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JOHN J. MAKRANSKY

Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology

Department of Theology, Boston College,

Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin-Madison Ph.D. October, 1990

Major: Buddhist Studies. Minor: South Asian Languages and Literature

Dissertation: "Controversy Over Dharmakāya in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism:

Historical-critical Analysis of Abhisamayālaṃkāra Chapter 8 and Its Commentaries in

Relation to the Large Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra and the Yogācāra Tradition."

U.S. Advisor: Prof. Geshe Lhundup Sopa (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Advisors in India: Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche (Director: Central Institute of Higher

Tibetan Studies, Sarnath, India), Khenpo Migmar Tsering (Sakya Abbot at Tibetan

Institute, Sarnath, India), Geshe Thubten Tsering (Gelug Abbot at Tibetan Institute,

Sarnath, India).

Yale University B.A., Cum Laude 1975

Major: Molecular Biochemistry and Biophysics

LANGUAGES

Literary Tibetan, Sanskrit, Modern Spoken Tibetan, Hindi, French for reading.

TEACHING AREAS:

Buddhist Seminars: Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophical schools; Buddhist

philosophy and praxis in India, Tibet, China, and Japan; Buddhist modernism and

engaged Buddhism; Buddhist meditation, psychology and neuroscience; Contemporary

Applications of Buddhist Contemplative Practices.

Comparative Theology topics: Christian and Buddhist theological anthropologies,

ecclesiologies, and spiritualities; theological bases of ethics and altruism; what Buddhism

and Christian liberation theologies can learn from each other; Contemplative Practice,

Social Service, and Interfaith Learning.

PUBLICATIONS

BOOKS:

A Call to Care: Teachers’ Development Guide, version 2.5, co-authored with

Brooke Dodson-Lavelle and Pamela Siegle (Amherst, MA: Mind and Life Institute,

2015). A manual created for school teachers within Mind and Life Institute's global

initiative in education. The manual relates findings in neuroscience, psychology and

social-emotional learning with methods for contemplative training in stable care and

sustainable compassion for teachers.

Awakening Through Love -- Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness.

(Boston: Wisdom Publications 2007). Provides new theoretical and experiential access

to Tibetan Buddhist contemplative practices of love, compassion and wisdom for scholars

of comparative theology, the interested public, and Buddhists East and West.

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Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars

(Routledge-Curzon: Critical Studies in Buddhism, 2000), co-edited with Roger Jackson.

Anthology of articles by academic scholars who are trained in Buddhist traditions, to

explore what Buddhism can learn from modern academic findings and what the modern

world can learn from Buddhism. Co-organized this anthology in support of a new

movement in the academic study of religion and theology: non-Christian critical,

constructive theology. Wrote introduction and one chapter.

Buddhahood Embodied: Sources of Controversy in India and Tibet (Albany: State

University of New York Press, 1997). Historical and critical text analysis of Indian and

Tibetan Buddhist Perfection of Wisdom literature as basis for Buddhist theological

reflection on the nature of Buddhahood—the kinds of awareness, qualities and activities

that constitute enlightenment.

PUBLISHED ARTICLES AND CHAPTERS:

“What Christian Liberation Theology and Buddhism Need to Learn from Each

Other,” Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies February 2015.

“A Buddhist Critique of, and Learning from, Christian Liberation Theology,”

Theological Studies September 2014.

“Embodying Care” co-authored with Brooke Dodson-Lavelle, Mind and Life

Magazine, Spring 2014 Issue.

“How Buddhist Practice Grounds Social Action in a Secular World, Dharma

World: Living Buddhism and Interfaith Dialogue, Apr-June 2012, Vol. 39.

“Compassion in Buddhist Psychology.” Chapter 4 in Wisdom and Compassion in

Psychotherapy, edited by Christopher K. Germer and Ronald D. Siegel. NY, NY:

Guilford Press, February 2012.

“Thoughts on Why, How and What Buddhists Can Learn from Christian

Theologians,” Journal of Buddhist-Christian Studies, Vol. 31, 2011

“Compassion Beyond Fatigue: Contemplative Training for Educators, Activists and

other Helping Professionals.” Chapter 8 in Meditation and the Classroom, edited by

Judith Simmer-Brown and Fran Grace. Albany, NY: SUNY Press, 2011.

“The Awakening of Hospitality.” Chapter 10 in Hosting the Stranger: Between

Religions, ed. by Richard Kearney and James Taylor (New York: Continuum Press,

2011.

"Pure Perception and Equanimity of Heart,” chapter in the book Traversing the

Heart: Journeys of the Inter-religious Imagination, edited by Richard Kearney and Eileen

Rizo-Patron, Leiden, Netherlands: Brill 2010

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“Buddhist Reflections on Theological Learning and Spiritual Discipline” in

Spotlight on Theological Education, Religious Studies News, on-line journal of the

American Academy of Religion, March 2010.

“Buddhist Perspectives on Truth in Other Religions” in C. Cornille, ed. Criteria of

Discernment in Interreligious Dialogue. Eugene: Wipf & Stock, 2009

“The Emergence of Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection in the Academy as a

Resource for Buddhist Communities and for the Contemporary World” by John

Makransky, published in Journal of Global Buddhism Volume 9, 2008, pp. 113-154.

“Buddhist Inclusivism: Reflections Toward a Contemporary Buddhist Theology of

Religions,” by John Makransky, in: P. Schmidt-Leukel (ed.), Buddhist Attitudes to Other

Religions, St. Ottilien: EOS-Verlag 2008.

