Material Information |
| Title: |
"Texts as Relics, Relics as Texts" Shedding Light on the Terma Tradition of Tebetan Buddhism |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Sigmund, Evan |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2011 |
| Publication Date: |
2011 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Tibet
Buddhism
Terma |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
This thesis seeks to analyze the understudied terma (�treasure�) tradition of Tibet, often characterized by contemporary academics as a reactionary pseudepigraphic movement intended to allow for scriptural innovation after the collapse of the Yarlung Empire. While such an understanding of the terma tradition might not be altogether incorrect, I wish to reconsider the emphasis placed on terma as a textual tradition. I argue that the �event� of a given terma text�that is, the tripartite process of its revelation, presentation, and public reception�is and has historically been more important than its specific content. I apply this argument with respect to the visionary who claims to discover said texts, the tert�n, whose revelation confirms a central feature of his self-identity, as well as to the greater religious community, for which these texts are less often read as books than revered as relics of the forefather of Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, I consider terma as a model for what anthropologist Clifford Geertz called a �text,� and ask what reading them in such a light might reveal about Tibetan religious culture. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Evan Sigmund |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2011 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Newman, John |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2011 S57 |
| System ID: |
NCFE004452:00001 |
|
Material Information |
| Title: |
"Texts as Relics, Relics as Texts" Shedding Light on the Terma Tradition of Tebetan Buddhism |
| Physical Description: |
Book |
| Language: |
English |
| Creator: |
Sigmund, Evan |
| Publisher: |
New College of Florida |
| Place of Publication: |
Sarasota, Fla. |
| Creation Date: |
2011 |
| Publication Date: |
2011 |
Subjects |
| Subjects / Keywords: |
Tibet
Buddhism
Terma |
| Genre: |
bibliography ( marcgt )
theses ( marcgt )
government publication (state, provincial, terriorial, dependent) ( marcgt )
born-digital ( sobekcm )
Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
Notes |
| Abstract: |
This thesis seeks to analyze the understudied terma (�treasure�) tradition of Tibet, often characterized by contemporary academics as a reactionary pseudepigraphic movement intended to allow for scriptural innovation after the collapse of the Yarlung Empire. While such an understanding of the terma tradition might not be altogether incorrect, I wish to reconsider the emphasis placed on terma as a textual tradition. I argue that the �event� of a given terma text�that is, the tripartite process of its revelation, presentation, and public reception�is and has historically been more important than its specific content. I apply this argument with respect to the visionary who claims to discover said texts, the tert�n, whose revelation confirms a central feature of his self-identity, as well as to the greater religious community, for which these texts are less often read as books than revered as relics of the forefather of Tibetan Buddhism. Finally, I consider terma as a model for what anthropologist Clifford Geertz called a �text,� and ask what reading them in such a light might reveal about Tibetan religious culture. |
| Statement of Responsibility: |
by Evan Sigmund |
| Thesis: |
Thesis (B.A.) -- New College of Florida, 2011 |
| Electronic Access: |
RESTRICTED TO NCF STUDENTS, STAFF, FACULTY, AND ON-CAMPUS USE |
| Bibliography: |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Source of Description: |
This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law. |
| Local: |
Faculty Sponsor: Newman, John |
Record Information |
| Source Institution: |
New College of Florida |
| Holding Location: |
New College of Florida |
| Rights Management: |
Applicable rights reserved. |
| Classification: |
local - S.T. 2011 S57 |
| System ID: |
NCFE004452:00001 |
|