Entering the Space of Dakinis: Interview with Prof. Janet Gyatso (Harvard University) (Dakini Conversations: Ep.2)

In this second episode of the Dakini Conversations podcast it is a great delight and honour to welcome Prof. Janet Gyatso, the first and current Hershey Professor of Buddhist Studies at the Divinity School of Harvard University. In the Buddhist Studies and Tibetology world, Prof. Gyatso really needs no introduction, and is a prime example of a woman who has reached the peak of the academy, while at the same time writing original and thought-provoking research about issues connected to women, feminism, gender, androcentrism and Buddhism. If anyone might be awarded the title ‘Queen’ of the Buddhist Studies academy, Prof. Gyatso would surely be a prime contender! Her books include Being Human in a Buddhist World: An Intellectual History of Medicine in Early Modern Tibet; Apparitions of the Self: The Secret Autobiographies of a Tibetan Visionary; In the Mirror of Memory: Reflections on Mindfulness and Remembrance in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism; and Women of Tibet. Prof. Gyatso has also been writing on sex and gender in Buddhist monasticism, and on the current female ordination movement in Buddhism. Her current writing concerns the phenomenology of living well with animals and related ethical issues and practices. Gyatso was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Science in 2018, was president of the International Association of Tibetan Studies from 2000 to 2006, and co-chair of the Buddhism Section of the American Academy of Religion from 2004 to 2010. In the interview the following topics are discussed: 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:36 Personal Background 00:04:15 Studies at University of California during the 1970s and Tibetan Buddhist teachers 00:06:15 A hub of activity: hanging out with fellow students at the Mediterranean Cafe 00:08:22 Studies of Sanskrit and Tibetan and its relevance for practitioner 00:11:17 PhD on Tibetan master and innovator, Thangtong Gyalpo 00:14:32 Translating terms in English or keeping them in the original language 00:16:20 Translation as a 'special pleasure' and entering the mental space of a text/teaching 00:19:03 The importance of real devotion and connection with the text or teacher 00:20:00 Reasons for becoming an academic 00:23:24 Being a woman in academia 00:26:31 The book 'Women in Tibet' 00:31:35 Own personal feeling and outlook on Buddhism as philosophy and practice 00:33:26 Secret Autobiographies of Jigme Lingpa: Getting transmission and permission from Drodrubchen, Dilgo Khyentse and others 00:38:53 Entering the poetic space of the hidden and secret levels of transmission/lung 00:42:54 Dakini Talks: The Dakini and Jigme Lingpa, the dakini principle and 'voice' 00:45:35 The Dakini as troubling, annoying, direct female 'messenger' of truth 00:48:55 The female roots of Vajrayana and lack of female visibility in the 21st Century 00:52:20 Being an 'animal-lover' and reasons for new work on Animal Ethics and Rights 00:53:59 Mass factory farming and the work and ideas of philosopher, Peter Singer 00:55:34 Becoming vegetarian, the 17th Karmapa's example and strong attachment to eating meat 00:59:37 Buddha's teachings on eating animals, and examples of Tibetan Buddhist vegetarianism 01:02:40 Current research drawing people's attention to loving animals and their capacities 01:07:15 Sexual misconduct of Tibetan Buddhist teachers and supporting survivors more 01:12:26 Opportunities to discuss cross-cultural physical boundaries and changing norms Interview was recorded on 7th May 2023.