“Buddha and Christ as Mediations of Ultimate Reality: A Mahayana Buddhist

Perspective,” and “Response to Dr. Schmidt-Leukel’s Theology of Religions,” in P. Schmidt-Leukel (ed.), Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue, SCM press England,

2005.

“Buddhist Analogues of Sin and Grace: A Dialogue with Augustine,” in Studies

in Interreligious Dialogue, 2005.

“Tathāgata” in Encyclopedia of Religion, second edition, Macmillan Reference Co.

USA, NY, 2005.

“No Real Protection without Love and Compassion,” in Journal of Buddhist Ethics,

volume 12, 2005, pp. 25-36.

“A Buddhist Response to Richard Kearney on Religious Good and Evil,” in the

Journal of Interdisciplinary Crossroads, 2005.

“Buddhahood and Buddha Bodies,” in Encyclopedia of Buddhism, edited by

Robert Buswell, Macmillan Reference 2004.

“Buddhist Perspectives on Truth in Other Religions: Past and Present,” Theological

Studies Journal, vol. 64 no.2 (2003), 334 – 361.

“Contemporary Academic Buddhist Theology: Its Emergence and Rationale” in

Buddhist Theology, edited by Roger Jackson and John Makransky, Routledge-Curzon,

2000, 14-24.

"Historical Consciousness as an Offering to the Trans-historical Buddha," in

Buddhist Theology, edited by Roger Jackson and John Makransky, Routledge-Curzon,

2000, 111-135.

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"Buddhist Ritual and Ethical Activity in the World,” Buddhist-Christian Studies

Journal, 20 (2000), 54-59.

"Offering (mChod pa) in Tibetan Ritual Literature." in Tibetan Literature: Studies

in Genre, edited by Roger Jackson and Jose Cabezon, Snow Lion Press, 1995, 312-330.

"Proposal of a Modern Solution to an Ancient Problem: Literary-Historical

Evidence that the Abhisamayalamkara Teaches Three Buddha Kayas," Journal of Indian

Philosophy 20 (1992), 149-190.

"Controversy over Dharmakāya in India and Tibet: A Reinterpretation of its Basis,

Abhisamayālamkāra Chapter 8," Journal of the International Association of Buddhist

Studies, Vol. 12, No.2 (1989), 45-78.

Tricycle: The Buddhist Review: “On Parenting” (Summer 2001), “Cartoon as

Path” (Fall 2001), “Love is All Around” (Fall 2007).

ANNOTATED TRANSLATION:

The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path by rJe Tsong kha pa (15th century, Tibetan).

Annotated translation from Tibetan of the section on the six perfections of the

bodhisattva path. Pages 113 to 232 in Volume 2 of The Great Treatise, Snow Lion,

2004.

WORKS IN PROGRESS—ARTICLES

“Overcoming Common Impediments to Sustainable Compassion by Adopting a

Relational Starting Point," for publication in Contemporary Buddhism: An

Interdisciplinary Journal.

“Drawing from a Broader Range of Contemplative Practices To Empower Compassion

Training for those in Caring Professions ,” for publication in Contemporary Buddhism:

An Interdisciplinary Journal.

“Learning to Love as we are Loved: Rediscovering the Relational Starting Point of

Compassion Training in Buddhist Cultures for Secular Adaptation,” accepted for

publication in the Fall 2016 issue of Tricycle Magazine.

“Confronting the Sin Out of Love for the Sinner: Fierce Compassion as a Force for Social

Change,” accepted for publication in 2016 issue of Buddhist-Christian Studies Journal.

WORKS IN PROGRESS--BOOKS

Sustainable Compassion Training: An Introduction. co-authored with Brooke Dodson

Lavelle. The Sustainable Compassion Training method I developed has adapted

contemplative theory and practice from Buddhism for application in social service and

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interfaith settings. This method has emerged as one of the leading models of compassion

training in the United States, in conversation with alternative models developed at Emory

and Stanford Universities. Sustainable Compassion Training (SCT) is being applied to

help strengthen care and compassion and prevent empathic distress and burnout among

educators, healthcare givers, mental health providers, social workers, counselors, clergy

and others. SCT is at the core of an international education initiative that was launched

by the Mind and Life Institute in 2014. This Introduction to SCT, co-written with Brooke

Dodson-Lavelle, will discuss SCT as a secular application for people in diverse caring

roles and professions, its connections to psychology and neuroscience , what needs it

addresses, progressive stages of training, application to service work, and current

research on this method.

Awakened Also by Religious Others: A Buddhist Comparative Theology.

This book develops a Buddhist theology of religions and demonstrates a Buddhist way of

doing comparative theology, focusing on specific aspects of Buddhist learning from

Christian theology. This is done in conversation with writings by Karl Rahner (on

theological anthropology), John MacQuarrie (on atonement), Sarah Coakley (on Trinity),

Tillard (on ecclesiology), Tillich (on ontology, sin and agape), Himes (on sacramental

vision), Buber (on the I-Thou relationship), Reinhold Niehbuhr (on social sin), Gutierrez,

Sobrino and Haight (on liberation theology), Ivone Gebarra, Mayra Rivera, Ruether (on

eco-feminist and Latina liberation theology), Martin Luther King, Desmond Tutu, and

Howard Thurman (on social ethics and social action).

OTHER PUBLICATIONS OR CREATIVE WORKS

“Aren’t We Right to be Angry? How to Respond to Social Injustice,” Tricycle: The

Buddhist Review, Summer 2012.

