light on their own spiritual
resources for service and social action and as an exercise in applied comparative
theological learning.
Natural Great Compassion; book in progress. My translation and commentary on the
“Seven Part Mind Training” by Geshe Chekawa, a twelfth century Tibetan manual of
practice and doctrine (accepted for future publication by Wisdom Publications).
WORKS IN PROGRESS—ARTICLES
“Impartial Compassion and Undivided Suchness—Re-envisioning the Relationship
between Samsara and Nirvana in Perfection of Wisdom Literature.” A re-evaluation of
the doctrinal structure of early Mahayana Buddhist Wisdom texts.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS OR CREATIVE WORKS
“Contemplative Activism,” Webinar Feb. 2011 for Contemplative Mind in Higher
Education: www.acmhe.org/past-webinars.
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“Active Compassion: Tibetan Buddhist Resources for Modern Social Service and
Development Work,” video lecture series for Association of International NGOs in Nepal
at Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, April 2010. On-line at websites
for Rangjung Yeshe Institute (Nepal) and Foundation for Active Compassion.
“Becoming Transparent to the Power of Wisdom and Love: Guided Meditation and
Teaching,” on-line, 2009 at Foundation for Active Compassion website.
“Offering All to Your True Nature: Guided Meditation and Teaching,” on-line, 2009 at
Foundation for Active Compassion website.
Interview appears in the film “Spiritual Revolution: Eastern Spirituality in the Western
World,” directed by Alan Swyer, 2008.
“Awakening through Love” two CD set of meditations orally guided by John Makransky,
distributed by Wisdom Publications, 2007.
ACADEMIC TEACHING AND RESEARCH
Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology, Boston College
1998-present. TH 161-162 Religious Quest: Buddhism and Christianity; TH 505
Buddhist Philosophy and Spirituality, TH 506 Tibetan Buddhist Traditions, TH
527/TM 544 Meditation, Service, and Social Action, TH 454 Buddhist Sacred
Texts, TH 472 Buddhist Ethics. TH 508 Contemplation and Ethics: Buddhist and
Christian (co-taught with Michael Himes). TH 330 Theology Majors Seminar:
Comparative Theology.
Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard Divinity School, 2009-2011.
Created and taught two new courses for HDS: HDS 3550, Buddhist Meditation, Service
and Social Action; HDS 3552, Buddhist Meditation, Therapy and Activism. Methods and
materials from these courses are being applied to course development at Boston College.
Assistant. Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology Boston College
1992-1998 . TH 161-162 Religious Quest I and II: Buddhism and Christianity; TH
542 Systems of Meditation and Philosophy in Buddhist India, Tibet, and East
Asia; TH 545 Spiritual Disciplines of Buddhists; TH 330 Theology Majors
Seminar (co-taught with Stephen Pope); TH 472 Theological Dialogue with
Buddhism: Theravada and Zen; TH 454 Indian Mahayana Buddhism.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Middlebury College
1991-92
Taught: The Buddhist Tradition in India, Tantric Traditions in India, Tibet, China,
and Japan, Meditation and Philosophy in Buddhist Traditions of India, China and
Tibet. 4.Eastern Religious Thought. Co-taught with Professor Katherine
Sonderegger: Comparative Religious Ethics: Christian and Buddhist.
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Research Associate
University of Iowa
9/90-5/91
Center for Asian and Pacific Studies
Post-doctoral research on topics in the history of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism.
Participated in courses on Chinese Religions (Birnbaum), Japanese religions
(Bodiford), Biblical literary criticism (Nickelsburg) and Sacred Geography.
Occasional guest lecturer.
Teaching Assistant University of Wisconsin-Madison
1982-85, 1988
History of Buddhist Thought, Buddhist Meditation Literature, Buddhist Doctrinal
Systems, Introduction to Buddhism, Buddhist Cult Practice.
Research in Asia
10/85-9/87
Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Varanasi Sanskrit University,
Varanasi, India, 10/85-5/86, 10/86-3/87-- Doctoral research with Tibetan scholars
of four main Tibetan
Buddhist sects and Indian Sanskritists.
