The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (A Philip E. Lilienthal book in Asian studies) (Paperback)

by Georges B.J. Dreyfus (Author) "To contextualize Tibetan scholasticism, I here sketch Tibetan Buddhism, presenting its main elements, describing its lines of evolution, and introducing its main figures..." (more)
Key Phrases: three monastic seats, acumen arising, reciting leader, Dalai Lama, Geshe Rab-ten, Collected Topics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Dreyfus provides an engaging and comprehensive study of Tibetan scholasticism as a living tradition among exile communities in India."--Buddhadharma -- Review

Product Description
A unique insider's account of day-to-day life inside a Tibetan monastery, The Sound of Two Hands Clapping reveals to Western audiences the fascinating details of monastic education. Georges B. J. Dreyfus, the first Westerner to complete the famous Ge-luk curriculum and achieve the distinguished title of geshe, weaves together eloquent and moving autobiographical reflections with a historical overview of Tibetan Buddhism and insights into its teachings.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 460 pages
• Publisher: University of California Press; 1 edition (January 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0520232607
• ISBN-13: 978-0520232600
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #719,302 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely Valuable Inside Look at Ge-luk Monasticism, April 30, 2003

By	Barnaby A Thieme (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Georges Dreyfus is a scholar of truly prodigious learning. In this book he reflects on his unique experience studying in various Ge-luk-ba monastic education centers in the Tibetan exile community in India, particularly at Drepung Loseling and the Institute of Dialectics. Dreyfus displays his great erudition in a fashion that is illuminating and not pedantic.

Most of the book is occupied with a historical and philosophical analysis of the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism. In particular, he focuses on two tensions within Ge-luk-ba. The first is the tension between exegesis and debate. The second is the tension between doctrinal allegiance to canonical texts and free and open inquiry into ideas. The picture of Ge-luk-ba scholasticism that emerges from Dreyfus' careful analysis of these twin tensions is a conservative institution that produces brilliant, and sometimes daring, thinkers.

This work is extremely valuable to scholars and dedicated practitioners alike, because it provides a unique insider's view of Tibetan Buddhist monastic education. Dreyfus is not only well steeped in the tradition he analyzes; he also maintains his scholarly rigor and critical acumen.

Dreyfus explains many practical aspects of Tibetan Buddhism that are not frequently discussed in Western scholarship. For example, I found it very illuminating to learn that, for scholars, Lam Rim texts and the related "Grounds and Paths" Prajnaparamita literature are not typically treated as literal, programmatic instructions on meditation courses. Rather, they are regarded as presenting systematic, overarching depictions of the Buddhist philosophical universe. This book is filled with important observations of this type.

If there is a weakness to this book (other than its rather unfortunate title), it is admittedly one-sided in its sphere of interest. It struck me as highly significant that the word "compassion" scarcely appears in this book. I believe it can be read in part as an apology for a style of monastic engagement, which places an enormous emphasis on study and debate, while not formally encouraging meditative praxis. This book focuses on the development of prajna on the basis of study and reflection, but strongly underemphasizes the soteriological aspect of Buddhism.

Of course, it is the author's prerogative to focus on their area of interest, and Dreyfus has done so with a magisterial understanding of the issues in question, carefully honed by decades of research.

A wonderful book.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A helpful book, October 7, 2008

By	J. J. Stewart (Australia) - See all my reviews

This is an excellent book that provides many insights into the life of a Tibetan monk. One important contribution is that it deepens our understanding of monastic education and the presuppositions that Tibetan monks have about their own worldview, i.e. that, in spite of the Tibetan tradition's focus on debate, some areas of analysis are "out of bounds." I think these remarks on the part of Dreyfus are especially illuminating and help us understand that even Buddhism does have its own dogmas (as few as these may be). A refreshing and level-headed book. It is really essential for anyone interested in contemporary Tibetan Buddhism. It is also pleasing to note that the book is very well written and quite captivating.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very enlightening book., January 17, 2007

By	The Agile Minds "The Agile Minds" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk (A Philip E. Lilienthal book in Asian studies) (Hardcover)

I cannot agree more with the previous reviewer.

This truly is an edifying book for those who want to reach out the vast realm of spirituality, education, and human experience. I have read the Dalai Lama's books and been wondering what kind of education would create a creature of intellect and spiritual with unfathomable wisdom? This book helps me to sneak preview the 'mistery' yet it challenges my own perceptions about rituals and religions, as well as my belief systems. Religious disciplines and devotions are always inspiring, but in this book, they are taken to the next level because they are narrated through a man from the other side of the hemisphere, then in his early 20s, whose soul-searching quest took him to this incredible journey.

Moreover, Georges Dreyfus was raised in the west - French speaking region in Switzerland - which makes his ardent spiritual transformation through the Ge-luk scholastic approach to Buddhism (let me say it) much more prevalent. He has crossed the threshold of west and east in a pious way, many would have thought it is impossible, and yet, when he returns to our mundane world, he can see that there is, for instance, humor in debate practices in monastery scholastic tradition. Unquestionable, not all of us can take the risk of being defeated in a harsh and thought-provoking debate lightly, with humor!

This is not a `how to' book, yet the description of such a strenuous 'memorization tradition' as part of the scholastic curriculum is more than didactic. I am tempted to say that those Monks will score very high in GRE and SAT tests. Yes, this book is not a self-help one, but it is definitely the one that I will take out of the bookshelf every so often.