Lara Braitstein, “Kye ho! Translation, Genre and the Poetics of Phyag chen”
Saraha’s work has had a significant impact on Tibetan literary culture from the time of its transmission to Tibet (11th-13th centuries) to the present day. Through a close reading of portions of his Adamantine Treasury (Sku’i mdzod ’chi med rdo rje’i glu, gsung gi mdzod ’jam dbyangs rdo rje’i glu, and thugs kyi mdzod skye med rdo rje’i glu) I will use Saraha as a lens onto the genre of adamantine songs (vajragīti; rdo rje’i glu) and the parameters and challenges of expressing and translating realization.
Texts under discussion:
1. Ku’i mdzod ’chi med rdo rje’i glu (Kāyakośāmṛta vajragīti)
2. Gsung gi mdzod ’jam dbyangs rdo rje’i glu (Vāk kośa rucira svara vajra gīti)
3. Thugs kyi mdzod skye med rdo rje’i glu (Cittakośa aja vajra gīti)
Thugs kyi mdzod skye med rdo rje’i glu (cittakośājavajragīti):
Sde dge bstan ’gyur, rgyud vol. zhi ff. 115b-117a
Co ne bstan ’gyur, rgyud vol. zhi ff. 116b-118a
Peking bstan ’gyur, rgyud vol. tsi ff. 88a-89b
Snar thang bstan ’gyur, rgyud vol. tsi ff. 100a-102a
’Jam mgon ’ju mi pham rgya mtsho. Do ha skor. Thugs kyi mdzod skye med rdo rje’i glu (cittakośājavajragīti). ’Phags yul grub dbang dam pa rnams kyi zab mo’i do ha rnams las kho la byung mu tig phreng ba bzhugs so. 1 vols. Thimphu: [s. n.], 1979. ff. 45a-47b. TBRC W19230.
Lara’s materials are available <<here>>.
Jonathan Gold, “Sakya Paṇḍita’s Introduction to Poetics”
Sakya Paṇḍita’s Mkhas pa ’jug pa’i sgo (Gateway to Learning) included within it Tibet’s first treatise on formal Sanskrit poetics (kāvya-śāstra). It contains an extensive discussion of rasa theory, and then plunges into an unprecedented translation/transposition of hundreds of verses from Daṇḍin’s Kāvyādarśa (Mirror of Poetics). Sa-paṇ’s treatment of Daṇḍin shows evidence of having relished, but also occasionally edited and abridged his source. I’d like to discuss with the seminar how some specific translation issues might be interpreted to bring to light Sa-paṇ’s specific motives in introducing kāvya to Tibet. I’ll supply passages from the rasa and Kāvyādarśa sections of the Mkhas ’jug.
Text under discussion:
Sa skya Paṇḍita Kun dga rgyal mtshan (1182-1251). “Mkhas pa rnams ’jug pa’i sgo zhes bya ba’i bstan bcos.” In gsung ’bum/kun dga’ rgyal mtshan. 1: 383 – 518. lha sa: bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang, 1992. TBRC W30279.
Jonathan’s materials are available <<here>>.
Religion and the Literary in Tibet 