In the workshop, we will explore the challenges and pitfalls of translating works from Tibetan and Sanskrit, with a focus on tantric consort (karmamudrā) material. This will be of interest to Tibetologists, Indologists, as well as those with an interest in translation more generally or the theme of tantric sexual practices.
We will read and discuss Divākara's discussion of karmamudrā. Divākara not only argues for the necessity of the karmamudrā but also upholds and argues for the less widespread and accepted of the succession of the "four joys" in which sahajānanda precedes viramānanda. This text was quite certainly originally composed in Sanskrit but is hitherto only available in its Tibetan translation (T 2226). However, the nature of this work and the fact that Divākara cites many sources, allows us to identify much of the underlying Sanskrit.
Bio
Dr. Julian Schott is an assistant professor at the University of Vienna. His expertise lies in the Indo-Tibetan tantric traditions with a focus on primary Buddhist Sanskrit sources (manuscript studies) and Tibetan translation literature. Julian has published on the Dohā traditions and their reception in the Tibetan cultural area and exegetical "siddha literature" such as those contained in the Grub pa sde bdun focusing on the Indo-Tibetan doctrine of the Great Seal ( Mahāmudrā ) and its Indian origins.
