An interview with
Richard Gombrich
Position & Affiliation: Emeritus Professor of Sanskrit, University of Oxford
Date: February 27, 2018, Oxford
Interviewed by: Anna Sehnalova & Rachael Griffiths
© VOX (Voices from Oxford)
Cite this archive
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Oral History of Tibetan Studies project.
Timestamps:
- 0:00 Intro
- 00:30 Family and childhood
- 16:48 Early education
- 18:40 Classics at Magdalen College, University of Oxford
- 25:09 How do you remember Oxford in the 1960s?
- 29:31 Two years in the army in Germany, and first introduction to Buddhist teachings
- 34:30 Sanskrit and Buddhist Studies at Oxford in the 1960s
- 43:44 Master’s at Harvard University
- 49:38 PhD at Oxford and the influence of Prof. Bryan Wilson
- 57:11 Studying Sinhala and Sinhalese Buddhism, field work in Sri Lanka
- 1:08:10 Teaching experiences in Sanskrit and Pali at Wolfson College and Balliol College, Oxford
- 1:17:10 Memories of Michael Aris and the IATS conferences at Oxford in 1979 and 2003
- 1:28:42 The establishment of Tibetan and Himalayan Studies at Oxford
- 1:40:58 About the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS) and the Numata Visiting Professorship
- 1:54:08 What do you think your career has given you?
- 1:56:28 Future work and interests
- 1:57:34 Thoughts on the UK education system and reforms
- 2:13:12 Do you have a message or advice for future students of Tibetan Studies and Buddhist Studies?
Additional info
BOOKS
- Precept and practice: traditional Buddhism in the rural highlands of Ceylon. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1971.
- Editor: Coulson, Michael. Teach yourself Sanskrit: an introduction to the classical language. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1976.
- Cone, Margaret, and Richard Gombrich. The perfect generosity of Prince Vessantara. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977.
- On being Sanskritic: a plea for civilized study and the study of civilization. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1978.
- Balasooriya, Somaratna, André Bareau, Richard Gombrich, Siri Gunasingha, Udaya Mallawarachchi & Edmund Perry, eds. Buddhist studies in honour of Walpola Rahula. London: Gordon Fraser, 1980.
- Bechert, Heinz & Richard Gombrich, eds. The world of Buddhism: Buddhist monks and nuns in society and culture. London: Thames & Hudson, 1984. Paperback ed. 1991.
- Dhammapala, Gatare, Richard Gombrich & K.R. Norman, eds. Buddhist studies in honour of Hammalava Saddhatissa. Nugegoda, Sri Lanka: Hammalava Saddhatissa Felicitation Volume Committee, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 1984.
- Theravāda Buddhism: a social history from ancient Benares to modern Colombo. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1988.
- Gombrich, Richard, & Gananath Obeyesekere. Buddhism transformed: religious change in Sri Lanka. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1988. Paperback ed. 1990.
- Indian ritual and its exegesis. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 1988.
- Buddhist precept and practice. (Rev. ed. of 1. above.) Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1991.
- Buddhist precept and practice. (Reprint of 11. above.) London: Kegan Paul International, 1995.
- How Buddhism began: the conditioned genesis of the early teachings. London: Athlone Press, 1996.
- Religious experience in early Buddhism? Eighth annual BASR lecture, 1997. British Association for the Study of Religions Occasional Paper 17. University of Leeds: Leeds [1998].
- Kindness and compassion as means to nirvana. (1997 Gonda Lecture). Amsterdam: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1998.
- Translation of 9 above into Japanese, trsln Iwao Shima, Kyoto: Hozokan, 2002.
- Translation of 8 above into Japanese, 2006.
- Theravāda Buddhism: a social history from ancient Benares to modern Colombo. 2nd London: Routledge, 2006.
- How Buddhism began: the conditioned genesis of the early teachings. 2nd London: Routledge, 2006.
- Gombrich, Richard & Cristina Scherrer-Schaub, eds. Buddhist Studies: Papers of the 12th World Sanskrit Conference, vol.8. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2008.
- What the Buddha thought. London & Oakville: Equinox, 2009.
- Buddhist philosophy. Revue Internationale de Philosophie, v.64 (3), Paris, 2010
- Cone, Margaret, & Richard Gombrich. The perfect generosity of Prince Vessantara. Bristol: Pali Text Society, 2011. 2nd of no. 3 above.
ARTICLES and CHAPTERS IN BOOKS
- The consecration of a Buddhist image. Journal of Asian Studies, v.26 (1), 1966, pp.23–36.
- Food for seven grandmothers: stages in the universalization of a Sinhalese ritual. Man: Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute,6 (1),1971, pp.5–17.
- Sinhalese Buddhism. Man, Myth and Magic, 92, 1971, pp.2585–7.
- “Merit transference” in Sinhalese Buddhism: a case of the interaction between doctrine and practice. History of Religions,11 (2), 1971, pp.203–19.
