Biographies
A list (incomplete) of great individuals who made significant contributions to the study, practice, and propagation of Buddhism, Vedanta, and other Indian spiritual traditions. Their lives continue to inspire spiritual seekers around the world. »
Adi Shankara was a famous Hindu theologian, the most prominent exponent of Advaita Vedānta tradition. »
"There is no “self” or “others,” there is only an eternal dream that goes on, giving birth to transient characters, fictional adventures" »
Prof Arthur Berriedale Keith was a Scottish constitutional lawyer, scholar of Sanskrit and Indologist. »
Extremely influential mediator of the tantric tradition, Ghose had several European friends and students whom he instructed about Tantra. »
When I practice, I am a philosopher, / When I teach, I am a scientist, / When I demonstrate, I am an artist.
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Caroline Rhys Davids was one of the first scholars to translate Abhidhamma texts, known for their complexity and difficult use of technical language. She also translated large portions of the Sutta Piṭaka or edited and supervised the translations of other PTS scholars.
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Suzuki played a key role in developing scholarly communication between the East and the West. He presented the teachings of Zen, Pure Land, and Taoism together with their cultural manifestations, which constituted the background of Far Eastern thought and culture. »
Sönam Gyaltsen, the Sakya Lama Dampa (1312-1375) was a ruler of the Sakya school of Tibetan Buddhism, which had a precedence position in Tibet under the Yuan dynasty. He is considered the greatest Sakya scholar of the 14th century and served as ruler for a short term in 1344-1347. »
"In the midst of the clouds of impermanence and illusion / Dances the lightning of life: Can you say you won’t die tomorrow? / Practice the dharma. Now is the time to conquer the citadel of Great Bliss." »
Taking your own mind as witness, make your life and practice one, and at the time of death, with no thought of anything left undone, do not be ashamed of yourself. This itself is the pith instruction of all practices. »
Düsum Khyenpa (1110–1193) was the 1st Gyalwa Karmapa, head of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. Düsum Khyenpa means "knower of the three times". It was given to him to refer to the knowledge he gained at enlightenment. »
"More specially our tribute is due to him who has borne the major burden, translating alone six of the fifteen volumes, giving aid in a seventh and now crowning our labours with this last volume." »
It is great joy to realize that the Path to Freedom which all Buddhas have trodden is ever-existent, ever-unchanged and ever open to those who are ready to enter upon it. »
“All words are forgotten in silence and serenity; / It appears brightly clear and full of life before you." »
Gauḍapāda also referred as Gauḍapādācārya was the first historical teacher in the Advaita Vedānta tradition. »
Professor Johann Georg Bühler was a scholar of ancient Indian languages and law. »
George Frederick William Thibaut was an Indologist notable for his contributions to the understanding of ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy. »
Giuseppe Tucci, (1894 – 1984) was born in Macerata, Italy. He exhibited an early fascination with the cultures and languages of the East, a passion that would shape his remarkable career. »
In the Yoga system, especially in that represented by Patañjali, Pratibhā is synonymous with an aspect of Prajñā. It is said to be the supreme faculty of omniscience which is evolved through a continued practice of concentration on the self, not in its absolute and transcendent nature, but as appearing in the form of the phenomenal ego. »
He began the study of the Chinese language when he was nine. By the time he graduated from high school in 1936, he had also learned the Sanskrit language. »
Hermann Oldenberg was a German scholar of Indology, and Professor at Kiel and Göttingen. »
Hsuan Hua was an influential Ch'an Buddhist monk and an important figure in the development of Western Buddhism in the United States during the twentieth century. »
She was the first scholar to study women’s lives in the ancient Buddhist world. A former student of both the Rhys Davids, Horner was also a noted scholar responsible for translations of many Pāli texts, including the entire Vinaya Piṭaka, the Majjhima Nikāya and the Milinda Pañha. »
The root of all dharmas is one’s own mind: Convincing when unexamined, ingenious in its deception; Yet, when investigated, without basis or origin; In essence, free of coming, staying or going. All the phenomena of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa Are but pure or impure projections of one’s own mind. In reality, neither saṃsāra nor nirvāṇa exists. »
"No man from outside can make you free. Therefore, I am not concerning myself with the founding of religions, or new sects, or the establishment of new theories and philosophies. On the contrary, I am concerning myself with only one essential thing, the true freedom of man.” »
Mesmerized by the sheer variety of perceptions, which are like the illusory reflections of the moon in water, beings wander endlessly astray in samsara’s vicious cycle... Please buddhas and bodhisattvas, make sure whatever I want never happens. »
“For the one thing that strikes a close reader of his exposition is that he is truly an Indian Soul in a European body ...” »
Heinrich Julius Eggeling was Professor of Sanskrit at the University of Edinburgh from 1875 to 1914, second holder of its Regius Chair of Sanskrit, and Secretary of the Royal Asiatic Society, London. »
"Be ever mindful of the shortcomings of desire’s rewards, and know that all the phenomena of the cycle of existence are never still, like the ripples on a pond, and that these manifestations of delusion, which are no things in themselves, are like magic and dreams." »
Kashinath Trimbak Telang (20 August 1850, Bombay – 1 September 1893, Bombay) was an Indologist and Indian judge at Bombay High Court. »
Clear your mind of dogmatic theological debris; let in the fresh, healing waters of direct perception. Attune yourself to the active inner Guidance.
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He was an avid reader and known to fall into a long, ecstatic trance over a text that especially pleased him. »
He wanted to “endow people with the tools of liberation in this very life… All you need is khaṇikā Samādhi, "momentary Samādhi. As long as you can feel your breath, can feel sensation, you can do Vipassana."
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She hoped to find in India a spiritual master who would open for her a way to Realization, beyond any religious form. She found that in the city of Kanpur, in the Sufi master Radha Mohan Lal Adhauliya - a Kayasth Hindu. »
Lobsang P. Lhalungpa was born in Lhasa, Tibet. From 1940 until 1952, he was a monk-official in the service of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and of the Tibetan government. He established the first Tibetan-language program of All India Radio and dedicated his life to the promotion and preservation of Tibet’s rich spiritual and cultural tradition. »
Life is impermanent like autumn clouds, youth is impermanent like the flowers of spring, the body is impermanent like borrowed property; the lord of death, like the shadow of the western mountain, will not delay. »
Regret is useless. If we do not practice although we have the opportunity, we will feel regret when we are sick, old and weak, lying on our death-bed... Before is too late, keep in mind the Buddha's admonition: "Meditate, bhikkus, do not delay or else you will regret later. This is our instruction to you."
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Friedrich Max Müller was a German-born philologist and Orientalist, who lived and studied in Britain for most of his life. »
