Germano, D.

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David Germano

David Germano is the Executive Director of the Contemplative Sciences Center. He has taught and researched Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia since 1992. In this context, he works extensively with each of the eleven schools at UVA to explore learning, research, and engagement initiatives regarding contemplation in their own disciplinary and professional areas. He is currently focused on the exploration of contemplative ideas, values, and practices involving humanistic and scientific methodologies, as well as new applications in diverse fields; he also holds a faculty appointment in the School of Nursing. He is one of the co-leaders of the Student Flourishing Initiative, a three-way partnership with UVA, the University of Wisconsin, and Penn State University, as well as the lead organizer of an international research community of scholars and translators specializing in the Great Perfection (Dzokchen) tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. (Source Accessed June 11, 2019)

Library Items

Video
David Germano: How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?
Germano, David. "How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 11:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac2mGKly6ws.
Germano, David. "How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 11:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac2mGKly6ws.
Video
David Germano: How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?
Germano, David. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRr0w1uzWmY.
Germano, David. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRr0w1uzWmY.
Video
David Germano: How Does gzhi (the Ground or Base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (the Two Truths) in Madhyamaka?
Germano, David. "How Does gzhi (ground or base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (two truths) in Madhyamaka?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58nyymx1agE.
Germano, David. "How Does gzhi (ground or base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (two truths) in Madhyamaka?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58nyymx1agE.
Video
David Germano: On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period
Germano, David. "On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGs82a3NgM.
Germano, David. "On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGs82a3NgM.
Video
David Germano: On His Current Research Projects
Germano, David. "On His Current Research Projects." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 4:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI8lD5YxTk.
Germano, David. "On His Current Research Projects." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 4:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI8lD5YxTk.
Video
David Germano: On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAakwT4CuZA.
Germano, David. "On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAakwT4CuZA.
Video
David Germano: On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA
Germano, David. "On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 7:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1no1Dl7BjDo.
Germano, David. "On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 7:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1no1Dl7BjDo.
Video
David Germano: On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 12:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcTCKss8W8.
Germano, David. "On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 12:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcTCKss8W8.
Video
David Germano: On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 2:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqim5YaaHgA.
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 2:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqim5YaaHgA.
Video
David Germano: On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKCfQiAC9mI.
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKCfQiAC9mI.
Video
David Germano: On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 10:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaPwLvgW8c.
Germano, David. "On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 10:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaPwLvgW8c.
Video
David Germano: On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates
Germano, David. "On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 5:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5XWi_LFhNk.
Germano, David. "On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 5:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5XWi_LFhNk.
Video
David Germano: On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century
Germano, David. "On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRnJURqN3U.
Germano, David. "On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRnJURqN3U.
PhD Diss
Germano, D.: Poetic Thought, the Intelligent Universe, and the Mystery of Self: The Tantric Synthesis of rDzogs Chen in Fourteenth Century Tibet
Abstract