- The fifty stanzas of a thief. Mahfil, v.7 (3–4), 1971, pp.175–86. (Translation of the Caura-pañcāsikā with an introduction.)
- Feminine elements in Sinhalese Buddhism. Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde Südasiens,16, 1972, pp.67–93.
- Le clergé bouddhiste d’une circonscription kandienne et les éléctions générales de 1965. Social Compass, v.20 (2), 1973, pp.257–66.
- The Divine Light Mission. Lycidas (Wolfson College magazine), 2, 1973–4, pp.24–5.
- Eliade on Buddhism. Religious Studies, v.10 (2), 1974, pp.225–31.
- A lexical note on Bambhadatta’s story: Obedio and sarisari/saribhari. Journal of the Oriental Institute (Baroda), v.24 (1–2), Sep-Dec 1974, pp.145–47.
- A party for “Hare Krishna”. Lycidas, v.3, 1974–5, pp.24–26.
- Ancient Indian cosmology. In Ancient Cosmologies. C. Blacker & M. Loewe, eds. London: Allen & Unwin, 1975, pp.110–42.
- Buddhist karma and social control. Comparative Studies in Society and History, v.17 (2), 1975, pp.212–220.
- The case for Sanskrit. The Times Higher Educational Supplement, p.3, 19th September 1975.
- Observations on the Vessantara Jātaka. Inde ancienne: Actes du XXIXe Congrès International des Orientalistes, Paris, juillet 1973. Paris: L’Asiathèque, 1976, pp.61–67.
- A Sinhalese cloth painting of the Vessantara Jātaka. In Buddhism in Ceylon and studies on religious syncretism in Buddhist countries: Report on a symposium in Göttingen. H. Bechert, ed. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, pp.77–88, 1978.
- Kosala-Bimba-Vaṇṇānā. In Buddhism in Ceylon and studies on religious syncretism in Buddhist countries: Report on a symposium in Göttingen. H. Bechert, ed. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1978, pp.281–303.
- The Buddha’s eye, the evil eye and Dr. Ruelius. In Buddhism in Ceylon and studies on religious syncretism in Buddhist countries: Report on a symposium in Göttingen. H. Bechert, ed. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1978, pp.335–338.
- The duty of a Buddhist according to the Pali scriptures. In The concept of duty in South Asia. O’Flaherty & J. Derrett, eds. London: Vikas, 1978, pp.107–118.
- Bibliography of South Asian Buddhism. In South Asian bibliography: a handbook and guide. Pearson, ed. Sussex: Harvester Press, 1979, pp.119–120.
- Bibliography of Jainism. In South Asian bibliography: a handbook and guide. J. Pearson, ed. Sussex: Harvester Press, 1979, pp.121–123.
- “He cooks softly”: adverbs in Sanskrit grammar. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.42 (2), 1979, pp.244–56.
- The significance of former Buddhas in Theravādin tradition. In Buddhist studies in honour of Walpola Rahula. S. Balasooriya, et al., eds. London: Gordon Fraser, 1980, pp.62–72.
- A new Theravādin liturgy. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.9: 47–73, 1981. (A shortened version is reprinted in The life of Buddhism. Frank E. Reynolds & Jason A. Carbine, eds. Berkeley: UCAL Press, chapter 13, 2000, pp.180–193.)
- Buddhists and death. Shap Mailing 1982. W. Cole, ed. 1982, pp.5–6.
- A Buddhist pilgrimage in Sri Lanka. Shap Mailing 1983. M. Hayward, ed.1983, pp.12–13. Reprinted in Religions and education: Shap Working Party 1969–89. Wood, ed. Isleworth: Shap Working Party, 1989, pp.15–16.
- Richard Gombrich chooses Conjectures and refutations by Karl Popper. The Times Higher Educational Supplement. (“Milestones” series) 27th May 1983, p.13.
- From monastery to meditation centre: lay meditation in modern Sri Lanka. In Buddhist studies ancient and modern. P. Denwood & A. Piatigorsky, eds. London: Curzon Press, 1983, pp.20–34.
- Gupta, Sanjukta & Richard Gombrich. Another view of widow-burning and womanliness in Indian public culture. The Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics, v.22 (3), 1984, pp.252–258.
- Introduction: the Buddhist way. In The world of Buddhism: Buddhist monks and nuns in society and culture. H. Bechert & Richard Gombrich, eds. London: Thames & Hudson, 1984, pp.9–14.
- Buddhism in ancient India: the evolution of the sangha. In The world of Buddhism: Buddhist monks and nuns in society and culture. H. Bechert & R. Gombrich, eds. London: Thames & Hudson, 1984, pp.77–89.
- Buddhist sacred writings. Shap Mailing 1984. M. Hayward, ed. 1984, pp.1–5.
- Notes on the brahminical background to Buddhist ethics. In Buddhist studies in honour of Hammalava Saddhatissa. G. Dhammapala, R. Gombrich & K.R. Norman, eds. Nugegoda, Sri Lanka: Hammalava Saddhatissa Felicitation Volume Committee, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, 1984, pp.91–102.
