The Biographies of Rechungpa: The Evolution of a Tibetan Hagiography

by Peter Alan Roberts

Overview

This book traces the lifestory of Rechungpa (1084-1161) - the student of the famous teacher Milarepa - using rare and little-known manuscripts, and discovers how the image of both Milarepa and Rechungpa underwent fundamental transformations over a period of over three centuries.

Peter Alan Roberts compares significant episodes in the life of Rechungpa as portrayed in a succession of texts, and thus demonstrates the evolution of Rechungpa’s biography. This is the first survey of the surviving literature which includes a detailed analysis of their dates, authorship and interrelationships. It shows how Rechungpa was increasingly portrayed as a rebellious, volatile and difficult pupil, as a lineage from a fellow-pupil prospered to become dominant in Tibet.

Written in a style that makes it accessible to broad readership, Roberts' book will be of great value to anyone with an interest in the fields of Tibetan literature, history or religion.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415596220
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/15/2010
Series:	Routledge Critical Studies in Buddhism - Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	308
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter Alan Roberts is a writer, translator and interpreter. He was born in South Wales, received his doctorate in Tibetan Studies at the University of Oxford, and worked as a Tibetan translator at Samye Ling Centre in Scotland. He presently lives in Hollywood, California.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 2. The Biographies 3. The Evolution of Milarepa’s Biography 4. Rechungpa’s Childhood 5. A Sick Rechungpa Goes to India 6. Rechungpa is Sent to India for the Teaching of the Bodiless Dakini 7. Rechungpa Obtains the Teachings of the Bodiless Dakini 8. Rechungpa’s Return and the Yak Horn that was too Small 9. Rechungpa’s Later Years