The rDzogs Chen tradition is an extremely innovative philosophical and contemplative system originating out of Buddhist Tantric mysticism within the 8th-10th centuries, and in many ways is quite unusual in the context of normative Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. While its origins remain controversial, we currently possess only a large body of canonical and exegetical literature in what claim to be Tibetan translations, as well as an extensive secondary literature that developed in Tibet from the 10th-20th centuries. The tradition is especially striking in its implicit development of a model of rigorous philosophical thought that refuses to be reduced to syllogistic reasoning (though utilizing it as a secondary hermeneutical tool) or dismissed as mere "aesthetics" as it treats Buddhist Tantra as a serious philosophical innovation that must be utilized to reinterpret previous traditional scholasticism, in stark contrast to the trend to extend traditional scholastic methodologies into Tantra, and deny the revolution of "poetic thought" they may embody. In addition, its complex evolutionary emphasis and description of a non-reified intelligence operative at every level of the Universe is strikingly similar to recent developments in modern scientific research. Finally, it would seem that the Great Perfection represents the most sophisticated interpretation of the so-called "Buddha nature" tradition within the context of Indo-Tibetan thought, and as such, is of extreme importance for research into classical exoteric philosophic systems such as Madhyamaka and Yogācāra, while also providing fertile grounds for future explorations of the interconnections between Indo-Tibetan and East Asian forms of Buddhism, as well as between Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and contemporary Indian developments such as the tenth century non-dual Shaivism of Abhinavagupta.
      Though this tradition is by no means homogenous, one can readily distinguish out a classical system encapsulated by "eleven adamantine topics" (rDo rJe'i gNas bCu gCig), which together constitute a wide ranging journey spanning the early history of the Universe to the climaxing heights of a Buddha's full enlightenment. This system is most brilliantly articulated by the fourteenth century Tibetan scholar kLong Chen Rab 'Byams Pa (1308-1363) in his The Seven Treasuries (mDzod bDun) and The Seminal Heart-Essence in Four Parts (sNying Thig Ya bZhi), which contain some of the world's most profound poetic and philosophic masterpieces. This dissertation thus bases itself on Longchenpa's corpus, and his own textual sources, namely The Seventeen Tantras, The Seminal Heart-Essence of the Sky Dancer (mKha' 'Gro sNying Thig) by Padmasambhava, and The Seminal Heart-Essence of Vimalamitra (Bi Ma sNying Thig) by Vimalamitra and other early non-Tibetan figures in the tradition. In particular, it focuses on kLong Chen Rab 'Byams Pa's The Treasury of Words and Meanings (Tshig Don mDzod) which is directly structured on the aforementioned eleven topics, and is his most succinct yet extensive exposition of the tradition of the Great Perfection in its entirety. Part I is an overview of these eleven topics in general, as well as in the context of The Treasury of Words and Meaning's corresponding eleven chapters; Part II consists of a translation of the first five chapters from The Treasury of Words and Meanings (centering on the primordial nature of the Universe, the early history of its exteriorization into space and time, the origination of alienation, evolution, and a subtle analysis of the energetics of human existence); and Part III provides a very lengthy commentary on those five chapters in the form of running annotations (the bulk of the thesis thus occurs in Part Ill). In Part Ill, the above texts are systematically analyzed in relation to Longchenpa's discussions of a given issue, and many lengthy passages extracted from them are translated therein, along with extensive interpretative comments.
      Although some scholars have attempted to marginalize the tradition in relation to Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, in fact the Great Perfection can be understood as its culmination, since in its seamless blend of the exoteric and esoteric it overcomes many of the limitations inherent in the "normative" traditions' sterile division between "philosophy" and the esoteric practices/theory of Tantra. This dissertation clarifies the essential structure, orientation, and content of the tradition, as well as providing a very detailed explication of the first five of the eleven topics

encapsulating its overall range. The larger work from which it is drawn contains a systematic treatment of all eleven topics, along with a comprehensive translation (and independent commentary on) The Treasury of Words and Meanings.
Germano, David Francis. "Poetic Thought, the Intelligent Universe, and the Mystery of Self: The Tantric Synthesis of rDzogs Chen in Fourteenth Century Tibet." PhD diss., University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1992.
Article
The Funerary Transformation of the Great Perfection (Rdzogs chen)
The Great Perfection (Rdzogs chen) is one of the most important tantric traditions to develop in Tibet, but much of its early history has been obscured by the tradition’s visionary narratives of revelation, concealment, and excavation regarding its core scriptures. In addition, the over-reliance on the rubric “Great Perfection” itself obscures a broad diversity of distinct traditions, each with its own distinct rubric of self-identification and often quite divergent characteristics. This includes at the most general level the Three Series (Sde gsum), Four Cycles (Skor bzhi), Crown Pith (Spyi ti), and Ultra Pith (Yang ti). The present essay utilizes a simple hermeneutic of two trajectories – labeled “pristine” and “funerary,” respectively – to offer a developmental history of these movements in broad strokes from the eighth to fourteenth century. In doing so, it interprets the major variants of the Great Perfection historically in terms of their interrelations via development, influence, and criticism.
Germano, David. "The Funerary Transformation of the Great Perfection (Rdzogs chen)." Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies 1 (2005): 1-54.