- Temporary ordination in Sri Lanka. The Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies, v.7 (2), 1984, pp.41–65.
- In The Group of Discourses (Sutta-Nipāta), Vol. 1. K.R. Norman, tr. Pali Text Society: London, 1984.
- The Vessantara Jātaka, the Rāmāyana and the Dasaratha Jātaka. Journal of the American Oriental Society, v.105 (3), 1985, pp.427–37.
- The state of Indological studies in the U.K. today. South Asian studies: papers presented at a colloquium 24–26 April 1985. British Library Occasional Papers, 7. Albertine Gaur, ed. London: British Library, 1986, pp.57–62.
- Buddhist festivals. In Festivals in world religions. A. Brown, ed. London: Longman, 1986, pp.31–59.
- Gupta, Sanjukta, & Richard Gombrich. Kings, power and the goddess. South Asia Research, 6, 1986, pp.123–37.
- Indology is in a very bad way. The Telegraph, Calcutta, 3rd April 1986, p.6.
- Most Indians know next to nothing of their cultural past. The Telegraph, Calcutta, 4th April 1986.
- Obituary of Prof. Thomas Burrow, Sanskrit and Dravidian Studies. The Times, London, 18th June 1986.
- Brahmins and barbarians. Oxford Magazine, v.20, 1987, pp.3–4.
- Old bodies like carts. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.11, 1987, pp.1–4.
- Buddhist cultic life in Southeast Asia. In The encyclopedia of religion. M. Eliade, ed. New York: Macmillan, v.5, pp.463–67, 1987. (Reprinted in Buddhism and Asian history: readings from The encyclopedia of religion. M. Kitagawa & M. Cummings, eds. New York: Macmillan, 1989, pp.309–15.)
- Three souls, one or none: the vagaries of a Pali pericope. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.11, 1987, pp.73–8.
- What kind of thing is religion? In The Shap handbook on world religions in education. A. Brown, ed. London: The Commission for Racial Equality, 1987, p.20.
- A selection of resources: Buddhism. In The Shap handbook on world religions in education. A. Brown, ed. London: The Commission for Racial Equality, 1987, pp.56–57.
- The Buddha and Buddhists. In Experiencing Buddhism: The report of the sixth “York Shap” conference. York: York Religious Education Centre, 1988, pp.2–12.
- Comment une réligion se définit elle-même: le bouddhisme. In Le grand atlas des réligions. Baladier, ed. Paris: Encyclopaedia Universalis, 1988, pp.36–37.
- Dieu, les dieux, le divin: le bouddhisme. In Le grand atlas des réligions. C. Baladier, ed. Paris: Encyclopaedia Universalis, 1988, pp.176–77.
- The history of early Buddhism: major advances since 1950. In Indological studies and South Asia bibliography: a conference 1986. Das, ed. Calcutta: National Library of Calcutta, 1988, pp.12–30.
- Two notes on Visuddhimagga IX. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.12, 1988, pp.169–71.
- How the Mahāyāna began. Journal of Pali and Buddhist Studies (Nagoya), 1, pp.29–46, 1988. (Reprinted in The Buddhist forum: seminar papers 1987–1988. Skorupski, ed. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.1, 1990, pp.21–30.)
- Recovering the Buddha’s message. In Earliest Buddhism and Madhyamaka. D. Ruegg and L. Schmithausen, eds. Leiden: Brill, pp.5–23, 1990. (Reprinted in The Buddhist Forum: Seminar papers 1987–1988. T. Skorupski, ed. London: School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.1, 1990, pp.5–20.)
- A note on Ambapālī’s wit. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.15, 1990, pp.139–40.
- Making mountains without molehills: the case of the missing stupa. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.15, 1990, pp.41–143.
- How might we educate our students? Oxford Magazine, 1990, pp.9–10.
- Reflections of an Indologist. In Religious pluralism and unbelief: studies critical and comparative. Hamnett, ed. London & New York: Routledge, 1990, pp.243–61.
- Pātimokkha: purgative. In Studies in Buddhism and culture in honour of Professor Dr. Egaku Mayeda on his sixty-fifth birthday. The Editorial Committee of the Felicitation Volume for Professor Dr. Egaku Mayeda, eds. Tokyo: Sankibo Busshorin, 1991, pp.31–38.
- Obituary of Professor B.K. Matilal. The Times, London, 12th June 1991.
- Can we know or control our futures? In Buddhist essays: a miscellany. G. Piyatissa Thera, L. Perera & K. Goonesena, eds. London: Sri Saddhatissa International Buddhist Centre, 1992, pp.240–252.
- The Buddha’s Book of Genesis? Indo-Iranian Journal, v.35, 1992, pp.159–78.
- Why six former Buddhas? In The Journal of Oriental Research. Madras: The Kuppuswami Sastri Research Institute, 1992, pp.326–30.
