Path: shell.portal.com!shell.portal.com!not-for-mail From: nagasiva@yronwode.com (nagasiva) Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,talk.religion.buddhism,alt.religion.buddhism,talk.religion.misc,alt.magick.tantra Subject: KSpeller: Tantric Buddhism, Silk Route etc. Followup-To: alt.magick.tyagi,talk.religion.buddhism,alt.religion.buddhism,talk.religion.misc,alt.magick.tantra,alt.religion.buddhism.tibetan Date: 27 Jan 1996 18:29:14 -0800 Organization: Portal Communications (shell) Lines: 64 Sender: tyagi@shell.portal.com Message-ID: <4een1q$15i@jobe.shell.portal.com> References: <822435010snz@kspeller.demon.co.uk> Reply-To: kim speller NNTP-Posting-Host: jobe.shell.portal.com Xref: shell.portal.com alt.magick.tyagi:6459 talk.religion.buddhism:15787 alt.religion.buddhism:180 talk.religion.misc:201969 alt.magick.tantra:637 [from alt.religion.buddhism.tibetan: kim speller ] In article <4ctvei$lfh@homer.alpha.net> sari@ren.glaci.com "Trinlay Khadro" writes: > Kurt Keutzer (keutzer@synopsys.com) wrote: > : For those who are unclear about the use of the term "Tantric Buddhism" I > : would refer you to Chapter III in Volume 1 of _Indo-Tibetan Buddhism_ by > : David Snellgrove. The chapter is entitled: ``Tantric Buddhism.'' > There has been discussion, I think Namdrol was part of it, that Snellgrove > is a questionalbe resource. Snellgrove's scholarship should not be dismissed. His book "Indo-Tibetan Buddhism" published by Serindia Publications ISBN 0 906026 14 8 is a tour de force, but it was published in 1987 and maybe suffers a basic problem that is common to much western scholarship about the Dharma,ie misunderstanding. When it comes to the historical development of Buddhism and its spread, he is second to none. He has an immense and detailed knowledge of Buddhist literature and philosphy but a nevertheless his understanding is superficial, not in the sense that he lacks knowledge, far from it, its encyclopaedic, but it lacks insight. Its not without significance that he looked with great disapproval on his students actually being Dharma student. The famous analogy of the blindfolded men feeling the elephant comes to mind. There cannot be too many parts of the elephant he has not examined, but alas he remained firmly blindfolded. Having said that, his books are a must. > We even had some difficulty with some Jackass, who was making > some very loaded accusations about what our standard practices are... > Using quotes from Snellgrove to support his claims. Snellgrove translated the Hevajra Tantra a very long time ago, and even Western scholarship has moved on. > > I would suggest we find at least a safter resource. It depends what for. There really is little point in going to Snellgrove for Dharma, but there's a lot to gain from him for scholarly information about Buddhist and Tibetan history and philosphical development. > > : _Indo-Tibetan Buddhism_ by David Snellgrove was published by Shambhala. I'm > : not sure if it is still in print. > And if it is OUT of print we should ask WHY. If it is out of print, its a shame, however, I don't think it is. > (see my prior paragraph... perhaps some personal agenda in his work has > made the work questionable to the point that it is not a valid resource?) Maybe you might change your mind a little if you read it -:) YITD Kim -- kim speller : kspeller@demon.co.uk