Sera Je Monastic University, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 6/86-9/86
-- Studied scholasic treatises with Tibetan scholar-monks
Rishikesh-Hardvar, India, 4/87-6/87 --Studied Sanskrit commentaries with Hindu
acaryas.
GRANTS
--Fetzer Institute Contemplative Practice Fellowship, summer 2009. Sponsored by The
Center for Contemplative Mind in Society; funded by the Fetzer Institute. Under this
grant, I developed new teaching methods and materials in contemplative pedagogy for a
course at Boston College, TH 527/TM 544, “Meditation, Service and Social Action.” To
be offered to students of comparative theology and as a resource for students in BC’s
schools of Theology and Ministry, Education, Social Work, Law and Nursing.
SERVICE ACTIVITIES FOR BOSTON COLLEGE 2011
--2010-2011 Convener for Comparative Theology Area of Theology Department. Set
agendas for CT Area meetings on requirements, curricula, CT symposia. Correspond
with prospective CT PhD applicants; distribute CT funds for PhD students and faculty.
Serve on Comparative Theology and Theology Dept. admissions committees.
-- Curriculum Committee, Fall 2010 to present
--Faculty advisor for OIP semester abroad programs to Nepal.
--Served on planning and coordinating committee with Catherine Cornille for Boston
College’s 2011 Annual Symposium on Interreligious Dialogue, October, 2011.
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--Advisor, Buddhism Club
--Served on OIP advisory committee on Asian programs abroad, Spring 2011.
--Lunch presentation for Theology Dept. faculty: “On Possibilities for a Buddhist
Comparative Theology, ” April 13, 2011.
--“Meditation, Service and Social Action,” day-long workshop co-presented with PhD
student Leah Weiss Ekstrom, School of Theology and Ministry, Feb. 12, 2011.
--BC Halftime retreat faculty facilitator, Connors Center, March 25-27, 2011.
--Jesuit Refugee Service Weekend Consultation at Boston College, faculty participant,
Oct. 21-23, 2011.
SERVICE AND TEACHING OUTSIDE BOSTON COLLEGE
-- Founding Co-chair for the Buddhist Critical-constructive Reflection Group in the
American Academy of Religion, 2006 to the present. Co-organize panels for AAR
annual meetings in coordination with diverse AAR units.
-- Board of Directors, Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies, 2011 ff.
--American Academy of Religion instructor for Luce Seminar Fellows in Theologies of
Religious Pluralism and Comparative Theology. Co-taught AAR week-long seminars on
Comparative Theology for Luce Fellows May 2010, June 2010, June 2011.
--Senior Faculty Advisor and lecturer for Kathmandu University’s Centre for Buddhist
Studies in Nepal, 2003 to the present. Assist in development of KU’s BA, MA, PhD
programs and development of its partnership with Boston College as a facility for
graduate research in comparative theology and undergraduate semester abroad programs.
--Guiding teacher and chairman, board of directors, Foundation for Active Compassion,
2008 to present. An organization that brings contemplative training adapted from
Buddhism to people of all faiths and backgrounds who work in social justice and social
service. Guiding meditation teacher for 28 other meditation teachers who lead 18
meditation groups across the U.S. and Italy.
--Teach two annual weekend training retreats for 28 meditation teachers in application of
Buddhist contemplative methods for social service and social justice, sponsored by
Foundation for Active Compassion.
--Senior advisor and meditation retreat teacher for Natural Dharma Fellowship, founded
in 2008 to provide a new curriculum of Tibetan Buddhist studies and practices for
contemporary Buddhists.
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--Ongoing Faculty, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, MA, 2007 to the present.
Teach two study-meditation retreats annually in Buddhist philosophy and contemplative
theory.
--Ongoing Faculty for Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy Certificate Program in
Buddhist Psychology and Mindfulness for Healthcare Professionals, 2008 to present.
--Wellesley College Peace Coalition, “Contemplation in Action” lecture, April 4, 2011.
--Daylong workshop, Catholic Charities of Boston, "Active Compassion -- Meditations
to Empower People who Serve Others," May 14, 2010.