- Dating the Buddha: a red herring revealed. In The dating of the historical Buddha/Die Datierung des historischen Buddha. Part 2. (Symposien zur Buddhismusforschung, IV/2) Heinz Bechert, ed. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1992, pp.237–259.
- Why is a khattiya called a khattiya? The Aggaññasutta revisited. Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.17, 1992, pp.213–14.
- A momentous effect of translation: the “vehicles” of Buddhism. Apodosis: Essays presented to Dr. W.W. Cruickshank to mark his 80th birthday. St. Paul’s School, 1992, London, pp.34–46.
- Buddhist prediction: how open is the future? Predicting the future. Leo Howe & Alan Wain, eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1993, pp.144–68.
- Buddhism in the modern world: secularization or protestantization? In Secularization, rationalism and sectarianism. Essays in honour of Bryan R. Wilson. Eileen Barker, James A. Beckford & Karel Dobbelaere, eds. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1993, pp.247–269.
- Understanding early Buddhist terminology in its context. Pali Daejangkang Urimal Olmgim Nonmon Moum II / “A Korean translation of Pali Tipitaka vol. II”, Seoul, 1993, pp.74–101.
- What is Pali? In A Pali grammar, W.Geiger, trsln. B.Ghosh, rev. & ed. K.R.Norman. Pali Text Society, Oxford, 1994, pp.xxiii–xxix.
- Asoka, the great upasaka. King Asoka and Buddhism. Historical and Literary Studies Anuradha Seneviratna, ed., Kandy: Buddhist Publication Society, 1994, pp.127–36. Reprinted from book no. 8.
- A Buddhologist’s impression of Japanese Buddhism. Japanese new religions in the West, Peter Clarke & Jeffrey Somers, eds. Folkestone: Japan Library/Curzon Press, 1994, pp.15–24.
- The Buddha and the Jains: a reply to Professor Bronkhorst. Asiatische Studien, v.XLVIII (4), 1994, pp.1069–196.
- Translation of 68 above into Italian in Predire il futuro, trsln Marina Astrologo, Bari: Edizioni Dedalo srl, 1994, pp.131–150.
- Translation of 68 above into Spanish in Predecir el futuro, trsln Daniel Manzanares, Ángel Luis Sanz & Jesús Unturbe, Madrid: Alianza Editorial S.A., 1994, pp.153–75.
- Translation of 54 above into Spanish in Revista de Estudios Budistas, no.9, 1995, pp.24–41.
- Translation of 12 above into Polish by Marzenna & Krzysztof Jakubczak in Kwartalnik Filozoficzny, v.XXIII (3–4), Krakow, 1995, pp.181–212.
- Teaching Buddhism in the primary school. Hyon Kwang Sunim & Richard Gombrich, Resource, v.17 (2), 1995, pp.6–9.
- The monk in the Pāli vinaya: priest or wedding guest? Journal of the Pali Text Society, v.21, 1995, pp.193–97.
- Burrow, Thomas. The Dictionary of National Biography 1986–1990, C.S. Nicholls, ed. Oxford: OUP, 1996, pp.54–55.
- Conflict and reconciliation in World religions in education 1996/1997, SHAP Working Party on World Religions in Education. Croydon: Newlook Translators & Publishers, 1996.
- Freedom and authority in Buddhism. Freedom and authority in religions and religious education, Brian Gates ed. London: Cassell, 1996.
- Il Buddhismo: etica senza anima. Vie alla salvezza, Ciclo di conferenze, 1996. Collana, Torino Incontra, Torino: Centro Congressi, 1996, pp.94–114.
- The earliest Brahmanical reference to Buddhism? Relativism, suffering and beyond: essays in memory of Bimal K. Matilal, P. Bilimoria & J. N. Mohanty eds. Delhi: OUP, 1997, pp.31–49.
- Is dharma a good thing? Dialogue and Universalism11–12, 1997, pp.147–63.
- The Buddhist attitude to thaumaturgy. Bauddhavidyāsudhākaraḥ: studies in honour of Heinz Bechert on the occasion of his 65th birthday, Petra Kieffer-Pülz & Jens-Uwe Hartmann eds. Swisttal-Odendorf: Indica et Tibetica, 1997, pp.166–84.
- Obituary of the Venerable Dr Walpola Rahula. The Middle Way, v.73 (2), 1998, pp.115–19.
- Sir William Jones 1746–1974, a commemoration, Alexander Murray ed. Oxford: OUP, 1998, pp.3–15.
- Not everyone’s millennium. Balliol College Magazine, 1999.
- Organized bodhisattvas: a blind alley in Buddhist historiography. Sūryacandrāya: essays in honour of Akira Yuyama, Paul Harrison & Gregory Schopen eds. Swisttal-Odendorf: Indica et Tibetica, pp.43–56, 1998. Reprinted in Studies in Hindu and Buddhist art, P.K. Mishra ed. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications, 1999.
