Objective
This project aims to write a bibliography that contemplates a dialogue of the essential aspects of Buddhist philosophy with several fields of Western knowledge: Psychology, philosophy, physics, biology, neuroscience and cognitive sciences. When completed, it will compose the bibliography of a School of Philosophy and Meditation, serving as the basis for study and meditation.
Historic
In 1997 I invited the Buddhist Master Segyu Choepel Rinpoche to teach Buddhist philosophy in Porto Alegre. Rinpoche is recognized by the Council for Religion and Culture of the Tibetan Government as the Abbot of the Segyu Monastery founded in 1432 in Tibet as the school of Tantric teachings of the Gelugpa lineage. Currently Rinpoche is the founder and spiritual director of the Juniper Foundation in San Francisco (CA) where he is dedicated to making philosophy and meditation accessible to contemporary Western culture.
Translations and Gelugpa Curriculum
From this invitation was born a group of practice and in 2000 evolved to the Lama Je Tsongkhapa Buddhist Center. In the same year, under the guidance of Segyu Rinpoche, we began to translate and study a series of books aiming to compose the curriculum of a Philosophical University, similar to the curriculum used in the Gelugpa Universities of Tibet. Motivated by this vision eleven books (3,285 pages) were translated, revised and studied (Table 1 below) involving the voluntary dedication of thirteen people.
Parallel to our translation and study process, from 2003 on Segyu Rinpoche led the beginning of a work with a view to building a new approach that would abandon the religious and cultural aspects of the past and embrace new knowledge and discoveries more aligned with contemporary times. It was by following this same line of thinking of Rinpoche that we realized that the translated works needed a profound adaptation. It is with the purpose of accomplishing this adaptation that this project arises on seeking to promote a dialogue of Buddhist thought with Western thought.
Meditative writing
Reflection and analysis are fundamental in analytic meditation. If done with motivation and text epistemologically correct, they can contribute to the development of mental calm and wisdom. What factors in writing can contribute to meditation? The question is the effect on the mind. If writing is done in an inquiring way the mind will open more naturally. If the inquiring nature favors reflection, what factor can contribute to the analysis? The various approaches and multiplicity of languages can enrich analysis and favor absorption by the mind.
Five Books – Buddhism & Western Dialogue
Book 1 – Epistemology – This book already features more advanced research:
Financial support: Budget and deadline.
The project budget involves: writer’s allowance, book purchase and publication. Given the complexity of the project it is required a nearly integral dedication, reason why it becomes necessary a financial support to maintain the writer. The monthly grant for the writer is stipulated in up to R$ 3.000 (three thousand Reais) per month. The estimated time is of one year (12 months) to write each book. The budget below considers this deadline for the first book.
The donations will be distributed proportionally to the three rubrics and the sponsors’ name, values and extract will be published monthly on the website.
Request information for donations: elton@eltonoliveira.com.br
About Elton Oliveira (56)
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General Director and one of the founders of the Lama Je Tsongkhapa Buddhist Center. He coordinated teaching programs with Segyu Chopel Rinpoche and Geshe Ngawang Sherap. He developed study methodologies and coordinated the translation of 11 books linked to the Gelupa school.
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Invited professor in Specialization Courses and Master’s Degree at Unisinos Universities, PUC – Pontifical Catholic University and others. He lectured classes for about 200 classeroom and supervised more than 80 academic papers.
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Specialist in career guidance. He atended more than 300 people in addition to writing the books Psychological Styles, where he carries out a scientific analysis of the typology of Carl Jung (MBTI) and William Marston (DISC) – by Sulina publisher in 2016, and The Psychology of Talent, to be released in 2018 by Qualitymark publisher.
Anexo 1 – Livros traduzidos (inglês para o português) que servirão de base para o diálogo
Annex 1 – Translated books (English to Portuguese) that will serve as the basis for the dialogue
