Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy
This essay explores the pedagogy of Dza Patrul Rinpoche (1808–1887), a well-respected Buddhist teacher from Eastern Tibet, by considering examples where Patrul frames his teachings as oratorical performances. Patrul operates under the guiding pedagogical principle that self-promoting performance is...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-09-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/10/202 |
| _version_ | 1818382736895770624 |
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| author | Joshua Schapiro |
| author_facet | Joshua Schapiro |
| author_sort | Joshua Schapiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay explores the pedagogy of Dza Patrul Rinpoche (1808–1887), a well-respected Buddhist teacher from Eastern Tibet, by considering examples where Patrul frames his teachings as oratorical performances. Patrul operates under the guiding pedagogical principle that self-promoting performance is good teaching. The term “performance” describes the competitive exchanges that appear in certain of Patrul’s writings, where the quality of the sermons in question is at issue. Patrul habitually directs focus to his teachings’ delivery, including instances where his lessons emerge out of conversations between invented characters. Patrul puts the oratorical capacity of his protagonists under a microscope and accentuates the artistry of their teachings. In so doing, he draws attention back to his own mastery, prolixity, cunning, and wordplay. His style allows him to communicate content while demonstrating competence and creativity. By telegraphing these qualities, he interests students in aspiring to similar expertise and provides them with opportunities to generate devotion towards him. According to Patrul, devotion is a crucial mechanism for learning, as it transforms and empowers each step of students’ progress along the path to awakening. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec08f928b8164b3a8baf240884910ea3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T02:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2017-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec08f928b8164b3a8baf240884910ea32022-12-21T23:19:39ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442017-09-0181020210.3390/rel8100202rel8100202Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative PedagogyJoshua Schapiro0Department of Theology, Fordham University, Bronx, NY 10458, USAThis essay explores the pedagogy of Dza Patrul Rinpoche (1808–1887), a well-respected Buddhist teacher from Eastern Tibet, by considering examples where Patrul frames his teachings as oratorical performances. Patrul operates under the guiding pedagogical principle that self-promoting performance is good teaching. The term “performance” describes the competitive exchanges that appear in certain of Patrul’s writings, where the quality of the sermons in question is at issue. Patrul habitually directs focus to his teachings’ delivery, including instances where his lessons emerge out of conversations between invented characters. Patrul puts the oratorical capacity of his protagonists under a microscope and accentuates the artistry of their teachings. In so doing, he draws attention back to his own mastery, prolixity, cunning, and wordplay. His style allows him to communicate content while demonstrating competence and creativity. By telegraphing these qualities, he interests students in aspiring to similar expertise and provides them with opportunities to generate devotion towards him. According to Patrul, devotion is a crucial mechanism for learning, as it transforms and empowers each step of students’ progress along the path to awakening.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/10/202TibetBuddhismpedagogyperformancedevotion |
| spellingShingle | Joshua Schapiro Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy Religions Tibet Buddhism pedagogy performance devotion |
| title | Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy |
| title_full | Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy |
| title_fullStr | Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy |
| title_short | Performative Framing: Dza Patrul Rinpoche’s Performative Pedagogy |
| title_sort | performative framing dza patrul rinpoche s performative pedagogy |
| topic | Tibet Buddhism pedagogy performance devotion |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/8/10/202 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joshuaschapiro performativeframingdzapatrulrinpochesperformativepedagogy |