- Discovering the Buddha’s date. Buddhism for the new millennium, Lakshman S. Perera ed. London: World Buddhist Foundation, 2000, pp.9–25.
- Buddhist Studies in Britain. The state of Buddhist studies in the world 1972–1997, Donald K. Swearer, Somparn Promta eds. Bangkok: Center for Buddhist Studies, Chulalongkorn University, 2000, pp.171–89.
- A visit to Brahmā the heron, Journal of Indian Philosophy, v.29, April 2001, pp.95–108.
- Wir sind stets die Erben unserer Taten: Karma und menschliche Selbstbestimmung im Buddhismus, RELIGIONEN unterwegs, Wien, v.7 (2), May 2001, pp.4–9.
- Living community: the Buddhist order, World religions in education 2001/2002, London: SHAP Working Party on World Religions in Education, 2001, pp.28–30.
- Another Buddhist criticism of Yājñavalkya, Buddhist and Indian Studies in honour of Professor Sodo Mori, Hammatsu: Kokusai Bukkyoto Kyokai, 2002, pp.21–23.
- Budusamaya saha Śrī Laṅkāvē janavārgika ghaṭṭanaya, Dīgallē Mahinda ed. Colombo: Samayawardhana, 2003. Translation into Sinhala of “Buddhist fundamentalism? Buddhist violence? The War in Sri Lanka.” Paper presented at the conference on Fundamentalism in South Asia, Heidelberg 2000.
- “Obsession with origins”: attitudes to Buddhist studies in the old world and the new, Approaching the Dhamma: Buddhist texts and practices in South and Southeast Asia, Anne M. Blackburn & Jeffrey Samuels eds. Seattle: BPS Pariyatti Editions, 2003, pp.3–15.
- Merit detached from volition: how a Buddhist doctrine came to wear a Jain aspect, Jainism and early Buddhism: essays in honor of Padmanabh S. Jaini, Olle Qvarnström ed. Fremont: Asian Humanities Press, 2003, pp.427–439.
- Vedānta stood on its head: sakkāya and sakkāya-diṭṭhi, 2nd International Conference on Indian Studies: proceedings, Renata Czekalska & Halina Marlewicz eds. (Cracow Indological series IV–V), Krakow: Ksiegarnia Akademicka, 2003, pp.227–238.
- India’s gift to the world: ahimsa, Jain Spirit, no.18, March–May 2004, pp.26–27.
- Understanding the Buddha: methods and results. Korean Society for Indian Philosophy, 2004.
- Religious experience in early Buddhism? Reprint of 13 above. Religion: Empirical Studies, Steven J. Sutcliffe ed. Aldershot: Ashgate, 2004, pp.123–147.
- Colebrooke, Henry Thomas (1765–1837). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Turnour, George (1799–1843). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Davids, Thomas William Rhys (1843–1922). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Reprint of 81 above.
- Gananath Obeyesekere. The Island, 3 February, 2005.
- Major new discoveries about the Buddha’s teachings. Buddhism in the West, Galayaye Piyadassi …[et al], eds. London: World Buddhist Foundation, 2005, pp.149–152.
- Keywords in South Asian studies: karma. SOAS, Centre of South Asian Studies website,
- Thoughts about karma. Buddhism and Jainism, essays in honour of Dr. Hojun Nagasaki on his 70th birthday, Editorial Committee, ed. Kyoto: Heirakuji Shoten, 2005, pp.740–726 (sic).
- Is the Sri Lankan war a Buddhist fundamentalism? Buddhism, conflict and violence in modern Sri Lanka, Mahinda Deegalle, ed. (Routledge critical studies in Buddhism series), London & New York: Routledge, 2006, pp.22–37. Original of 98 above, under new title.
- Parodie und Ironie in den Reden des Buddha. RELIGIONEN unterwegs, Wien, v.12 (2), Mai 2006, pp.4–8.
- The fifty stanzas of a thief. ed. of article 5 above. Love Lyrics, New York: NYU Press & JJC Foundation, 2005, pp.277–315. Translation of the Caura-pañcāsikā by Bilhaṇa, with an introduction & notes.
- Popperian vinaya: conjecture and refutation in practice. Pramāṇakīrtiḥ: papers dedicated to Ernst Steinkellner on the occasion of his 70th birthday, Birgit Kellner …[et al] eds. Wien: Arbeitskreis für Tibetische und Buddhistische Studien Universität Wien, 2007, pp.203—211.
- Why the monks took no delight in the Buddha’s words. South Asian Religions & Culture, v.2 (1), 2008, pp.83–87.
- Why has British education gone so wrong, and why can’t we stop the rot? Popper’s nightmare. Hurly-Burly (Intl. Lacanian Jnl of Psychoanalysis), (1) mai 2009, pp.185–192.
- Early Buddhist historiography: the need for authentication. History of science, philosophy and culture in Indian civilization, v.XIV. Part 4: different types of history, Bharati Ray ed. Delhi: Pearson Longman, 2009, pp.43–58.