-- Member, Faculty Advisory Committee, Buddhist Ministry Program, Harvard Divinity
School, 2009-2010
--Fetzer Institute Contemplative Practice Fellow, 2009-2010.
--Presented and Chaired Panel on Buddhist Applications for Mental health at Symposium
on Western Socially Engaged Buddhism, Zen Peacemakers Monastery, Montague, MA,
August 14, 2010.
--White Heron Buddhist Community, San Luis Obispo, CA. Teach weekend meditation
retreat annually (March, 2010, 2011).
--Teach bi-annual weekend retreat on Buddhist-Christian dialogue and Buddhist
resources for social activism at Union Theological Seminary, NYC, 2009, 2011.
--Taught daylong contemplative retreat, “Accessing Inner Resources for Service and
Action,” co-sponsored by Social justice Program of Center for Contemplative Mind in
Society and the Foundation for Active Compassion, Nov. 14, 2009, Northampton, MA.
SERVICE AND TEACHING OUTSIDE BOSTON COLLEGE (continued)
-- Presentation on “Resources from Tibetan Nyingma Tradition for Health Professionals
who work with Trauma Patients,” Garrison Institute Conference on Trauma, June 18,
2009.
--Presentations at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary: “A Buddhist-Christian Dialogue
between John Makransky and Bonnie Thurston,” May 8th, 2009. Daylong retreat:
“How Meditation Practices of Compassion and Presence Can Help Deepen One’s
Clinical Work,” May 9, 2009.
--Gave lecture and daylong workshop on Tibetan Buddhist bases for social action, “The
Path of Compassionate Activism,” at HH the Dalai Lama’s cultural center in New York
City, Tibet House, April 17-18, 2009.
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--Presentation at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick, MA: “Buddhism and
Christianity: The Possibility of Mutual Learning,” March 11, 2007.
-- IREPM summer post-masters presentation: Introduction to Comparative Theology:
Buddhist Spirituality. June 29, 2007.
--Served on Board of Directors of Dzogchen Foundation, 2001 to Fall 2008. Served on
Dzogchen Foundation guiding teachers’ council, 2001 to 2008.
-- Guiding meditation teacher and pastoral counselor for Dzogchen Buddhist Practice
Communities of Boston, New York City, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Gave
guided meditations and public talks monthly, 2001 to 2008.
—Workshop for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, New England Region,
at Boston University: "Integrating Buddhist Methods of Presence and Loving
Communion into Therapy and Counseling," February 8, 2008.
--Social Justice Workshop sponsored by Contemplative Mind in Society, Garrison
Institute, N.Y.: "Deep Replenishment and Connection: Contemplative Training for
Social Justice Activism and Service," July 18-20, 2008
--“Caring for Others, Caring for Ourselves: Meditations of Replenishment and
Connection,” public daylong workshop for people in social service and social justice
activism in Northampton, MA, September 27, 2008
--Lecture for Harvard Buddhist Ministry Colloquium and Harvard Buddhist Community:
“Academic Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Practice and Service to Buddhist Communities:
Problematics and Possibilities,” February 2005.
--Taught “Tantric Expressions of Compassion” for Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,
May 8, 2004
SERVICE AND TEACHING OUTSIDE BOSTON COLLEGE (continued)
--Representative at First Annual Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Centers of the
Americas with HH the Dalai Lama, 9/03.
--Director of Vajrayana Buddhist Studies Program for Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,
Barre, MA, 1998 to 2003.
--Kurukulla Tibetan Buddhist Center Board of Directors, 2001 to 2004.
SCHOLARLY AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS
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--“Active Compassion: Contemplative Methods to Empower People who Empower
Others”—weekend workshop co-taught with Paul Knitter at Union Theological
Seminary, Nov. 4-5, 2011.
--“What Womanist Theologians and Buddhist Thinkers are Learning from Each Other,”
Respondent for Womanist Theology and Buddhist Studies Panel, American Academy of
Religion Conference, San Francisco, Nov. 21, 2011
--Clark University Public Symposium on Difficult Dialogues: Lecture and Discussion
with Faculty and Students, “On Effective Practice and Higher Education,” Sept. 27, 2011.
