Renunciation and Longing: The Life of a Twentieth-Century Himalayan Buddhist Saint

Khunu Lama, a Himalayan Buddhist teacher, traversed Tibet and India in the early twentieth century, becoming a revered teacher of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. This study explores his life and reveals dimensions of Tibetan Buddhism, shedding light on religious affect and memory. It refutes caricatures of Tibetan Buddhist communities as unable to be modern and shows how narrators have used themes of renunciation, devotion, and lineage to negotiate loss and vitalize continuity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 04 April 2022
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

In the captivating journey of a Himalayan Buddhist teacher,Khunu Lama,this study unveils a fresh perspective on cultural continuity,transcending the traditional and modern dichotomy.

Khunu Lama embarked on a remarkable expedition across Tibet and India in the early 20th century, seeking the wisdom of Buddhist masters. His students claim that he sometimes had to rely on cold porridge and water for sustenance during his travels. Despite his elusive nature, Khunu Lama emerged as a revered teacher of the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. His passing in 1977 elicited heartfelt condolences from Himalayan nuns, Tibetan lamas, and American meditators alike. The numerous surviving stories about him offer profound insights into Tibetan Buddhism, shedding new light on the complexities of religious affect and memory.

In her book, Renunciation and Longing, Annabella Pitkin delves into the realms of devotion, renunciation, and the intricate relationship between teacher and student. By examining narrative accounts of Khunu Lama's life, particularly his remembered identity as a renunciant bodhisattva, Pitkin sheds light on Tibetan and Himalayan practices of memory, emotional connection, and mourning. She challenges the notion that Tibetan Buddhist communities are incapable of embracing modernity due to their religious commitments. Instead, she reveals how twentieth- and twenty-first-century Tibetan and Himalayan Buddhist narrators have employed themes of renunciation, devotion, and lineage as touchstones for navigating loss and revitalizing continuity.

Through this insightful exploration, Renunciation and Longing offers a valuable contribution to the study of religion, culture, and modernity. It provides a fresh perspective on the ways in which individuals and communities navigate the challenges of change while maintaining a deep connection to their cultural heritage. Khunu Lama's life and teachings serve as a testament to the enduring power of devotion and the potential for cultural continuity in the face of adversity.

Dimension: 229 x 152 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226796376