- Tipiṭakapāṭhā sodhetabbā: Aṅgulimālo ko? (= Readings in the Pali canon need emendation: Who was Aṅgulimāla?) Buddhism in the New Century, Bangkok: Wat Bovornives Vīhara, 2009, pp.94–103.
- Why textual studies matter. Thai International Journal of Buddhist Studies (TIJBS), 1, 2009, pp.20–32.
- Dans le bouddhisme l’homme se crée par ses actes. Le Point, hors-série 5 – les maîtres penseurs: Le Bouddha. février—mars 2010, pp.26–27.
- Revue Internationale de Philosophie, v.64 (3) 2010, pp.311–313.
- The Buddha’s thought. Revue Internationale de Philosophie, v.64 (3), 2010, pp.315–339.
- Editorial, Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies,1, Oct 2011, pp.7–11.
- “Foreword”; Relics of the Buddha and arahants and veneration, Hidajat, Halim. Tjan Sie Tek ed.
- Interview by Raimondo Bultrini: “Questioni di karma”. Sezione Cultura, Il Venerdi di Repubblica. 14 Sep 2012, pp.112–116.
- Editorial, Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies,2, May 2012, pp.7–8.
- Personal interview,Tricycle,22 (1), Fall 2012, pp.62–64.
- Responsibility (Keynote address at Sambuddhatva Jayanti Vesak-Poson celebrations. Brent Town Hall, 24 Jun 2012); Budumaga, v.23 (1) Jan-Apr 2013.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.3, Nov 2012, pp.8–11.
- Is hope a question of karma? A Buddhist perspective. Elizabeth Harris ed. Hope: a form of delusion? Buddhist and Christian perspectives. Emming, Germany: EOS, 2013, pp.45–61.
- Comfort or challenge? Middle Way, v.87 (4) 2013, pp.353–364. (Keynote address given at The Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism in the 21st century, International Conference, Salaya, Bangkok, October 2010.)
- Buddhist Studies in Oxford. The Oxford Theologian, issue 4, Spring 2013, pp.20–21.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.4, May 2013, pp.5–7.
- Gombrich, Richard & Yu-Shuang Yao, A radical Buddhism for modern Confucians: Tzu Chi in socio-historical perspective. Buddhist Studies Review30 (2), Nov 2013, pp.237–259.
- Review response: Did the Buddha know Sanskrit? Buddhist Studies Review30 (2), Nov 2013, pp.287–288.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies v.5, Nov 2013, pp.6–8.
- British higher education in the last twenty years. Synthesis Philosophica (Zagreb), v.28 (1–2), 2013, pp.7–29.
- The possibility of Buddhism for the future of humankind. Journal of Oriental Studies, v.24, 2014, pp.158–168.
- Buddhism and violence. 2014. Revised version of item 139. Published on OCBS website.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.6, May 2014, pp.7–8.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.7, Nov 2014, pp.7–10.
- Anālayo: Saṃyukta-āgama Studies. Taipei: Dharma Drum Publishing Corp, 2015, p.xi.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.8, May 2015, pp.7–9.
- Why is the kaṭhina robe so called? Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.8, May 2015, pp.155–162.
- Gellner, D.N. & Richard Gombrich, Buddhism. International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences. Oxford: Elsevier, 2015, pp.886–893.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.9, Nov 2015, p.7.
- The Mass Murderer who owes his Existence to Ignorance of Pali. Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.9, Nov 2015.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.10, May 2016, pp.8–10.
- Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies, v.11, Nov 2016, pp.8–10.
- Opening address: “The Possibility of Buddhism for the Future of Humankind.” Journal of Oriental Studies, 55 (2), 2016, pp.158–159.
REVIEWS
- Mode, Die buddhistische Plastik Ceylons, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1966, pp.84–85.
- Pott, Yoga and yantra, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1968, pp.91–96.
- Reynolds ed., An anthology of Sinhalese literature up to 1815, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.34, 1971, pp.623–24.
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- Bhattacharya, L’atman-brahman dans le bouddhisme ancien, Archives Internationales d’Histoire des Sciences, 1978, pp.128–29.
- Malalgoda, Buddhism in Sinhalese society, 1750–1900: a study of religious revival and change, Journal of Asian Studies, v.37 (2), 1978, pp.393–95.
- Tambiah, World conqueror and world renouncer: a study of Buddhism and polity in Thailand against a historical background, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, v.41 (2), 1978, pp.410–12.
- (Published under the title “The Fissiparous Monks”) E. Mendelson, Sangha and state in Burma: a study of monastic sectarianism and leadership, Times Literary Supplement, 4th September 1978, p.896.
- Kloppenborg, The Paccekabuddha: a Buddhist ascetic: a study of the concept of the paccekabuddha in Pāli canonical and commentarial literature, Orientalische Literaturzeitung, v74 (1), 1978, pp.78–80.
