John Makransky

John Makransky: Author, Spiritual Teacher, Academic

* Associate Professor, Buddhism and Comparative Theology, Boston College [ [http://webwork.bc.edu:8080/schools/cas/theology/faculty/jmakransky Lama John Makransky at Boston College Theology Department] ]
* Senior Faculty Advisor, Centre for Buddhist Studies, Kathmandu University, Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery in Bodhanath, Nepal

* Dharma teacher within the Dzogchen Center of Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and Lama Surya Das [ [http://www.dzogchen.org/cambridge/whoweare.html#john Lama John Makransky at Dzogchen Center Cambridge] ]

John Makransky combines an academic career as a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College with his role as a lama (spiritual teacher) in the Dzogchen tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Having practiced meditations of compassion and wisdom from Tibetan traditions for thirty years, John has pioneered new ways of making them accessible to people of all backgrounds and faiths in meditation retreats and workshops throughout the United States.
John also offers [http://www.johnmakransky.org/appearances.html meditation workshops] for social workers, therapists, counselors, other professional caregivers and activists sponsored by diverse institutions, such as Boston College’s School of Social Work, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, and Contemplative Mind in Society. He recently published a book of meditations and teachings to empower people in family life, work, social service and activism entitled [http://www.johnmakransky.org/summary.html|"Awakening Through Love: Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness"] (Wisdom Publications, 2007).
In addition, John is author of Buddhahood Embodied: Sources of Controversy in India and Tibet, coeditor of [http://www.westernbuddhistreview.com/vol3/buddhisttheology.html|"Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars"] , and co-chair of the Buddhist Critical Reflection Group in the American Academy of Religion. He is also senior faculty advisor and lecturer for Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche’s Center for Buddhist Studies in Kathmandu University.

Biography

John has studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhism since 1978 under the guidance of revered Nyingma, Kagyu, and Gelug teachers. In 2000, he was installed as a lama in the lineage of the Tibetan master Nyoshul Khen Rinpoche and his Western Dharma heir Lama Surya Das, one of the foremost Western meditation teachers and founding director of Dzogchen Center. John is a guiding teacher at [http://www.dzogchen.org/teachings/index.htm meditation retreats sponsored by Dzogchen Center] , where he has become renowned for guiding thousands of participants in their discovery of innate wisdom and love.

He lives outside Boston with his wife, two sons, and dog.

Academic Institutions & Groups

• Boston College Department of Theology
• Boston College Comparative Theology Program
• Center for Buddhist Studies in Nepal
• Society for Comparative Theology
• European Network of Buddhist-Christian Studies
• American Academy of Religion / Buddhist Constructive Reflection Group
• Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies
• International Association of Buddhist Studies

Bibliography

* John Makransky: (2007) "Awakening Through Love: Unveiling Your Deepest Goodness" (Wisdom Publications, ISBN 0-86171-537-3)
* John J. Makransky: (August 1997) " [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&id=I4qmkptncxQC&dq=john+makransky&printsec=frontcover&source=web&ots=Y_LtBlQEIq&sig=N7IKMnnC5JEoxG80k7wMMbfgXfQ Buddhahood Embodied: Sources of Controversy in India and Tibet] ", Publisher: State University of New York Press , ISBN 079143432X (10), ISBN 978-0791434321 (13)

Articles and Essays

* "Love Is All Around: Recognizing the Unconditional Love in our Lives" Tricycle: The Buddhist Review (Fall 2007)

* "No Real Protection Without Authentic Love" Journal of Buddhist Ethics (Volume 12, 2005)

* "A Contemporary Buddhist Teaching of Spiritual Practice" presented to the Association of Practical Theology, American Academy of Religion (2007)

* "Buddhist Perspectives on Truth in Other Religions: Past and Present" Theological Studies (June 2003)

* "Buddha and Christ as Mediations of Ultimate Reality: A Mahayana Buddhist Perspective" Buddhism and Christianity in Dialogue (2005)

* "Historical Consciousness as an Offering to the Trans-historical Buddha" Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars

* "Contemporary Academic Buddhist Theology: Its Emergence and Rationale" Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars (2000)

* "Family Life as Practice" Tricycle: The Buddhist Review (2001)

* "Parenting as Path" Tricycle: The Buddhist Review (2001)

* "Buddhahood and Buddha Bodies" Encyclopedia of Buddhism (2004)

* "Tathagata" Encyclopedia of Religion (2nd edition, 2003)

* "Buddhist Analogues of Sin and Grace: A Dialogue with Augustine" Studies in Interreligious Dialogue (2005)

* "Mahayana Buddhist Ritual and Ethical Activity in the World" Society of Buddhist Christian Studies Meeting, Orlando, FL (Nov. 20, 1998)

Notes and References

* [http://quotes.gaia.com/john_makransky Quotes by John Makransky]
* [http://www.johnmakransky.org Personal website]