“Contemplative Activism,” Webinar Feb. 2011 for Contemplative Mind in Higher

Education: www.acmhe.org/past-webinars.

“Active Compassion: Tibetan Buddhist Resources for Modern Social Service and

Development Work,” video lecture series for Association of International NGOs in Nepal

at Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, April 2010.

Guided Meditations of Innate Love, Compassion, Wisdom on-line at Foundation for

Active Compassion website.

ACADEMIC TEACHING AND RESEARCH

Associate Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology, Boston College 1998-

present. Courses Regularly Taught: Religious Quest Buddhism and Christianity;

Buddhist Ethics, Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology, Buddhist Thought and Practice in

Asia, Tibetan Buddhist Traditions, Meditation and Action: Interfaith Explorations,

Buddhist Sacred Texts, Theology Majors Seminar: Comparative Theology.

Senior Academic Advisor and Visiting Lecturer, Kathmandu University Centre for

Buddhist Studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Bodhanath, Nepal, 2003-2013. Visiting

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lectures on Buddhist philosophy, Meditation theory, Buddhist social ethics and

contemporary applications.

Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies, Harvard Divinity School, 2009-2011. Created

and taught two new courses for HDS: HDS 3550, Buddhist Meditation, Service and

Social Action; HDS 3552, Buddhist Meditation, Therapy and Activism. Methods and

materials from these courses are being applied to course development at Boston College.

Assistant. Professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology Boston College 1992-

1998 . TH 161-162 Religious Quest I and II: Buddhism and Christianity; TH 542

Systems of Meditation and Philosophy in Buddhist India, Tibet, and East Asia; TH 545

Spiritual Disciplines of Buddhists; TH 330 Theology Majors Seminar (co-taught with

Stephen Pope); TH 472 Theological Dialogue with Buddhism: Theravada and Zen; TH

454 Indian Mahayana Buddhism.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion Middlebury College 1991-92

Taught: The Buddhist Tradition in India, Tantric Traditions in India, Tibet, China, and

Japan, Meditation and Philosophy in Buddhist Traditions of India, China and Tibet.

4.Eastern Religious Thought. Co-taught with Professor Katherine Sonderegger:

Comparative Religious Ethics: Christian and Buddhist.

Research Associate University of Iowa 9/90-5/91

Center for Asian and Pacific Studies

Post-doctoral research on topics in history of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Participated

in courses on Chinese Religions (Birnbaum), Japanese religions (Bodiford), Biblical

literary criticism (Nickelsburg) and Sacred Geography. Occasional guest lecturer.

Teaching Assistant University of Wisconsin-Madison 1982-85, 1988

History of Buddhist Thought, Buddhist Meditation Literature, Buddhist Doctrinal

Systems, Introduction to Buddhism, Buddhist Cult Practice.

Research in Asia 10/85-9/87

--Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies and Varanasi Sanskrit University, Varanasi,

India, 10/85-5/86, 10/86-3/87-- Doctoral research with Tibetan scholars of four main

Tibetan Buddhist sects and Indian Sanskritists.

--Sera Je Monastic University, Bylakuppe, Karnataka, India, 6/86-9/86: Studied

scholastic treatises with Tibetan scholar-monks

--Rishikesh-Hardvar, India, 4/87-6/87: Studied Sanskrit commentaries with Hindu

Acaryas.

ACADEMIC HONORS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Mind and Life Institute Senior Fellow, 2014

Fetzer Institute Contemplative Practice Pedagogy Fellow, 2009

Fulbright Hays Fellowship for Doctoral Research Abroad, 1985-86

Knapp Honorary Fellowship, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1984-85

HEA Title VI Foreign Language Study Fellowships, 1981-1984

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ON-GOING MEMBERSHIPS AND PROFESSIONAL DUTIES

--Co-founder and Board of Directors for Courage of Care Coalition, 2015 to present.

-President, Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies (November 2015-2017).

-Fellow, Mind and Life Institute.

-Advisory Board Member for the North American Society for Comparative Theology

- Advisory Board Member for Compassion in Education Initiative of the Curry School of

Education, University of Virginia, 2015 to present.

-Founding Co-Chair, Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Group, American

Academy of Religion.

-Senior Academic Advisor and Lecturer, Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist

Studies, Nepal

-Guiding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion

-Senior teacher, Natural Dharma Fellowship

-Member American Academy of Religion

-Member Society of Comparative Theology (Boston)

-Member International Association of Buddhist Studies

-Member Association for Contemplative Mind in Higher Education

-Member International Campaign for Tibet

GRANTS

--Fetzer Institute Contemplative Practice Fellowship, summer 2009. Sponsored by The

Center for Contemplative Mind in Society; funded by Fetzer Institute. Under this grant, I

developed new teaching methods and materials in contemplative pedagogy for a course at

Boston College, TH 527/TM 544, “Meditation, Service and Social Action.” To be offered

to students of comparative theology and as a resource for students in BC’s schools of

Theology and Ministry, Education, Social Work, Law and Nursing.

SERVICE AND TEACHING OUTSIDE BOSTON COLLEGE

--Co-founder and Member of Board of Directors of Courage of Care Coalition, 2016.

--Member of Core Planning Team for the Mind and Life Institute’s international initiative

in education, June 2012 to present.

-- Board of Directors, Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies, 2011 to present.

-- Steering committee member, American Academy of Religion Interreligious and

Interfaith Studies Group 2012-2015.