--Harvard Medical School Conference on Meditation and Psychotherapy, “Innate
Wholeness: Cultivating Compassion for Healthcare Professionals,” May 7, 2011.
--Emory University Lecture and Compassion Research Consultation, “Affect Based
Compassion Training: Theory and Methodology,” April 25, 2011.
--Drepung Loseling Atlanta Study Center Lecture, “Tibetan Dzogchen Nyingma
Approaches to Compassion and Wisdom as Innate Capacities,” April 25, 2011
--Antioch College Symposium Lecture, “Contemplative Pedogogies,” April 9, 2011.
--7th Mary Interlandi Memorial Lecture: “Contemplation in Action: New Methods from
Tibetan Buddhism,” Brown University, March 14, 2011.
--“Compassionate Activism” daylong workshop, Brown University, March 13, 2011.
--“Buddhist Comparative Theology,” for Harvard Comparative Theology Society, Feb.
28, 2011.
--Certificate Program for Healthcare Professionals, “Cultivating Presence and
Compassion for Health Professionals,” for Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy,
Tufts Health Center, Watertown, MA, Jan. 27, 2011.
--“Reflections on Why, How and What Buddhists May Learn from Christian
Theologians,” for the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies at the 2010 American
Academy of Religion conference in Atlanta, October 30, 2010.
--Chaired the panel “Tibetan Buddhism and Social Engagement” at the International
Conference on Tibetan Buddhism at Emory University with His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, where I presented “Buddhist Applications to Address Deep-felt Human Needs in
Asia and the West, Past and Present,” October 19, 2010.
-- Presented lecture series entitled: “Empowering People in International Social Service
and Development,” to the Association of International NGOs Nepal and faculty and
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students of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, Nepal. April 7-9,
2010.
-- Fetzer Contemplative Practice Fellows Symposium, presented “Contemplative
Pedagogy for Courses on Interfaith Learning and Social Service,” June 19, 2010.
-- “Buddhist Integrations of Spiritual Discipline and Study: Lessons for Theological
Education in the West.” Paper presented at the American Academy of Religion
November 2009 meeting in the panel “The Turn to Spirituality in Theological Education”
(with Sarah Coakley, Thomas Beaudoin, Paul Lim).
--Invitational lecture at Maitripa College’s (Portland, Oregon) symposium on Buddhism
and Education: “Buddhist Theology—Purposes and Methods,” January 24, 2009.
--Lecture at Harvard Buddhist Studies Forum: “The Emergence and Functions of
Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection in the Western Academy,” October 5, 2009.
-- Presentation for panel co-sponsored by Comparative Theology Group and Buddhist
Critical-Constructive Reflection Group at the American Academy of Religion 2009
meeting: “Indo-Tibetan Buddhist resources for Comparative Reflection on Christian
Theories of Atonement,” November 7, 2009
--Presentation for Boston College Conference entitled “Hosting the Stranger:
Theophanies of the Stranger” organized by Richard Kearney. My presentation:
“Buddhist Perspectives on the Construction and Deconstruction of the Concept
‘Stranger’,” March 13, 2009.
--Lecture in the Buddhist Psychology Lecture Series sponsored by the Institute of
Meditation and Psychotherapy in Cambridge, MA: “Compassion Beyond Fatigue:
Meditations of Replenishment and Connection adapted from Tibetan Dzogchen
Tradition.” April 6, 2009.
--Presented Kellogg Invitational Lecture for Episcopal Divinity School entitled:
“Compassion in Action: Meditation and Social Service,” May 4, 2007.
--“Buddhist Inclusivism: Reflections Toward a Contemporary
Buddhist Theology of Religions” presented at Salzberg, Austria, June 9th 2007
Conference of the European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies.
--“Teaching Spiritual Practice: A Contemporary Buddhist Approach” presented to the
Association of Practical Theology at the American Academy of Religion Meeting,
November 17, 2007.
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--Presented paper for the Kathmandu University International Symposium on Buddhist
Studies, December 9, 2007: ““Academic Buddhist Scholars as a Resource for Buddhist
Communities and the Contemporary World: Possibilities and Problematics.”