- Seneviratne, Rituals of the Kandyan state, Journal of the Anthropological Society of Oxford, v.10 (2), 1979, pp.110–11.
- Wood, Third class ticket, Journal of the Oxford India Society, v.1 (2), 1980, pp.19–21.
- Ergardt, Jan T. Faith and knowledge in early Buddhism, Numen, v.XXVI (2), 1980/81, pp.267–70.
- (Published under the title “On Pain of Retribution”) W. O’Flaherty ed., Karma and rebirth in classical Indian traditions, Times Literary Supplement, 4092,4th September 1981, pp.995–96.
- Pollock, Sheldon, Aspects of versification in Sanskrit lyric poetry, Indo-Iranian Journal, 23, 1981, pp.51–54.
- Dallapiccola ed., The stupa: its religious, historical, and architectural significance, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1982, pp.65–68.
- Masson, The oceanic feeling: the origins of religious sentiment in ancient India, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1982, pp.75–78.
- Goonatilleke, Masks and mask systems of Sri Lanka, Kalyani: Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences of the University of Kelaniya, no.1, 1982, pp.228–29.
- Reynolds ed., Catalogue of the Sinhalese manuscripts in the India Office Library, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1983, pp.144–45.
- Cummings, The lives of the Buddha in the art and literature of Asia, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no. 2, 1983, p.316.
- Carrithers, Michael, The Buddha, c.1983.
- R. Norman, Pali literature, including the canonical literature in Prakrit and Sanskrit of all the Hīnayāna schools of Buddhism, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.1, 1984, pp.164–66.
- Sharma, Damodar, Hindu belief and practice. c.1984.
- Zydenbos, Mokṣa in Jainism according to Umāsvāti, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.2, 1985, pp.213–14.
- Carrithers, The forest monks of Sri Lanka: An anthropological and historical study, History of Religions, no.24, 1985, p.378.
- Carrithers, (As no. 37 above) Religion, no.15, 1985, pp.411–13.
- (Review article: Knowledge of the unknowable.) S. Tambiah, The Buddhist saints of the forest and the cult of amulets: a study in charisma, hagiography, sectarianism, and millenial Buddhism; & M. Southwold, Buddhism in life; The anthropological study of religion and the Sinhalese practice of Buddhism, Times Literary Supplement, 4278, 29th March 1985, pp.359–60.
- Wijayaratne, Le moine bouddhiste selon les textes du Theravāda, Religion, no.16, 1986, pp.387–89. Reprinted, in incomplete form, in World Fellowship of Buddhists Review, no.22, 1985, pp.33–34.
- Marrett, Paul, Jainism explained, The Jain, Year 9, no.1, January 1986, pp.13–14.
- Bechert ed., On the school affiliation of works of Hīnayāna literature, Mundus, v.22 (4), 1986, pp.265–66.
- Wickremeratne, The genesis of an orientalist: Thomas William Rhys Davids and Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Indian Economic and Social History Review, v.23 (1), 1986, pp.121–24.
- Bond, The Buddhist revival in Sri Lanka: religious tradition, reinterpretation and response, Journal of the American Oriental Society, v.109, 1989, pp.661–64.
- Connolly ed., Perspectives on Indian religion: papers in honour of Karel Werner, World Religions in Education 1989: Book Reviews, pp.7–8.
- Bechert, Die Lebenszeit des Buddha — das älteste feststehende Datum der indischen Geschichte? Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.2, 1989, pp.348–350.
- Geiger, Culture of Ceylon in mediaeval times, Orientalische Literaturzeitung, no.85, 1990, p.83.
- Vetter, The ideas and meditative practices of early Buddhism, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.2, 1990, pp.405–407.
- Nakatani, Udānavarga de Subasi: Critical edition of the Sanskrit manuscript written on poplar wood slats in the Pelliot Collection in the Bibliothèque Nationale de Paris, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, no.2, 1990, pp.407–408.
- Lingat, Royautés bouddhiques: Asoka et la fonction royale à Ceylan, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, v.1 (2), July 1991, pp.311–312.
- Khoroche, Once the Buddha was a monkey: Ārya-Śūra’s Jātakamālā, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, v.2 (1), April 1992, p.16.
- Wille, Die Handschriftliche Überlieferung des Vinayavastu der Mūlasarvāstivādin, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, v.3 (1), April 1993, pp.142–143.
- Grey, A concordance of Buddhist birth stories, Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, v.3 (1), 1993, pp.143–144.
- Caillat, C. ed., Middle Indo-Aryan and Jaina studies; and de Casparis, J.G. ed, Sanskrit outside India (Panels of the VIIth World Sanskrit Conference, Kern Institute, Leiden, 23–29 August 1987. Vols VI and VII.) Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, v.3 (2), July 1993, pp.288–290.
- Strong, John S. The legend and cult of Upagupta: Sanskrit Buddhism in North India and Southeast Asia. Princeton: Princeton University Press, South Asian Studies, v.9, 1993, pp.174–176.
