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Initiation Card: Yeshe Tsogyel (Front) Mural: Yeshe Tsogyel
th
Tibet; 14 century; ground mineral pigment Tamzhing Lhundrup Monastery, Bumthang, Bhutan; originally painted
on paper; 15.88x20.32cm (6.25x8in); Rubin between 1503-1507, with later interventions; mineral pigment on plaster
Museum of Art; gift of the Shelly & Donald on a clay substrate; pprox.. size of the composition proper: 1.45x1.37m
Rubin Foundation; P1998.23.11 (HAR 744) (4.75x4.5ft) (Photograph by Ariana Maki, February 2010)

Benny: Can you tell us how you As for the “why Tibetan Buddhism” am not a “card-carrying” Buddhist
became interested in studying question, for me, Tibetan Buddhism or a regular practitioner, I would
Buddhism, and why Tibetan stands in continuous conversation not label my engagement with
Buddhism? with two other major Buddhist Buddhism and Buddhist Studies as

traditions, Indian and Chinese (or “purely intellectual.” As someone
Jue: I have had a personal interest in East Asian) Buddhism, as well as who has immersed herself in various
Buddhism since college. However, many other religious traditions it Buddhist traditions, texts, persons,
I did not begin my graduate study encountered. It is also constantly ideas, and places for well over a
in Buddhist Studies initially. My redefining itself. This is particularly decade now, Buddhism has certainly
starting place was language— true in the case of contemporary become a part of my identity and
Sanskrit and Tibetan. It was when Tibetan Buddhism, as attested in found its way into all aspects of my
I began my second graduate the popularity of Tibetan Buddhist life, professional as well as personal.
program in the Divinity School at the teachers globally and the flourishing So, I guess there is a lesson on the
University of Chicago that I was first of Tibetan Buddhist dharma centers Middle Way for all of us!
systematically exposed to the study everywhere. On a more pragmatic
of religion and Buddhism as distinct note, as a native Chinese speaker Why did you choose Yeshe Tsogyal
fields of inquiry. I was immediately and as someone who has studied as the focus of your doctoral
mesmerized. The critical study of Sanskrit and Tibetan for years, research?
religion allows one to query an Tibetan Buddhism presents itself to
all-encompassing aspect of our be one of the most fruitful venues to I always knew that I was interested
lives. Religion is everywhere, but apply my linguistic skills. in Buddhist narratives and women
it also resists any static or singular in Buddhism. However, I had not
definition or description. Buddhism Do you regard yourself as a narrowed down on one particular
is similar in that it has taken on scholar practitioner or merely an person at the beginning of my
myriad emanations, making the intellectual studying Buddhism as doctoral study. It was extremely
questions of “what is Buddhism” and an academic discipline? fortunate that the Aryatare
its attraction to people across space Publishing house at Larung Buddhist
and time one that demands our This is always a tricky question for Academy (arguably the largest
serious consideration. me to answer. My students also center for Buddhist learning in the
ask me this question a lot. While I world today!) had recently published