--Presentation on my new book, Awakening through Love, sponsored by Wellesley
College Dept. of Religion and Chaplaincy, October 17, 2007.
-- Boston Society for Comparative Theology March 1, 2006: “Buddha and Christ as
Meditations of Reality—Personal Reflections toward a Theology of Religions.”
-- Kathmandu University International Symposium on Buddhist Studies, October 24,
2006: “The Conforming of Boundless Compassion to Infinite Wisdom in Perfection of
Wisdom literature of Early Mahayana Buddhism.”
--American Academy of Religion, Buddhist Critical-constructive Reflection Group Nov
18, 2006: “Academic Buddhist Studies as Resource for Buddhist Communities”
--“The Systematic Nature of Yogacara Buddhist Philosophy,” lecture presented in
Bodhgaya, India for the Antioch Program in Buddhist Studies, Nov. 2, 2005
– Lecture for Harvard Buddhist Ministry Colloquium and Harvard Buddhist Community:
“Academic Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Practice and Service to Buddhist Communities:
Problematics and Possibilities,” February 2005
--“ Communal Practice and Doctrinal Development of Buddhahood,” lecture for
Columbia University’s Seminar on Buddhist Studies, March 2004.
--“Buddha and Christ as Mediations of Ultimate Reality: A Mahayana Buddhist
Perspective.” Lecture for the University of Glasgow’s Inter-Faith Centre “Lectures on
Buddhism and Christianity in honor of HH the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Scotland” May
2004
--“No Protection without Authentic Love,” keynote address (and closing
remarks) for the Annual Symposium on Buddhist Studies at Kathmandu University’s
Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.
--“Early Mahayana Buddhist History,” lecture delivered at Kathmandu University’s
Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.
--“Teaching about Buddhist Meditation Theory,” presentation for KU’s Centre for
Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004
--“Academic Buddhist Studies and Service to Buddhist Traditions,” presentation for
KU’s Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.
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--“Responsibility and the Buddhist Doctrine of No Self,” Presentation for Boston
University Lecture Series on Philosophy and Theology, January 2004.
--Presented three academic papers on Buddhahood, Buddha bodies, and Buddha Activity
at the Conference on Buddhahood at Smith College, April 2003.
--Presented paper: “Historical Development in Doctrines of Buddhahood” for Kathmandu
University’s first annual Symposium on Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Kathmandu, October
2003.
-- Two lectures on theoretical bases in history of Buddhism for contemporary Buddhist
adaptations at Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, Boudhanath Nepal,
October 2003.
--Presented paper at Harvard University Buddhist Studies forum, November 2003:
“Doctrine and Practice in Changing Concepts of Buddhahood”
--Guest lecture for Professor Stephen Pope’s class “Prophets and Peacemakers” on
Buddhist compassion and the social ethics of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Dec. ‘02.
--Guest lecture on Buddhist methods of establishing and re-opening scriptural canons for
Pheme Perkins’ PhD doctoral colloquium, Dec. ‘02.
--Presentation on “Qualities of God discernable in some elements of Buddhist
understanding” for Comparative Theology Lunch, Dec. ’02.
--Presented on Panel “Suffering and Salvation: Buddhism and Christianity” at Burlington
Cathedral in VT with Catherine Cornille, John Keenan, Kevin Trainor; April ‘02.
--Presented paper “Tensions in the Contemporary Spread of Buddhist Tantric Traditions”
for Boston University Conference on Tantrism, served as respondent on panel “Tantrism
in Dzogchen traditions.” April ’02.
--Lecture at Boston University on “Fundamental Teachings of the Dzogchen Tradition of
Tibetan Buddhism,” April ‘02.
--Gave lecture on “Making Bridges between Modern and Traditional Methods of Buddhist
Study” at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery in Bodhanath, Nepal to teachers and
students of the Kathmandu University program in Buddhist Studies and Himalayan
Languages, Oct. ‘02.
