World of Worldly Gods

World of Worldly Gods

Author: Kelzang T. Tashi

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 305

ISBN-13: 0197669867

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In World of Worldly Gods, Kelzang T. Tashi offers the first comprehensive examination of the tenacity of Shamanic Bon practices, as they are lived and contested in the presence of an invalidating force: Buddhism. Through a rich ethnography of Goleng and nearby villages in central Bhutan, Tashi investigates why people, despite shifting contexts, continue to practice and engage with Bon, a religious practice that has survived over a millennium of impatience from a dominant Buddhist ecclesiastical structure. Against the backdrop of long-standing debates around practices unsystematically identified as 'bon', this book reframes the often stale and scholastic debates by providing a clear and succinct statement on how these practices should be conceived in the region. Tashi argues that the reasons for the tenacity of Bon practices and beliefs amid censures by the Buddhist priests are manifold and complex. While a significant reason for the persistence of Bon is the recency of formal Buddhist institutions in Goleng, he demonstrates that Bon beliefs are so deeply embedded in village social life that some Buddhists paradoxically feel it necessary to reach some kind of accommodation with Bon priests. Through an analysis of the relationship between Shamanic Bon and Buddhism, and the contemporary dynamics of Bhutanese society, this book tackles the longstanding concern of anthropology: cultural persistence and change. It discusses the mutual accommodation and attempted amalgamation of Buddhism and Bon, and offers fresh perspectives on the central distinguishing features of Great and Little Traditions.


In the Forest

In the Forest

Author: Vishvajit Pandya

Publisher: University Press of America

Published: 2009-04-16

Total Pages: 438

ISBN-13: 0761842721

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There are always at least two 'histories' of encounter or contact, as each party would tell the story differently, but where and when is it really the 'first contact' and for whom? This book deploys an analytical framework developed from Semiotics to have both sides of the story address each other. It is ethnography of dialogue, emerging from textual representation by outsiders and its relationship to visual response and presentations by the Andaman Islanders that this book aims to present as the critical 'ethnography of history.' The section on Visuality looks at how the 'Other' is incorporated into an organized knowledge-system, including Ongee myths and songs about outsiders and the early photographs of tribal people by British settlers and ethnographers. The section on Materiality concerns the investment in things made, to influence natural processes or to distinguish the human body, and discusses how they are transacted between cultures that come into contact. The concluding section on history addresses encounters and developments in which the experiences of both tribal and settler are implicated more thoroughly than in the transaction of objects. Thus juxtaposing alternative perspectives on change indicates areas of experience unaccounted for in the dominant discourse and shows the provisionality of images.


It's Up to You

It's Up to You

Author: Dzigar Kongtrul

Publisher: Shambhala Publications

Published: 2006-10-10

Total Pages: 158

ISBN-13: 0834824531

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On the spiritual path we speak of enlightenment. But how do we reconcile the idea of enlightenment with what we see when we look in the mirror—when insecurities, doubts, and self-centered tendencies arise in our minds? Dzigar Kongtrül suggests that we need not feel "doomed" when these experiences surface. In fact, such experiences are not a problem if we are able to simply let them arise without judging them or investing them with so much meaning. This approach to experience is what Kongtrül calls self-reflection. Self-reflection is a practice, a path, and an attitude. It is the spirit of taking an interest in that which we usually try to push away. When we practice self-reflection we take liberation into our own hands and accept the challenge and personal empowerment in Kongtrül’s title: it’s up to you.


Resonance

Resonance

Author: Unni Wikan

Publisher: University of Chicago Press

Published: 2013-01-16

Total Pages: 378

ISBN-13: 0226924483

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Resonance gathers together forty years of anthropological study by a researcher and writer with one of the broadest fieldwork résumés in anthropology: Unni Wikan. In its twelve essays—four of which are brand new—Resonance covers encounters with transvestites in Oman, childbirth in Bhutan, poverty in Cairo, and honor killings in Scandinavia, with visits to several other locales and subjects in between. Including a comprehensive preface and introduction that brings the whole work into focus, Resonance surveys an astonishing career of anthropological inquiry that demonstrates the possibility for a common humanity, a way of knowing others on their own terms. Deploying Clifford Geertz’s concept of “experience-near” observations —and driven by an ambition to work beyond Geertz’s own limitations—Wikan strives for an anthropology that sees, describes, and understands the human condition in the models and concepts of the people being observed. She highlights the fundamentals of an explicitly comparative, person-centered, and empathic approach to fieldwork, pushing anthropology to shift from the specialist discourses of academic experts to a grasp of what the Balinese call keneh— the heart, thought, and feeling of the real people of the world. By deploying this strategy across such a range of sites and communities, she provides a powerful argument that ever-deeper insight can be attained despite our differences.


