Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary- A Translation and Study of Jigme Lingpa's Dancing Moon in the Water and Dakki's Grand Secret Talk [Paperback]

Janet Gyatso (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0691009481 | ISBN-13: 978-0691009483 | Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Apparitions of the Self is a groundbreaking investigation into what is known in Tibet as "secret autobiography," an exceptional, rarely studied literary genre that presents a personal exploration of intimate religious experiences. In this volume, Janet Gyatso translates and studies the outstanding pair of secret autobiographies by the famed Tibetan Buddhist visionary, Jigme Lingpa (1730-1798), whose poetic and self-conscious writings are as much about the nature of his own identity, memory, and the undecidabilities of autobiographical truth as they are narrations of the actual content of his experiences. Their translation in this book marks the first time that works of this sort have been translated in a Western language.

Gyatso is among the first to consider Tibetan literature from a comparative perspective, examining the surprising fit--as well as the misfit--of Western literary theory with Tibetan autobiography. She examines the intriguing questions of why Tibetan Buddhists produced so many autobiographies (far more than other Asian Buddhists) and how autobiographical self-assertion is possible even while Buddhists believe that the self is ultimately an illusion. Also explored are Jigme Lingpa's historical milieu, his revelatory visions of the ancient Tibetan dynasty, and his meditative practices of personal cultivation. The book concludes with a study of the subversive female figure of the "Dakini" in Jigme Lingpa's writings, and the implications of her gender, her sexuality, and her unsettling discourse for the autobiographical subject in Tibet.

Editorial Reviews

Review

It is only one of the many virtues of Janet Gyatso's Apparitions of the Self that it gives us, at last, a full portrait of a Buddhist saint in all his self-admitted complexity and ambiguity.... Lucid and literate.... Significant points to ponder, and subtle arguments to which to respond. -- Journal of Asian Studies



Gyatso surveys this landscape from a host of perspectives, adding to her Buddhalogical expertise a sensitivity to literary theory and comparative studies. Her sharp intelligence and thorough consideration are evident on every page. This book will attract readers from as many disciplines as Gyatso herself so effectively musters. -- Religious Studies Review



This exceptional volume combines concise and felicitous translation with clear commentary and insightful analysis.... What lends considerable interest to this work is the comparison Gyatso ... makes between Tibetan literature and Western literary theory.... [Apparitions of the Self] serves as a model of innovative scholarship. -- Choice



In this ambitious book, Janet Gyatso breaks new ground in the field of cross-cultural comparisons of autobiography. . . . Providing clear, poetic translations of very difficult material, Gyatso offers a glimpse into an unusual genre of autobiography. . . . [She] has accomplished a difficult task at rendering the translations of Jigme Lingpa into clear, readable, English poetry and prose and elucidating their meaning in Western theoretical terms. Her use of Western theories of autobiographical self-representation and dissimulation shed valuable light on a heretofore impenetrable subject of Tibetan literature. . . . This book provides an important contribution to Buddhist studies and to autobiographical studies. -- The Journal of Religion

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Tibetan --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0691009481
• ISBN-13: 978-0691009483
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #226,182 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two books in one, September 17, 2000

By 

Susan Law (Hudson Valley, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary (Hardcover)

Dr. Gyatso has given us two books in one: a fine translation of two of Jigme Lingpa's secret autobiographies, and a rich discussion of such autobiographies in Tibetan and world literature.

As for the translations, they are treasures. Even though they take up less than 80 pages (including notes), the book is well worth its price for these alone. Though brief biographies of Jigme Lingpa can be found in several English publications, this is the first time his so-called inner autobiographies have been made available. Dr. Gyatso's translations are very readable, and far more important, her notes make them understandable. These autobiographies are very esoteric material - they describe meditative and inner experiences far outside what most of us have encountered, and they do so in images of which we know almost nothing. Dr. Gyatso discussed the autobiographies with many of the greatest Nyingma Lamas, and their explanations and comments in addition to her own knowledge illuminate the text which otherwise would be nearly beyond comprehension. For students of Tibetan Buddhism who follow lineages that descend from Jigme Lingpa, such as the LongChen NyingThig, these translations will be especially precious.

The remainder of the book displays impressive scholarship. For the non-specialist, it is a challanging though rewarding read. The Editorial Reviews above give a good idea of this part of the book. One caveat - this section is not devotional writing. As scholarly writings often do, it poses sometimes disturbing questions to the 'believer'. Nevertheless, even for the practitioner whose interest is quite other than scholarly, there is a wealth of information in these sections.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Unearthing Tibet's Hidden Treasures, August 4, 2001

By 

Lawrence E. Pintak (Princeton, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary- A Translation and Study of Jigme Lingpa's Dancing Moon in the Water and Dakki's Grand Secret Talk (Paperback)

It doesn't get much more esoteric than this. Apparitions of the Self tackles in-depth the complex metaphysics of the Treasure or Terma texts, the hidden teachings which practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism believe Padmasambhava secreted in the minds of key disciples 1,200 years ago. The vehicle for this exploration is the autobiography of Jigme Lingpa, an 18th century Terton (Treasure discoverer), who revealed the Great Perfection teachings. Author Janet Gyatso is an associate professor of religion at Amherst College, and, unfortunately, that is often all too evident in the text, which frequently reads like the academic treatise which it is. But readers willing to skim over phrases like "the hermeneutical nature of the process by which the unformulated is adumbrated" ...will discover a treasure trove of insights into this fascinating aspect of the Vajrayana world. Gyatso provides the clearest and most comprehensive account this reviewer has come across regarding the metaphysical process through which Treasure texts are "transmitted" and offers one of the more complete overviews on the nature of the dakini -- variously considered the Tibetan equivalent of an angel, anima, or even human partner. At the same time, she examines the apparent contradiction inherent in the idea of an advanced Buddhist practitioner, steeped in the concept of "no-self," producing an autobiography about his spiritual achievements. Make no mistake, this is not light reading for a summer day. But well worth the work for those seriously interested in the topic. Tulku Thondup Rinpoche was one of Gyatso's sources for her book, and his own volume, Hidden Teachings of Tibet, serves as the core reference work for anyone interested in the Terma tradition. Tulku Thondup, who has lived in the U.S. since 1980, provides a solid overview of the various types of Treasures, how they are concealed and discovered, details on the so-called dakini script in which they are written, and insights into the Tertons themselves. It is all organized in a format that makes for easy reference. Originally published in 1986, the book was issued in paperback in 1997. Reviewer: Lawrence Pintak is a journalist and author who writes frequently on Buddhism and spirituality.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fresh, August 3, 2000

By 

taylor caron - See all my reviews

This review is from: Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary- A Translation and Study of Jigme Lingpa's Dancing Moon in the Water and Dakki's Grand Secret Talk (Paperback)

janet gyatso has obviously spent some time putting this together. there isn't much out there about the life of jigmed lingpa (in english, at least) and this book fills the void well, i think. she has a few essays about some of the modern issues of spiritual life, and uses the autobiographies here translated to support her ideas. interesting, easy to read.