- Gaston, Anne-Marie, Siva in dance, myth and iconography. Delhi: Oxford University Press,1982, Oriental Art, Autumn 1993, p.94.
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CURRICULUM VITAE
NAME: Richard Francis Gombrich
ADDRESS: 11 Barton Lane, Oxford OX3 9JR
DATE OF BIRTH: 17 July 1937
EDUCATION:
1950–1955 Scholar, St. Paul’s School, London
1957–1961 Demy (scholar), Magdalen College, Oxford
1959 Honour Classical Moderations, First Class
1961 B.A. Oriental Studies (Sanskrit with Pali), First Class
1961–1963 Harkness Fellow of the Commonwealth Fund
1963 A.M. Harvard University
1963–1965 Treasury Studentship (Scarborough Studentship)
1970 D.Phil. Oxford University
HONOURS:
1991 Hon. D.Litt. Kalyani University, Bengal
1993 S.C. Chakraborty Medal, Asiatic Society, Calcutta
1994 Sri Lanka Ranjana (National Award)
1996 Hon. D.Ed. De Montfort University
1997 University Medal, Warsaw University
1997 Vacaspati (= Hon D.Litt.), Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeetha, Tirupati
2008 Appointed Honorary Life Member, International Association of Buddhist Studies
ACADEMIC TEACHING AND SPEAKING APPOINTMENTS:
1965–1976 Lecturer in Sanskrit and Pali, Oxford University
1966–1976 Governing Body Fellow, Wolfson College, Oxford
1976–2004 Boden Professor of Sanskrit, Oxford University
and Professorial Fellow, Balliol College
1977– Emeritus Fellow, Wolfson College
1999–2004 Senior Fellow, De Montfort University
1981–1982 Benjamin Meaker Visiting Professor, University of Bristol
1982 Visiting Professor, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, Paris
1986–1987 Stewart Visiting Fellow in the Humanities, Princeton University
1994 F.D. Maurice Lecturer in Theology and Religious Studies, King’s College London
1994 Jordan Lecturer in Comparative Religion, SOAS
1997 Gonda Lecturer, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences
1998 Edmond Perry Lecturer, Northwestern University
2002– Academic Director, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
2004– Emeritus Fellow, Balliol College
2005 Visiting Professor, Dharma Drum Buddhist College, Taiwan
2006 Numata Visiting Professor, SOAS
2008 Visiting Professor, Dong-Guk University, Seoul
2008 Visiting Professor, Hong Kong University
2009 Evans-Wentz Lecturer, Stanford University
2009 Keynote Speaker, Conference “Buddhism in the New Century”. World Buddhist University, Bangkok, 3rd Oct.
2010 Keynote Speaker, Conference: “Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism in the 21st Century.” Mahamakut University, Bangkok
2010 First Buddha Jayanti Lecturer, Indian Council of Philosophical Research & Rashtriya Sanskrit Sansthan, of New Delhi, 25th Sep.
2010 Keynote Speaker, Conference “Dissemination of Theravada Buddhism”, Bangkok, 30th Sep.
2011 2012 Visiting Professor, Dharma Gate Buddhist University, Budapest
2011- Editor, Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
2012 Visiting Professor, Fo Guang University
OTHER APPOINTMENTS:
1974– Fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society
Member of Council, 1989–1991
Member of the Publications Committee, 1991–3
1977 — Member, Association of Social Anthropologists of the Commonwealth
1978–1983 Advisory Council, Victoria and Albert Museum
1981–1994 Hon. Secretary and Treasurer, Pali Text Society
President and Treasurer, Pali Text Society, 1994–2002
Co-editor, Journal of the Pali Text Society, 1996–2002
1981–1985 Secretary for Europe, International Association for Buddhist Studies
1982–1990 Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts
1983–1990 Theological and Religious Studies Board, National Council for Academic Awards
1986–1992 Member of Council, Society for South Asian Studies
1990– Member, Academia Europaea
1992 Member, East and South Asian Studies Panel, RAE (Chairman for S & SE Asia)
1996 Member, Theology and Religious Studies Panel, RAE
2004–8 General Editor, Clay Sanskrit Library
2006-13 President, UK Association of Buddhist Studies
2008 Appointed Honorary Life Member, International Association of Buddhist Studies
2008– Founder-President, Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
2008-11 Trustee, Oxford Mindfulness Centre
2011– Editor, Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
Member of several editorial boards:
Oxford University South Asian Studies Series
Groningen Oriental Monograph Series
Religion
Journal of Asian Philosophy
Brill’s Indological Library (Advisory Board)
Journal of Buddhist Ethics
Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies
South Asian Religions and Culture
Journal of Contemporary Religion
Contemporary Buddhism Journal
Buddhist Studies Review
ULUBUDA online journal
Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya Journal of Buddhist Studies
The Dhammachai Tipitaka Project, Thailand (advisory board)