events

Translating Vajrayana: Creative Approaches to Classical Texts with Ken McLeod. December 18, 1 P.M. ET

The Tibetan Vajrayana tradition is a rich and enigmatic collection of texts, practices, and rituals. Featuring many secret teachings and advanced tantric techniques, vajrayana is often as elusive to seasoned practitioners as it is to beginners. 

How can the genius of Tibetan Buddhism become intelligible and accessible to the contemporary practitioner?

Countless teachers and translators have devoted their lives to this question.  Among them is Ken McLeod. His approach to teaching and translating is dismissed by some as inaccurate, or just plain wrong. For others, however, his approach breathes life and heart into practices that many have found abstruse and recondite. Some regard him as radical and dangerous, while others see him as one of the most conservative teachers out there.

In this conversation with Tricycle’s Editor-in-Chief, James Shaheen, McLeod explores this dichotomy, what led him to take the approach that he does, and how it may help some practitioners fulfill their own spiritual aims.

You can read McLeod’s latest Tricycle article, A Game Changer for Classical Tibetan Translation?, here.

This event is free for Tricycle Premium subscribers and $10 for general admission. Subscribe to Premium or upgrade your existing subscription for free access.

Speakers

Ken McLeod

Ken McLeod is a writer, translator, teacher, and business consultant. His writings on Buddhist practice include Reflections on Silver River, A Trackless Path, and, most recently, The Magic of Vajrayana.

James Shaheen headshot

James Shaheen

James Shaheen, Tricycle’s Editor-in-Chief, began his Buddhist practice in the mid-1990s, studying with teachers from a number of Buddhist traditions. He is particularly interested in Buddhism’s growth in the West and its applicability to Western politics, culture, and everyday life. He has been with Tricycle for nearly 25 years.

  • DETAILS

  • Date: December 18, 2023
  • Time: 1-2 P.M. ET
  • Format: Zoom webinar
  • Price: Premium subscribers: Free // General admission: $10