About this person

Select Publications

  • Germano, David F. (2000-present, director), The Tibetan and Himalayan Library (www.thlib.org). Within this international project, I am the director and/or facilitator of multiple major collaborative projects involving technology in GIS research, language instructional materials, dictionaries, literary archives, ethnographic research and historical work. This is the largest international initiative in Tibetan Studies involving digital technology, multiple disciplines, and multiple institutions. See there for major Web publications involving Tibetan literature, music, geography, and other subjects. It is also leading efforts at integrating academic work with community services initiatives in Tibet. I am the primary person responsible for the Library’s structural design, social networks, and intellectual program, as well as being active in one way or another in almost every major project therein.
  • Germano, David F. (2007). “Re-membering the Dismembered Body of Tibet: Contemporary Tibetan Visionary Movements in the People’s Republic of China.” An abridged version published in Defining Buddhisms: A Reader edited by Karen Derris and Natalie Gummer in the series “Critical Categories in the Study of Religion,” edited by Russell T. McCutcheon for Equinox Publishing.
  • Germano, David F. (2007). “The shifting terrain of the tantric bodies of Buddhas and Buddhists from an Atiyoga perspective”. In The Pandita and the Siddha: Tibetan Studies in Honour of E. Gene Smith, ed. Ramon Prats. Amnye Machen Institute.
  • Germano, David and William S. Waldron (2006). "The Arising of Ālaya: History and Doctrine". In The Buddha’s Way: The Confluence of Buddhist Thought and Contemporary Psychology in the Post-Modern Age, editor D. K. Nauriyal, Routledge Curzon Press.
  • Germano, David F. (2005). "Atiyoga/Great Perfection". In Encyclopedia of Religions, Macmillan Reference USA.
  • Germano, David F. with Gregory Hillis (2005). "Tibetan Buddhist Meditation". In Encyclopedia of Religions, Macmillan Reference USA.
  • Germano, David F. with Gregory Hillis (2005). "Klong chen rab ‘byams pa". In Encyclopedia of Religions, Macmillan Reference USA.
  • Germano, David F. (2005). “The History of Funerary rDzogs chen”. In the Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies, vol. 1 , www.jiats.org.
  • Germano, David F. with Eveline Yang and others. "Tibetan Furniture Making: Traditions and Innovations" (2004): a documentary produced and exhibited at the "Wooden Wonders" exhibition, Pacific Asian Art Museum in Los Angeles, November 2004.
  • Germano, David F. and Kevin Trainor (co-editors, (2004). Embodying the Dharma: Buddhist Relic Veneration in Asia. SUNY. This volume of essays on Buddhist relic traditions across Asia is drawn from our four year seminar on the subject in the American Academy of Religions.
  • Germano, David F. (2004). "Relics of the Living Buddha in Tibet". In Embodying the Dharma: Buddhist Relic Veneration in Asia, editors David Germano and Kevin Trainor, SUNY.
  • Review, of Goldstein, Melvyn (2003), The New Tibetan-English Dictionary of Modern Tibetan, Berkeley: the University of California Press. In Geolinguistics, vol. 29.
  • Germano, David F. (2002). “The Tibetan and Himalayan Digital Library”. In the “In Brief” column of D-Lib Magazine (May 2002, www.d-lib.org). Republished in ACCESS (www.igroupnet.com).
  • Germano, David F., co-editor (2002). The Many Canons of Tibetan Buddhism. Brill Press.
  • Germano, David F. (2002) "The Seven Descents and the Nature of sNga' 'gyur: The “history” of rNying ma tantras". In The Many Canons of Tibetan Buddhism, Brill Press.
  • Germano, David F. with Nathaniel Garson (2001) “The Rise of 'Thematic Research Collections' in the study, teaching and transmission of Buddhist scriptures”. Journal of Electronic Buddhist Texts, Volume 3, December 2001, pp. 147-190. Published by Electronic Buddhist Text Institute, Seoul, Korea.
  • Germano, David F. (2001) "Encountering Tibet: The Ethics, Soteriology and Creativity of Cross-cultural Interpretation". In the Journal of the American Academy of Religions.
  • Germano, David F. with Janet Gyatso (2000). “Longchenpa and the Possessions of Dakinıs”. Tantra in Practice, edited by David White, Princeton University Press.
  • Germano, David F. (1998). "Re-membering the dismembered body of Tibet: The contemporary Tibetan visionary movements in the People’s Republic of China.". In Buddhism in Contemporary Tibet: Religious Revival and Cultural Identity (editors Melvyn Goldstein and Matthew Kapstein); Berkeley, California: University of California Press.
  • Germano, David F. (1997). "Dying, death and other opportunities". In Religions of Tibet in Practice (editor Donald Lopez), pp. 458-493; Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
  • Germano, David F. (1997). "Food, clothes, dreams and karmic propensities" In Religions of Tibet in Practice (editor Donald Lopez), pp. 293-312; Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
  • Germano, David F. (1997) "Preliminary practices: craziness, the elements and the letter Hum". In Religions of Tibet in Practice (editor Donald Lopez), pp. 313-334; Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press.
  • Germano, David F. (1994). "Architecture and Absence in the Secret Tantric History of rDzogs Chen". In The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, vol. 17.2, pp. 203-335.

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