--Presenter on panel “Buddhist Responses to Violence” for Buddhist-Christian Studies
program at American Academy of Religion conference, Toronto, Nov. ’02. Paper: “Four
Boundless Attitudes as Protector.”
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--Participant in panel discussion and day-long workshop on “Perspectives on
Truth in Other Religions” hosted by Boston College for Theological Studies
Journal, 9/28-29/01.
--Presenter for day-long symposium on “Augustine, Grace and Buddhism,” for the
Thagaste Symposium, Merrimack College, North Andover MA, 10/4/01.
--Presenter for Comparative Theology Lunch: “Tibetan Buddhist Resources for
Theology,” 3/21/01.
--Presenter for Theology Undergraduate Majors dinner: “Theology and Vocation in light
of the 9/11 Catastrophe,” 9/18/01.
--Organizer and Presenter for Religious Quest Faculty Panel: “Why Study Other
Religions?” 9/21/01.
--Presented on Buddhist Studies research methods to Harvard Buddhist Studies graduate
students, 4/17/00.
-- "Buddhist Social Ethics: Historical Foundations and Contemporary Expressions,"
Boston University, 11/6/00.
--"The Influence of Diverse Practices, as Described in Mahayana Sutras, Upon the
Doctrinal Construction of Buddhahood." Lecture at the University of Virginia South
Asian Studies Center, Charlottesville, VA, Nov. 12, 1999.
--Boston College Jesuit Institute Lecture: "Embodied Reverence as Buddhist
Sacrament," April 20, 1999.
--Boston Parents' Paper Forum on Spirituality and Children, Boston, April 13,
1998: A Buddhist perspective on spiritual formation in children.
--Kurukulla center for Buddhist Studies, Boston, MA, Feb. 15, 1998:
Presentation on ways contemporary Buddhists can re-appropriate traditional
Buddhist hermeneutics within contemporary historical consciousness.
--"Buddhist Duhkha and the Passion of Christ"- Panel presenter and leader for
Zen-Christian study retreat, Barre Center, Nov. 8, 1997 (with Robert Kennedy,
S.J., John Keenan, Fr. Kevin Hunt, Robert Jonas).
--"Doctrines and Practices of Mah›y›na Buddhist Scriptures"- series of lectures
for the Nalanda Program in Buddhist Studies, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,
July 1997.
--"Chinese Buddhist Themes in Contemporary Art"- Presentation and discussion
at Andover-Newton, October 1996.
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--"Has Theology a Place in the Study of Religion?" Boston University School of
Religion, December 2, 1998. Discussion of my own and Robert Neville's recent writings
on the subject.
--"Buddhist Ritual and Ethical Activity in the World": Paper presented to the Society of
Buddhist-Christian Studies at annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion,
Nov. 20, 1998 (accepted for publication in the Buddhist-Christian Studies Journal).
--"Indian Buddhist Roots of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism." New Hampshire
Humanities Council Lecture Series, Bethlehem and Manchester, NH, October 78, 1998.
--"Comparative Spirituality and Religious Pluralism." A workshop for the
Wellesley College National Gathering on Education as Transformation, Sept. 2728, 1998.
--"Reflections of a Buddhist Theologian: What Changes and What Remains the Same in
the History of Buddhist Revelation and Theology?" Paper presented to the Catholic
Theological Society of America, June 12, 1998.
--"Buddhist "Theology": Critical Reflections of a Contemporary Buddhist Scholar,"
Society of Comparative Theology, Boston, Nov. 5, 1997.
--"Buddhist Spirituality: Practice and Doctrine," Boston University Association of
Students in Theology and Religion, scheduled for October 1997
--"The Present and Future of Buddhist Studies," presenter and participant in
round table discussion, University of Wisconsin-Madison, May 1997
--" Historical Consciousness as offering to the Trans-historical Buddha,"
presentation in the panel "Constructive Buddhist Theology," Theology and
Systematic Reflection Section, Annual Meeting of American Academy of
Religion, November 1996.
--"Conventional Reality in Mah›y›na Buddhism," Respondent, Annual Meeting of
American Academy of Religion, November 1995.
