Promotional Information

A modern and accessible reader of Classical Tibetan Buddhist texts based on the traditional monastic educational system, designed for both classroom use and independent study

About the Author

PAUL HACKETT specializes in canonical Buddhist philosophy and Tibetan culture, as well as their influence on contemporary alternative religion in America. He is also active in the field of applied computational linguistics and serves as the chair of the Tibetan Information Technology Panel for the International Association for Tibetan Studies. He currently teaches classical Tibetan language at Columbia University.

Reviews

“What a fantastic collection of interesting texts, study aids, and unusual remarks about the ins and outs of the language and culture that all expand and distill the essence of the Classical Tibetan language. And what a wonderful layout!”—Jeffrey Hopkins, Professor Emeritus of Tibetan Buddhism, University of Virginia
 
“In Learning Classical Tibetan, Paul Hackett provides a welcome and much needed sourcebook for the study of classical Tibetan Buddhist literature. Drawing on his decades of experience as both translator and teacher, he has prepared a primer of readings from diverse authors, genres, and historical periods, all organized in a graded system of levels from introductory and intermediate to advanced. Each reading is paired with a systematic annotation of relevant grammatical structures, important vocabulary and technical terminology, and translation tips and strategies. This will be an invaluable textbook for instructors in the classroom as well as those wishing to study on their own.”—Andrew Quintman, Associate Professor of Religion, Wesleyan University