Tara Mandala is honored to welcome back Dr. Amelia Hall for a special lecture about translating Tibetan spell books that contain instructions for rituals and magical formulae used to calm the chthonic inhabitants of Himalayan cosmology, known as klu (also known as nagas in Sanskrit). 

Klu are disturbed by the harm done to the natural world and angered by pollution caused by human behavior. They respond with punishing planetary disasters such as droughts, famines, floods, earthquakes, and pandemics. To ensure ecological and societal stability, it is necessary to make timely recompense to them, thus ensuring sustainable interspecies reciprocity. The view employed here may challenge the normative boundaries of dominant cultural belief systems and methodologies concerning translation. 

Dr. Hall’s translation works have given rise to methods of scholarship based on recovering marginalized elements of literary Tibetan Buddhist collections, including biographies, pilgrimage guides, catalogs, and spell books. These elements are often labeled as ‘obscure’ within conventional academic circles. You are invited to join the discussion on working with these texts’ nuanced reality and its relevance for today’s Buddhist practitioner.

This talk will be offered via the Zoom platform. It will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 10:00am-12:00pm MDT.  Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

Christina Monson Memorial Lecture Series

On November 19, 2023, the great yogini and Tibetan translator Christina Monson (Sangye Gyalmo) integrated her consciousness into the Dharmakaya resting in tugdam (meditation) for three days amidst rainbow displays at the time of her passing and her cremation on November 22. She spent thirty years  in the high Himalayas and Kathmandu Valley.  She dedicated her life to practicing and translating the Dharma under the guidance of her root guru Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche who entrusted her with the lineage and translation of the termas and other writings of Dekyong Wangmo Sera Khandro. 

Upon learning of her passing, Lama Tsultrim Allione reflected that so often very intelligent articulate women spend their lives in the role of translator, which is a very important role, yet in reality they are also incredibly dedicated practitioners, with their own research, experience and knowledge.  We often don’t hear them teach or express their particular interests directly

Before she passed away Lama Tsultrim spoke to Christina about creating a legacy project in her memory and she replied, ”That would mean the world to me.” 

In honor of Christina and translators like her, Lama Tsultrim decided to create a memorial lecture series for women translators in the Tibetan tradition to speak about whatever inspires and interests them the most. During 2024, the Christina Monson Memorial Lecture Series has invited:

Dr. Amelia Hall (Saturday, June 15, 2024) Register Here
Professor Miranda Shaw (Saturday, August 17, 2024)  Register Here

Past Lectures in this Series
March 2024 – Lama Sarah Harding – The Seven Day Severance Retreat Experiential Guide: An Introduction (online)
April 2024- Sangye Khandro – The Art & Craft of Translating the Dharma (online)

Who Should Attend? 
This program is open to everyone.

Recording Access: 
All participants will have a 1-year access period to the recordings.

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

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Sustaining Sangha:
If you are currently a member of our Sustaining Sangha, you may apply your Online Program discount to this course. To learn more about Sustaining Sangha membership, benefits, and discounts, click here. 

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