Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition - Essays in Honour of Professor Corrado Pensa - Chiara Neri

Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition - Essays in Honour of Professor Corrado Pensa - Chiara Neri

7. A Joyful Song Celebrating Buddhist Practice

Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition - Essays in Honour of Professor Corrado Pensa - Chiara Neri

Marta Sernesi [+-]
École Pratique des Hautes Études, Paris
Marta Sernesi is Professor of Tibetan Religions at the École Pratique des Hautes Études (EPHE–PSL) in Paris. Her work focuses on the cultural and religious history of Tibet and the Himalayas, on early contemplative traditions and instructional literature, and on Tibetan book culture. Her recent monograph is titled Re-enacting the Past: A Cultural History of the School of gTsang smyon Heruka (Dr. Reichert Verlag, 2021)

Description

This contribution offers to Corrado Pensa the edition and translation of a Tibetan religious song dating from the 13th century, which celebrates the benefits and joys of Buddhist practice. This is introduced by a discussion of the literary genre of songs (mgur) — drawing from two 16th century works devoted to their composition and performance — and by an overview of the corpus from which the translated song stems. Namely, this is a collection of versified compositions attributed to the master Yang dgon pa rGyal mtshan dpal bzang po (1213–1258), compiled and printed in 1524; further manuscript copies of the master’s collected songs have also been consulted for the text edition. Yang dgon pa is known as an ascetic, eclectic in his formation and teaching, who founded hermitages and led a small community of practitioners engaging in long retreats on Tsib-ri mountain, in the region of La stod lHo in south-western Tibet. The song was intoned to encourage and motivate five disciples entering retreat on the mountain, to practice the received instructions and sustain the experience of non-attachment. Hence, the composition is joyful and draws from the beauties of the surrounding natural world to celebrate the practice and fruits of solitary contemplation.

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Citation

Sernesi, Marta. 7. A Joyful Song Celebrating Buddhist Practice. Teaching Awareness in the Buddhist Tradition - Essays in Honour of Professor Corrado Pensa. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 124-143 Jan 2024. ISBN 9781800503311. https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=44245. Date accessed: 29 Mar 2024 doi: 10.1558/equinox.44245. Jan 2024

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