-- Founding Co-chair, Buddhist Critical-constructive Reflection Group in the American

Academy of Religion, 2006 to 2012. Co-organized panels for AAR annual meetings in

coordination with diverse AAR units.

--American Academy of Religion Faculty for Luce Seminar Fellows in Theologies of

Religious Pluralism and Comparative Theology. Faculty for AAR week-long seminars

on Comparative Theology for Luce Fellows May 2010-June 2013.

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--Senior Faculty Advisor and lecturer for Kathmandu University’s Centre for Buddhist

Studies in Nepal, 2003 to the present. Assist in development of KU’s BA, MA, PhD

programs and development of its partnership with Boston College as a facility for

graduate research in comparative theology and undergraduate semester abroad programs.

--Co-founder and guiding teacher, Foundation for Active Compassion, 2008 to present.

An organization that adapts contemplative trainings of compassion and wisdom from

Buddhism in accessible ways for people of all faiths and backgrounds who work in social

justice and social service. Guiding meditation teacher for 32 practice leaders who lead 19

meditation groups across the U.S.

--Senior advisor and teacher for Natural Dharma Fellowship, 2008 to present, providing

Tibetan Buddhist studies and practices for contemporary Buddhists.

--Senior advisor for Tsoknyi Rinpoche’s training program for Buddhist students.

--Teacher for two annual weekend retreats of 32 meditation teachers of the Foundation

for Active Compassion in application of Buddhist contemplative methods to social

service and social action.

--Teach annual weekend retreat for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Tibetan study and practice

Center in Leggett CA.

--Teach annual weekend retreat for Phakchok Rinpoche’s Tibetan study and practice

Center in Cooperstown, CA.

-- Faculty, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, MA, 2007 to the 2016. Teacher of

two study-meditation retreats annually in Buddhist philosophy and contemplative theory.

-- Faculty for certificate program in Mindfulness and Psychotherapy for mental health

and healthcare professionals, sponsored by the Boston-based Institute of Meditation and

Psychotherapy.

--Wellesley College Peace Coalition, “Contemplation in Action” lecture, April 4, 2011.

--Taught workshop, Catholic Charities of Boston, "Active Compassion -- Meditations to

Empower People who Serve Others," May 14, 2010.

-- Member, Faculty Advisory Committee, Buddhist Ministry Program, Harvard Divinity

School, 2009-2010

--Presented and Chaired Panel on Buddhist Applications for Mental health at Symposium

on Western Socially Engaged Buddhism, Zen Peacemakers Monastery, Montague, MA,

August 14, 2010.

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--White Heron Buddhist Community, San Luis Obispo, CA. Teach weekend meditation

retreat annually (March, 2010, 2011).

--Teach bi-annual weekend retreat on Buddhist-Christian dialogue and Buddhist

resources for social activism at Union Theological Seminary, NYC, 2009, 2011.

--Taught daylong contemplative retreat, “Accessing Inner Resources for Service and

Action,” co-sponsored by Social justice Program of Center for Contemplative Mind in

Society and the Foundation for Active Compassion, Nov. 14, 2009, Northampton, MA.

-- Presentation on “Resources from Tibetan Tradition for Health Professionals who work

with Trauma Patients,” Garrison Institute Conference on Trauma, June 18, 2009.

--Presentations at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary: “A Buddhist-Christian Dialogue

between John Makransky and Bonnie Thurston,” May 8th, 2009. Daylong retreat:

“How Meditation Practices of Compassion and Presence Can Help Deepen One’s

Clinical Work,” May 9, 2009.

--Gave lecture and daylong workshop on Tibetan Buddhist bases for social action, “The

Path of Compassionate Activism,” at HH the Dalai Lama’s cultural center in New York

City, Tibet House, April 17-18, 2009.

--Presentation at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick, MA: “Buddhism and

Christianity: The Possibility of Mutual Learning,” March 11, 2007.

-- IREPM summer post-masters presentation: Introduction to Comparative Theology:

Buddhist Spirituality. June 29, 2007.

--Served on Board of Directors of Dzogchen Foundation, 2001 to Fall 2008. Served on

Dzogchen Foundation guiding teachers’ council, 2001 to 2008.

-- Guiding meditation teacher and pastoral counselor for Dzogchen Buddhist Practice

Communities of Boston, New York City, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. Gave

guided meditations and public talks monthly, 2001 to 2008.

—Workshop for the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, New England Region,

at Boston University: "Integrating Buddhist Methods of Presence and Loving

Communion into Therapy and Counseling," February 8, 2008.

--Social Justice Workshop sponsored by Contemplative Mind in Society, Garrison

Institute, N.Y.: "Deep Replenishment and Connection: Contemplative Training for

Social Justice Activism and Service," July 18-20, 2008

--“Caring for Others, Caring for Ourselves: Meditations of Replenishment and

Connection,” public daylong workshop for people in social service and social justice

activism in Northampton, MA, September 27, 2008

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--Lecture for Harvard Buddhist Ministry Colloquium and Harvard Buddhist Community:

“Academic Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Practice and Service to Buddhist Communities:

Problematics and Possibilities,” February 2005.

--Taught “Tantric Expressions of Compassion” for Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,

May 8, 2004

--Representative at First Annual Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Centers of the Americas

with HH the Dalai Lama, 9/03.

--Director of Vajrayana Buddhist Studies Program for Barre Center for Buddhist Studies,

Barre, MA, 1998 to 2003.

