"The Invention of Reincarnation?" : The life and writings of Karma Pakshi

Wednesday 25th January 2023, 13.00-14.00hrs GMT

Online and in-person, free booking required.

A talk supported by The Friends of The Bodleian Library:

"The Invention of Reincarnation?" : The life and writings of Karma Pakshi.

This talk explores the life of Karma Pakshi (1204-1283 CE), a Tibetan Buddhist priest to two Mongol emperors (Mӧngke and Kubilai) who is recognized as one of the earliest self-proclaimed reincarnate lamas in Tibetan history. He was influential in the development of the reincarnate lama tradition, a system that led to the lineage of the Dalai Lamas and the succession-by-reincarnation governance of Tibet for 300 years (1642–1959). During his travels in Mongolia and China, Karma Pakshi influenced Mӧngke Qan’s social policies and was tortured and imprisoned by Kubilai Qan. In ‘internal exile’ near Xanadu, Karma Pakshi composed several of his philosophical works.

For online & in-person booking: https://tickets.ox.ac.uk/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=bodnf&c=jannf