--"The Paradox of Non-abiding Nirvana as a Factor in the Doctrinal Development
of Indian Mahayana Buddhism," Paper presented at South Asia Conference at
University of Wisconsin-Madison, October 1995
--"Mahayana Buddhist Doctrinal Development in Relation to Praxis: Evidence of
Scriptures and Commentaries"- series of lectures for the Nalanda Program in
Buddhist Studies, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, July 1996.
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--"Prayer as Entry into Non-Dualism: An Example from the Dzogchen Tradition,"
Presentation at Annual Meeting for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, Barre MA,
November 1995.
--"Connections between Buddhist Prayer and Meditation," presentation on panel at
Boston College: "Prayer and Meditation in Three Traditions" with Rabbi Lawrence
Kushner and Prof. Willemien Otten, March 1995.
--"Purifying the Mind: Theory and Application of a Buddhist Psychological
Praxis," Respondent to panel, South Asia Conference, October 1995
--"Buddha as Block, Executioner and Victim," Respondent on panel: "Evil and
Hope in a Cross-Cultural Context: Reflections in Light of Hindu Goddess
Worship" Catholic Theological Society of America, June 1995
--"Emptiness, Karma and Compassion: Scholarly Commentary, Zen Anecdote,
and Everyday Life." Paper presented at Middlebury College, May 1994.
--"Elucidating the Ineffable: Disagreements in Late Indian Buddhism over the
Proper Way to Compose Commentary on the Essential Body of the Buddhas."
Paper presented at the University of Chicago Divinity School, March 1994.
--"Problematics in Indian and Tibetan Conceptualizations of Buddhahood."
Paper presented at Harvard Buddhist Studies Forum, February 1994.
--"The Doctrine of Rebirth and Buddhist Practice in Asia." Organizer and chair of
panel, Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion, Washington DC,
November 1993.
--"To See the Buddha." Formal respondent in panel on To See the Buddha by
M. David Eckel, Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion, Washington
DC, November 1993.
--"Buddhist Cultural Responses to the Modern World." Presentation on the Panel:
"Fundamentalism: Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism." Boston College,
November 1993.
--"The Buddha's Presence (not Just Absence) at the Center of Indian Mahayana
Practices." Presentation in response to M. David Eckel's presentation to the
Society of Comparative Theology, Andover Newton, February 1993.
--"Some Differences in the Cultural Appropriation of Buddhist Practice in Tibet
and China." Presentation to seminar at the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in
Washington, N.J., June 1992.
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--"The Problem of Non-abiding Nirvana in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Its
Broader Implications." Paper presented at Annual Conference on South Asia,
Madison, WI, November 1-3, 1991.
--"Sacred Geography of Tibet." Lecture presented at University of Iowa,
February, 1991.
--"Exploration of the Adamantine Way: Studies in Vajrayana Buddhist Theory."
Respondent to panel, Annual Conference on South Asia, Madison, WI,
November, 1990.
--"Textual Expressions of Dharmakaya: Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Yogacara, and
Madhyamaka." Paper presented at Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion,
Chicago, November, 1988
--"Tibet and Its Links to the Neighboring World." Respondent on panel, Midwest
Conference on Asian Affairs, 37th Annual Meeting, Madison, Wisconsin,
September,1988.
ACADEMIC HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Fetzer Institute Contemplative Practice Pedagogy Fellow, 2009
Fulbright Hays Fellowship for Doctoral Research Abroad, 1985-86
Knapp Honorary Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984-85
HEA Title VI Foreign Language Study Fellowships, 1981-1984
ON-GOING MEMBERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DUTIES
-Founding Co-Chair, Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Group, American
Academy of Religion.
-Board of Directors, Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies
-Instructional Faculty for AAR Luce Seminars on Comparative Theology and
Theologies of Religious Pluralism.
-Senior Faculty Advisor, Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist Studies,
Nepal
-Guiding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion
-Senior advisor and retreat teacher for the Natural Dharma Fellowship
-Member American Academy of Religion
-Member Society of Comparative Theology (Boston)
-Member International Association of Buddhist Studies
-Member Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education
-Member International Campaign for Tibet
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