--Kurukulla Tibetan Buddhist Center Board of Directors, 2001 to 2004.

SCHOLARLY AND PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

--Radcliffe Institute Contemplative Science Seminar Presentation: “The Need to Draw on

Further Resources of Buddhist Contemplative Traditions for Secular Application Today,”

Cambridge, MA, January 20, 2016.

--Co-taught Courage of Care Seminar and Workshop “Practices of Stable Care and

Sustainable Compassion,” San Francisco, CA, March 12-13, 2016.

--Taught University of Virginia Workshop in Sustainable Compassion for Healthcare

Givers and Educators, October 30-November 2, 2015.

-- University of Virginia Lecture: “Buddhist Themes Drawn Upon in the development of

Sustainable Compassion Training.” October 30, 2015

-- Portland State University Dialogue on Sustainable Compassion with Dr. Rob Roesser

of PSU: “Scientific and Contemplative Perspectives on Cultivating Sustainable

Compassion.” October 2, 2015

-- Portland State University Workshop in Sustainable Compassion for Healthcare Givers,

Educators, and Social Workers. October 3, 2015

-- Mind and Life Institute Education Initative’s Teacher Training Summer Intensive. July

24-30, 2015.

-- Bassett Medical Center Grand Rounds Lecture on “Preventing Compassion Fatigue,”

June 6, 2015.

-- University of Wisconsin-Madision Medical School-Grand Rounds Lecture on

“Preventing Empathic Distress through Compassion Training.” May 20, 2015.

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-- University of Wisconsin-Madison Workshop: Sustainable Compassion Training for

Educators, Healthcare Givers and Social Workers. May 15-19, 2015.

--Madison, Wisconsin School District Administrators and Teachers: Presentation on

Compassion Training for Teachers. May 20, 2015.

--Harvard Conference on Buddhist Ministry and Pastoral Work talk: “Current Initiatives

in Applied Buddhism and Buddhist Ministry.” April 24, 2015

-- University of Virginia Lecture: “Overcoming Obstacles to Sustainable Compassion.”

April 3, 2015.

-- Harvard Medical School Conference on Pediatric Palliative Care talk: “Compassionate

Presence to Feelings as Key for Becoming a Healing Presence for Others.” March 21,

2015.

-- Glastonbury Abbey Interfaith Lecture Series talk: “Fierce Compassion as a Force for

Social Change.” January 15, 2015.

--American Academy of Religion/Buddhist-Christian Studies Society panel presenter,

“Liberation Theology and Engaged Buddhism In Critical Dialogue,” November 21, 2014.

-- Mind and Life International Symposium panel respondent: “Heartfulness in

Mindfulness: Resources from Abrahamic Traditions,” November 1, 2104.

-- Mind and Life International Symposium panel presenter, “Is Compassion Good? The

Science and the Conception of Prosocial Behavior,” October 31, 2014.

--Trungpa Distinguished Lecture, co-sponsored by Naropa University and the University

Colorado, “Adapting Compassion Training from Tibet: Empowering the Deeper

Personhood of Self and Others,” September 12, 2014.

--Compassion Training for University of Wisconsin-Madison Mindfulness and Health

Program Instructors, April 25-26, 2014.

--Colgate University Invited Lecture and Workshop on Buddhist-Christian Learning: “

Contemplation and Action: Buddhist and Christian Resources,” April 19, 2014

--Lecture and Workshop for Psychiatry Departments of Rhode Island and Bradley

Hospitals, Providence, RI: “Deep Healing for Healers: Contemplative Resources,” April

5, 2014.

--FACES Conference on Compassion in Psychotherapy, “Innate Compassion Training for

Psychotherapists,” San Diego, CA, February 27, 2014.

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--Episcopal Divinity School Spirituality of World Religions Series: “Buddhist

Meditations of Love and Wisdom for Christians,” February 6, 2014.

-- American Academy of Religion panel respondent, “Religious Self/Religious Other,”

Interreligious and Interfaith Studies Group, November 24, 2013

--American Academy of Religion panel respondent, “Deep Listening and Spiritual Care,”

Soceity of Buddhist-Christian Studies, November 22, 2013

--Boston College Day-long workshop with Prof. Paul Knitter, “Meditation, Interfaith

Learning, and Social Service: Deep Learning Across Religious Boundaries,” November

9, 2013, sponsored by STM and Dept. of Theology.

--Chuang Yen Monastic Study Center, Carmel, NY, paper “Compassionate Activism—

Contemplative Means to Empower Service and Action,” July 21, 2013

--Mind and Life Summer Research Institute, paper “A Relational, Experiential Model for

Compassion Training,” June 20, 2013

--International Buddhist-Christian Conference, Union Theological Seminary, paper

“Buddhist Understandings of Spirituality and Liberation,” April 20, 2013

--“Arts of Contemplative Care” Panel, “Inter-Faith Learning through Contemplative

Care,” Harvard Center for Study of World Religions, March 27, 2013

--Kathmandu University Visiting Lectures September 2012: “Awareness and Active

Compassion—Theory and Practice of Adapting Tibetan Buddhist Meditations to

Empower Service, Action, and Interfaith Learning.”

-- Georgetown University Conference on “Understanding Religious Pluralism”:

"Delusion as Blessing? Augustine, Himes and Buddhism,” May 23, 2012.

--Andover-Newton Theological Seminary and Hebrew College Panel: “Stories of

Intereligious Encounter,” May 14, 2012.

--Spring 2012 Meeting of Boston Society of Comparative Theology: “Delusion as

blessing? Buddhist reflections Instigated by Augustine and Himes,” April 17, 2012.

--“Active Compassion: Contemplative Methods to Empower People who Empower

Others”—weekend workshop co-taught with Paul Knitter at Union Theological

Seminary, Nov. 4-5, 2011.

--“What Womanist Theologians and Buddhist Thinkers are Learning from Each Other,”

Respondent for Womanist Theology and Buddhist Studies Panel, American Academy of

Religion Conference, San Francisco, Nov. 21, 2011

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--Clark University Public Symposium on Difficult Dialogues: Lecture and Discussion

with Faculty and Students, “On Effective Practice and Higher Education,” Sept. 27, 2011.

--Harvard Medical School Conference on Meditation and Psychotherapy, “Innate

Wholeness: Cultivating Compassion for Healthcare Professionals,” May 7, 2011.

--Emory University Lecture and Compassion Research Consultation, “Affect Based

Compassion Training: Theory and Methodology,” April 25, 2011.

--Drepung Loseling Atlanta Study Center Lecture, “Tibetan Dzogchen Nyingma

Approaches to Compassion and Wisdom as Innate Capacities,” April 25, 2011

--Antioch College Symposium Lecture, “Contemplative Pedogogies,” April 9, 2011.

--7th Mary Interlandi Memorial Lecture: “Contemplation in Action: New Methods from

Tibetan Buddhism,” Brown University, March 14, 2011.

--“Compassionate Activism” daylong workshop, Brown University, March 13, 2011.

--“Buddhist Comparative Theology,” for Harvard Comparative Theology Society, Feb.

28, 2011.

--Certificate Program for Healthcare Professionals, “Cultivating Presence and

Compassion for Health Professionals,” for Institute of Meditation and Psychotherapy,

Tufts Health Center, Watertown, MA, Jan. 27, 2011.

--“Reflections on Why, How and What Buddhists May Learn from Christian

Theologians,” for the Society of Buddhist-Christian Studies at the 2010 American

Academy of Religion conference in Atlanta, October 30, 2010.

--Chaired the panel “Tibetan Buddhism and Social Engagement” at the International

Conference on Tibetan Buddhism at Emory University with His Holiness the Dalai

Lama, where I presented “Buddhist Applications to Address Deep-felt Human Needs in

Asia and the West, Past and Present,” October 19, 2010.

-- Presented lecture series entitled: “Empowering People in International Social Service

and Development,” to the Association of International NGOs Nepal and faculty and

students of the Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, Nepal. April 7-9,

2010.

-- Fetzer Contemplative Practice Fellows Symposium, presented “Contemplative

Pedagogy for Courses on Interfaith Learning and Social Service,” June 19, 2010.

-- “Buddhist Integrations of Spiritual Discipline and Study: Lessons for Theological

Education in the West.” Paper presented at the American Academy of Religion

November 2009 meeting in the panel “The Turn to Spirituality in Theological Education”

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(with Sarah Coakley, Thomas Beaudoin, Paul Lim).

--Invitational lecture at Maitripa College’s (Portland, Oregon) symposium on Buddhism

and Education: “Buddhist Theology—Purposes and Methods,” January 24, 2009.

--Lecture at Harvard Buddhist Studies Forum: “The Emergence and Functions of

Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection in the Western Academy,” October 5, 2009.

-- Presentation for panel co-sponsored by Comparative Theology Group and Buddhist

Critical-Constructive Reflection Group at the American Academy of Religion 2009

meeting: “Indo-Tibetan Buddhist resources for Comparative Reflection on Christian

Theories of Atonement,” November 7, 2009

--Presentation for Boston College Conference entitled “Hosting the Stranger:

Theophanies of the Stranger” organized by Richard Kearney. My presentation:

“Buddhist Perspectives on the Construction and Deconstruction of the Concept

‘Stranger’,” March 13, 2009.

--Lecture in the Buddhist Psychology Lecture Series sponsored by the Institute of

Meditation and Psychotherapy in Cambridge, MA: “Compassion Beyond Fatigue:

Meditations of Replenishment and Connection adapted from Tibetan Dzogchen

Tradition.” April 6, 2009.

--Presented Kellogg Invitational Lecture for Episcopal Divinity School entitled:

“Compassion in Action: Meditation and Social Service,” May 4, 2007.

--“Buddhist Inclusivism: Reflections Toward a Contemporary

Buddhist Theology of Religions” presented at Salzberg, Austria, June 9th 2007

Conference of the European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies.

--“Teaching Spiritual Practice: A Contemporary Buddhist Approach” presented to the

Association of Practical Theology at the American Academy of Religion Meeting,

November 17, 2007.

--Presented paper for the Kathmandu University International Symposium on Buddhist

Studies, December 9, 2007: ““Academic Buddhist Scholars as a Resource for Buddhist

Communities and the Contemporary World: Possibilities and Problematics.”

--Presentation on my new book, Awakening through Love, sponsored by Wellesley

College Dept. of Religion and Chaplaincy, October 17, 2007.

-- Boston Society for Comparative Theology March 1, 2006: “Buddha and Christ as

Meditations of Reality—Personal Reflections toward a Theology of Religions.”

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-- Kathmandu University International Symposium on Buddhist Studies, October 24,

2006: “The Conforming of Boundless Compassion to Infinite Wisdom in Perfection of

Wisdom literature of Early Mahayana Buddhism.”

--American Academy of Religion, Buddhist Critical-constructive Reflection Group Nov

18, 2006: “Academic Buddhist Studies as Resource for Buddhist Communities”

--“The Systematic Nature of Yogacara Buddhist Philosophy,” lecture presented in

Bodhgaya, India for the Antioch Program in Buddhist Studies, Nov. 2, 2005

– Lecture for Harvard Buddhist Ministry Colloquium and Harvard Buddhist Community:

“Academic Buddhist Studies, Buddhist Practice and Service to Buddhist Communities:

Problematics and Possibilities,” February 2005

--“ Communal Practice and Doctrinal Development of Buddhahood,” lecture for

Columbia University’s Seminar on Buddhist Studies, March 2004.

--“Buddha and Christ as Mediations of Ultimate Reality: A Mahayana Buddhist

Perspective.” Lecture for the University of Glasgow’s Inter-Faith Centre “Lectures on

Buddhism and Christianity in honor of HH the 14th Dalai Lama’s visit to Scotland” May

2004

--“No Protection without Authentic Love,” keynote address (and closing

remarks) for the Annual Symposium on Buddhist Studies at Kathmandu University’s

Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.

--“Early Mahayana Buddhist History,” lecture delivered at Kathmandu University’s

Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.

--“Teaching about Buddhist Meditation Theory,” presentation for KU’s Centre for

Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004

--“Academic Buddhist Studies and Service to Buddhist Traditions,” presentation for

KU’s Centre for Buddhist Studies, Nepal, October 2004.

--“Responsibility and the Buddhist Doctrine of No Self,” Presentation for Boston

University Lecture Series on Philosophy and Theology, January 2004.

--Presented three academic papers on Buddhahood, Buddha bodies, and Buddha Activity

at the Conference on Buddhahood at Smith College, April 2003.

--Presented paper: “Historical Development in Doctrines of Buddhahood” for Kathmandu

University’s first annual Symposium on Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Kathmandu, October

2003.

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-- Two lectures on theoretical bases in history of Buddhism for contemporary Buddhist

adaptations at Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, Boudhanath Nepal,

October 2003.

--Presented paper at Harvard University Buddhist Studies forum, November 2003:

“Doctrine and Practice in Changing Concepts of Buddhahood”

--Guest lecture for Professor Stephen Pope’s class “Prophets and Peacemakers” on

Buddhist compassion and the social ethics of Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma, Dec. ‘02.

--Guest lecture on Buddhist methods of establishing and re-opening scriptural canons for

Pheme Perkins’ PhD doctoral colloquium, Dec. ‘02.

--Presentation on “Qualities of God discernable in some elements of Buddhist

understanding” for Comparative Theology Lunch, Dec. ’02.

--Presented on Panel “Suffering and Salvation: Buddhism and Christianity” at Burlington

Cathedral in VT with Catherine Cornille, John Keenan, Kevin Trainor; April ‘02.

--Presented paper “Tensions in the Contemporary Spread of Buddhist Tantric Traditions”

for Boston University Conference on Tantrism, served as respondent on panel “Tantrism

in Dzogchen traditions.” April ’02.

--Lecture at Boston University on “Fundamental Teachings of the Dzogchen Tradition of

Tibetan Buddhism,” April ‘02.

--Gave lecture on “Making Bridges between Modern and Traditional Methods of Buddhist

Study” at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery in Bodhanath, Nepal to teachers and

students of the Kathmandu University program in Buddhist Studies and Himalayan

Languages, Oct. ‘02.

--Presenter on panel “Buddhist Responses to Violence” for Buddhist-Christian Studies

program at American Academy of Religion conference, Toronto, Nov. ’02. Paper: “Four

Boundless Attitudes as Protector.”

--Participant in panel discussion and day-long workshop on “Perspectives on Truth in

Other Religions” hosted by Boston College for Theological Studies Journal, 9/28-29/01.

--Presenter for day-long symposium on “Augustine, Grace and Buddhism,” for the

Thagaste Symposium, Merrimack College, North Andover MA, 10/4/01.

--Presenter for Comparative Theology Lunch: “Tibetan Buddhist Resources for

Theology,” 3/21/01.

--Presenter for Theology Undergraduate Majors dinner: “Theology and Vocation in light

of the 9/11 Catastrophe,” 9/18/01.

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--Organizer and Presenter for Religious Quest Faculty Panel: “Why Study Other

Religions?” 9/21/01.

--Presented on Buddhist Studies research methods to Harvard Buddhist Studies graduate

students, 4/17/00.

-- "Buddhist Social Ethics: Historical Foundations and Contemporary Expressions,"

Boston University, 11/6/00.

--"The Influence of Diverse Practices, as Described in Mahayana Sutras, Upon the

Doctrinal Construction of Buddhahood." Lecture at the University of Virginia South

Asian Studies Center, Charlottesville, VA, Nov. 12, 1999.

--Boston College Jesuit Institute Lecture: "Embodied Reverence as Buddhist Sacrament,"

April 20, 1999.

--Boston Parents' Paper Forum on Spirituality and Children, Boston, April 13, 1998: A

Buddhist perspective on spiritual formation in children.

--Kurukulla center for Buddhist Studies, Boston, MA, Feb. 15, 1998: Presentation on

ways contemporary Buddhists can re-appropriate traditional Buddhist hermeneutics

within contemporary historical consciousness.

--"Buddhist Duhkha and the Passion of Christ"- Panel presenter and leader for Zen-

Christian study retreat, Barre Center, Nov. 8, 1997 (with Robert Kennedy, S.J., John

Keenan, Fr. Kevin Hunt, Robert Jonas).

--"Doctrines and Practices of Mah›y›na Buddhist Scriptures"- series of lectures for the

Nalanda Program in Buddhist Studies, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, July 1997.

--"Chinese Buddhist Themes in Contemporary Art"- Presentation and discussion at

Andover-Newton, October 1996.

--"Has Theology a Place in the Study of Religion?" Boston University School of

Religion, December 2, 1998. Discussion of my own and Robert Neville's recent writings

on the subject.

--"Buddhist Ritual and Ethical Activity in the World": Paper presented to the Society of

Buddhist-Christian Studies at annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion,

Nov. 20, 1998 (accepted for publication in the Buddhist-Christian Studies Journal).

--"Indian Buddhist Roots of Zen and Tibetan Buddhism." New Hampshire Humanities

Council Lecture Series, Bethlehem and Manchester, NH, October 7-8, 1998.

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--"Comparative Spirituality and Religious Pluralism." A workshop for the Wellesley

College National Gathering on Education as Transformation, Sept. 27-28, 1998.

--"Reflections of a Buddhist Theologian: What Changes and What Remains the Same in

the History of Buddhist Revelation and Theology?" Paper presented to the Catholic

Theological Society of America, June 12, 1998.

--"Buddhist "Theology": Critical Reflections of a Contemporary Buddhist Scholar,"

Society of Comparative Theology, Boston, Nov. 5, 1997.

--"Buddhist Spirituality: Practice and Doctrine," Boston University Association of

Students in Theology and Religion, scheduled for October 1997

--"The Present and Future of Buddhist Studies," presenter and participant in round table

discussion, University of Wisconsin-Madison, May 1997

--" Historical Consciousness as offering to the Trans-historical Buddha," presentation in

the panel "Constructive Buddhist Theology," Theology and Systematic Reflection

Section, Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion, November 1996.

--"Conventional Reality in Mah›y›na Buddhism," Respondent, Annual Meeting of

American Academy of Religion, November 1995.

--"The Paradox of Non-abiding Nirvana as a Factor in the Doctrinal Development of

Indian Mahayana Buddhism," Paper presented at South Asia Conference at University of

Wisconsin-Madison, October 1995

--"Mahayana Buddhist Doctrinal Development in Relation to Praxis: Evidence of

Scriptures and Commentaries"- series of lectures for the Nalanda Program in Buddhist

Studies, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, July 1996.

--"Prayer as Entry into Non-Dualism: An Example from the Dzogchen Tradition,"

Presentation at Annual Meeting for Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, Barre MA, November

1995.

--"Connections between Buddhist Prayer and Meditation," presentation on panel at

Boston College: "Prayer and Meditation in Three Traditions" with Rabbi Lawrence

Kushner and Prof. Willemien Otten, March 1995.

--"Purifying the Mind: Theory and Application of a Buddhist Psychological Praxis,"

Respondent to panel, South Asia Conference, October 1995

--"Buddha as Block, Executioner and Victim," Respondent on panel: "Evil and Hope in a

Cross-Cultural Context: Reflections in Light of Hindu Goddess Worship" Catholic

Theological Society of America, June 1995

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--"Emptiness, Karma and Compassion: Scholarly Commentary, Zen Anecdote, and

Everyday Life." Paper presented at Middlebury College, May 1994.

--"Elucidating the Ineffable: Disagreements in Late Indian Buddhism over the Proper

Way to Compose Commentary on the Essential Body of the Buddhas." Paper presented

at the University of Chicago Divinity School, March 1994.

--"Problematics in Indian and Tibetan Conceptualizations of Buddhahood." Paper

presented at Harvard Buddhist Studies Forum, February 1994.

--"The Doctrine of Rebirth and Buddhist Practice in Asia." Organizer and chair of panel,

Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion, Washington DC, November 1993.

--"To See the Buddha." Formal respondent in panel on To See the Buddha by M. David

Eckel, Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion, Washington DC, November

1993.

--"Buddhist Cultural Responses to the Modern World." Presentation on the Panel:

"Fundamentalism: Islam, Hinduism, Christianity and Buddhism." Boston College,

November 1993.

--"The Buddha's Presence (not Just Absence) at the Center of Indian Mahayana

Practices." Presentation in response to M. David Eckel's presentation to the Society of

Comparative Theology, Andover Newton, February 1993.

--"Some Differences in the Cultural Appropriation of Buddhist Practice in Tibet and

China." Presentation to seminar at the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery in Washington, N.J.,

June 1992.

--"The Problem of Non-abiding Nirvana in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Its Broader

Implications." Paper presented at Annual Conference on South Asia, Madison, WI,

November 1-3, 1991.

--"Sacred Geography of Tibet." Lecture presented at University of Iowa, February, 1991.

--"Exploration of the Adamantine Way: Studies in Vajrayana Buddhist Theory."

Respondent to panel, Annual Conference on South Asia, Madison, WI, November, 1990.

--"Textual Expressions of Dharmakaya: Abhidharma, Prajnaparamita, Yogacara, and

Madhyamaka." Paper presented at Annual Meeting of American Academy of Religion,

Chicago, November, 1988

--"Tibet and Its Links to the Neighboring World." Respondent on panel, Midwest

Conference on Asian Affairs, 37th Annual Meeting, Madison, Wisconsin,

September,1988.

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