Book Description
A History of Traditional Fields of Learning contains a concise history of dissemination of traditional fields of learning in Tibet during the early and later diffusion of Buddhism. It also mentions the translators and scholars who visited Tibet, text translated and monasteries founded by them and further highlights the spread of Buddhism to Mongolia and China and Tibet text translated in their native language. This work by a highly respected contemporary Tibetan scholar Muge Samten (1914-1993) is from the third volume of his collected works and is a very reliable source on the subject. A History of Traditional Fields of Learning is a must for those who wants to study the history of Tibetan literature. Muge Samten was born in 1914 in Muge in southern Amdo. He had his preliminary study at Muge Tashi Kharlo monastery and later joined the great monastery of Labrang Tashikhyil where he mastered sutras, tantras, and all the traditional sciences. At the age of 35 (1947), Muge Samten received the title of Geshe Dorampa. Since then, his fame spread far and wide. After the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1949, Tibetan religion and culture experienced wanton destruction, the height of which was reached during the Cultural Revolution. Muge Samten felt the vital importance of religion and culture for the survival of the Tibetan people and took upon himself the responsibility of reviving and resorting the Tibetan religion and culture to its former glory. He has authored six volumes and many articles on various subject of Tibetan studies.