A Sensitive Liberal's Guide to Life

A Sensitive Liberal's Guide to Life

Author: The Uptight Seattleite

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2010-03-02

Total Pages: 201

ISBN-13: 1101185643

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In the tradition of The Official Preppy Handbook, The Uptight Seattleite is the Stephen Colbert of left-wing satire The author of the wildly popular Seattle Weekly advice column teaches Americans everywhere how to embrace their inner leftist. Artfully balancing the cosmic with the cosmopolitan, the Uptight Seattleite (aka Adrian) delights his loyal readers each week with snide insight on everything from fashion ("Can I pull off a Rasta beret?") to ear-bud etiquette. In A Sensitive Liberal's Guide to Life, he brings his savvy smugness to his widest audience yet, on topics such as the hierarchy of transportation righteousness (what to do with the clunky old Subaru after purchasing a Prius) and ethical behavior at the grocery store, including how to handle the horror forgetting to bring your reusable burlap sack. Other day-to-day advice covers what to read on the bus (Vonnegut versus The Kite Runner versus The Economist) and feasting at the buffet of diversity, with tips for shooting a condescending smile at those who don't know how to use chopsticks. The Uptight Seattleite also helps readers navigate the big issues, such as responsible parenting (which calls for a mini-landfill kit, perfect for the backyard and ready to be stuffed with environmentally unfriendly diapers). For every insecure liberal-and those who love to make fun of them-the Uptight Seattleite offers us laughs from the pinnacle of political correctness.


Gangri Langtso (The college journal) 2022 [Men-Tsee-Khang-སྨན་རྩིས་ཁང་།]

Gangri Langtso (The college journal) 2022 [Men-Tsee-Khang-སྨན་རྩིས་ཁང་།]

Author: English Editorial Board

Publisher: Mentseekhang Documentation & Publication

Published: 2022-03-23

Total Pages: 79

ISBN-13:

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Dear readers, 2021 is dashing to its end unhesitatingly and I could hardly believe that its already that time of the year for the publishment of the Gangri-langtso which marks the end of another academic year. The 27th edition of gangri‑langtso, the college annual magazine is what I consider as a whole package of wisdom, jam‑packed with knowledges, analytic ideas and beautiful writings penned down by our fellow students. We are so proud and exuberate to acclaim that we are able to bring out this edition, which is surely going to unfold the unraveled world of the most enthusiastic and creative writings of our college students.This booklet reflects the sincere efforts and times put forth by our friends to display the best possible article to enhance your knowledge and make the next few minutes a productive one. Amidst the emergence of the pandemic, everyone has been struggling with the economic and academic crisis it has caused worldwide. For the past couple of years, adults, students, employers, family, literally everyone has been thriving to survive. Ironically, the lockdowns and curfews did a great favor to the younger generations by snatching every possible distraction away from them. It bought us more time to spend indoor, studying and spend quality time with our beloved ones. And as luck would have it, our college was able to proceed with our regular classes and other co‑curricular activities. Furthermore, this year has been pretty much hectic with lots of prestigious events taking place which was a lifetime worth experiences for the students. Personally, I am so proud that we all made through another year once again in unison, maturing and learning as we grow a year older. As we engross ourselves in fulfilling the objectives as a men‑tsee‑khang student, it enriched us academically and morally. So as a devotee of such a sacred traditional institution, I find that it is our collective and utmost responsibility to preserve and serve the purpose of the sowa-rigpa and Astro science which our ancestors had so far firmly managed to secure and thrive. And this booklet is a baby step towards the flourishment of the sowa-rigpa and Tibetan Astro science solely initiated by the fervent students in the pursuit of learning. So I heartily thank each and every one of the article submitter for sharing your precious writings and knowledges with us. This challenging charge of drafting the articles would never have been a productive outcome without the inputs and hands of many people. I would like to pay my heartfelt gratitude towards all the editorial board members including all our teachers and friends for guiding us and proofread pages of articles despite being engaged in hectic schedule and making this publishment the best one. The amount of knowledge we were enlightened with while going through the articles are astonishing so we would like to thank everyone for entrusting us with this experience. And dear readers, we are humbled for your precious time and enthusiasm towards college student’s writings. I am positive that you won’t regret spending your time going through the articles and be rewarded with piles of new knowledges that our friends had to offer till the last flip of the page. Thank you all!!!!