“The Other Emptiness” – The Birth of Shentong and Its Rich Offspring
We are pleased to announce that Karl Brunnhölzl has accepted our request to teach about the Shentong Madhyamaka tradition. In this series of talks we will explore the beginnings of Tibetan Shentong and its various forms as it has developed over the centuries. We will begin with materials from Jamgon Kongtrul’s Treasury of Knowledge and continue with selected other texts by various authors.
SHENTONG
Shentong is a philosophical view in Tibetan Buddhism, especially within the Jonang and Kagyu schools. The term “shentong” (Tibetan: གཞན་སྟོང་, meaning “empty of other”) refers to the view that ultimate reality, or the nature of mind, is empty of all things that are not its own intrinsic qualities. This view contrasts with “rangtong,” which holds that all phenomena, including ultimate reality, are empty of inherent existence.
The importance of Shentong lies in its approach to understanding the nature of reality and the path to enlightenment. Shentong emphasizes the positive aspects of the nature of mind, such as clarity, awareness, and luminosity, which are seen as inherently present and not dependent on external conditions. It is a philosophical framework for understanding enlightenment by emphasizing the presence of an indestructible, unconditioned, and luminous awareness beyond conceptualization.
KARL BRUNNHÖLZL
Karl Brunnhölzl is one of the most prolific translators of Tibetan texts into English. Trained as a physician, he now works as a Tibetan translator and Buddhist teacher, known for his accessible teaching style. He studied Tibetology, Buddhology, and Sanskrit at the University of Hamburg, and Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators in Kathmandu. For more than a decade, Karl has been one of the main teachers of the Nalandabodhi Sangha and the Nitartha Institute of Higher Buddhist Study. He is the author and translator of more than 20 books and volumes on Buddhist philosophy, including translations of the Five Treatises of Maitreya or the Mahayanasamgraha with Indian and Tibetan commentaries. He is the author of books on Buddhism such as The Center of the Sunlit Sky, Straight from the Heart, In Praise of Dharmadhatu, and Luminous Heart.
We are grateful to Mitra Dr. Karl Brunnhölzl for accepting Karma Dechen Chöling’s proposal to present teachings on Shentong to a wider audience.
COURSE DETAILS
The course will be delivered via Zoom and is scheduled for several months. It will begin on Saturday, November 2, 2024 at 6 pm CET (Central European Time). Karl will lecture twice a month on Saturdays. In between his lectures, there will be discussion group sessions to clarify difficult points and share our understanding of the material presented.
The course will be taught in English. The organizers are exploring technical options for translation into other languages. Polish and German translations are in preparation. The final decision will depend on the participants and their language preferences.
Students will receive the text “The Presentation of Shentong and Selected Topics on Madhyamaka in the Treasury of Knowledge” and access to the recordings of the sessions.
The cost of the course (lectures, text and discussion groups) is 200 EUR for the first four months. Depending on the development of the program, further fees will be determined.
Upcoming Lectures:
- November 2, 30
- December 14, 21
- January 4, 18
- February 1, 15
Register for the course: