"Verum est, certum et verissimum, quod est, superius naturam habet inferioram et ascendens naturam descendentis."    

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"Verum est, certum et verissimum, quod est, superius naturam habet inferioram et ascendens naturam descendentis."

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Oriental Studies

I received scientific and traditional education for four years at the Gate of Dharma Buddhist College in Budapest, where I have studied Buddhism besides Hindu, Chinese and western philosophy. I specialized on the study of Buddhist philosophy and Eastern thought. I also studied philosophy of religion specializing on Indian culture and Indian religions. I wrote my thesis on Hindu Tantra.

I got so deeply involved, that after finishing my MA, I have decided to stay with the institution and become a teacher of Buddhism myself. [« go there ] Between 1995-2003 I was teaching a number of different Buddhist subjects as well as doing research into early Buddhism. My major field of interest is Tantric Buddhism - especially the cross-cultural interference of Hindu and Buddhist philosophy and religious practice.

»  Check out The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College Website

 

Research

Hindu Tantra

Essays

Course Description

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Research

I have been on two expeditions to the Himalayas both carrying interests for Buddhist research and cultural anthropology.

A part of my first journey took me to Western Tibet, to the Buddhist kingdom of Ladakh in 1995.

A part of my second journey took me to Western Tibet again, to the Buddhist kingdoms of Lahaul and Spiti and Zanskar in 1998.

Politically these areas all belong to India, therefore survived the devastating effects of the Chinese intervention in Tibet and since represent an ideal research area of relatively untouched Buddhist culture.

I have also studied some of the monasteries and settlements of Tibetan refugees in Himachal Pradesh (India) and the Kathmandu-valley (Nepal).

I have been to more than 50 Buddhist monasteries studying and experiencing the monastic way of life. »Interested? Check it out...
I have visited a high number of Tibetan settlements studying Tibetan Buddhist culture. <>Interested?  » Go there
I have visited more than a 130 Hindu temples in Northern-India and the Kathmandu-valley in Nepal.  Interested? » Go there
My research involved documentation (film and photo) of a number of Hindu and Buddhist topics. Interested? » Go there

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The followers and practices of Hindu Tantra

In my thesis I carry out an introductive analyses of the followers and practices of Hindu Tantra. I start with a brief analyses of the development of Hindu thought and trace the tantric tradition back to pre-aryan times to the dravida people of the Indus Civilization. I argue that the tantric tradition is older than Vedic Hinduism and constitutes the basic teachings of both the Puranic Hindu culture and folk religions especially on the side of fertility cults. I than argue that indian ascetics, widely known as sadhus, are the living representatives and followers of the tantric tradition. I also emphasize that orthodox Hinduism based on the teachings of the Vedas and represented by the priest cast of brahmins; and non-orthodox Hinduism based on tantric practice and represented by the cast of sadhus strongly differ and have their own two ways and entirely seperate traditions...

I try to reconstruct the picture of the early ascetics and create my own list of early sadhu sects: I write about the pashupata, kapalika and kalamukha sects in detail and try to distinguish them from other contemporary ascetic sects like the bhikshu (Buddhist), jaina and ajivika sects. 

My argument leads to the clear distinction of the samayin or "right hand path" and the kaula or "left hand path" tradition in tantric though and practice. I argue that this tradition is the ground for the Puranic Hindu concept of Trimurti - the trinity of God: Brahma the Creator, Visnu the Preserver and Siva the Destroyer. I see the same tradition in reflected in the beliefs and practices of sadhu sects.

Following Dolf Hartsuiker's line of thought I distinguish the two major trends of vaisnava and saiva line: sects following Lord Visnu and sects following Lord Siva. I give an enumeration and short description of the sects: the naga, goraknath, aghori, udasin and sakta on the saiva side and the ramanuji, ramanandi, gauriyi, bairagi and rasik on the vaisnava side.

I also shortly describe the bhakti and lingayat movement and also write about early Buddhist (sarvastivada and sammitiya) and Jain (digambara and svetambara) groups. To make the picture complete I describe the institution of the Guru and introduce some of the notorious gurus who made a great impression on the West: Radnish, Maharishi, Muktananda, Sai Baba, Prabhupada and Acarya. Their main doctrines are also touched upon...

The second part of my paper deals with the lifestyle and practices of the sadhu sects. I write about the general daily routine of leading an ascetic way of life and the ideology that lies behind the acts of sadhana

I then give my own interpretation of Yoga, seeing it as a complex system of exercises aiming at the final act of liberation. I distinguish four major disciplines of yoga: Hatha-, Laya-, Raja- and Tantra-yoga and make an enumeration of various exercises and rituals practiced by the different sects and place them in the system, claiming that each particular exercise belongs to a special kind of yoga which has its own way of achievement...

My original intention was to write about all the exercises practiced by most sadhu sects, but as is a lifetime's work, I had to narrow the topic down to two types of yoga - hatha-yoga and tantra-yoga - mainly practiced by most saiva sects.

In considering the hatha-yoga exercises in addition to the traditional philosophical explanations, I write about how to cleanse the body (satkarma); about different postures and ways of concentrating (asana & mudra); about withdrawing the senses (pratyahara); and activating the subtle energy systems (pranayama & nadicakra).

In connection with the tantra-yoga exercises in addition to the traditional philosophical explanations, I write about mastering pleasure (sukha bhoga); mastering ecstasy (cakra-puja & panca-makara); and mastering magical powers (siddhi). I take some time on writing about the traditional usage of psychedelic drugs in the sadhu tradition and on the nature of sexual intercourse as a religious practice.

Interested?  All written documents are available for reading in the » Library.

» You can also read the full work [« read it ].

» I also wrote my Cultural Anthropology thesis on » The Cult of Siva.

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Here is the outline of my thesis-paper:

The followers and practices of Hindu Tantra

  • Introduction: The Hindu Tantra
  • I. The origins of Hindu religion: TANTRA
  • The development of tantrism
  • The followers of Tantra (non-orthodox Hindu sects)
  1. Ascetics (sramana, muni, sadhu, yogi, siddha, tantrika)
  2. Hermits (sanyasi, saiva and vaisnava)
  3. Bhakti (alvar, lingayat)
  4. Buddhist sangha (sthavira vada, maha sanghika)
  5. Jain gana (digambara, svetambara
  6. Gurus (Radnyis, Maharisi, Muktananda, Sai Baba, Prabhupada)
  • II. The tantric way of life: YOGA
  • Lifestyle
  • Practice - The System of Yoga
  • Hatha-yoga
  1. Satkarma
  2. Asana & Mudra 
  3. Pratyahara 
  4. Pranayama & nadi-cakra-abhyasa 
  • Tantra-yoga
  1. Sukha-yoga (bhoga) 
  2. Cakra-puja (panca-makara)  
  3. Siddha-yoga (siddhi) 
  • Glossary
  • Bibliography

Interested?  All written documents are available for reading in the » Library.

» You can also read the full work [« read it ].

» I also wrote my Cultural Anthropology thesis on » The Cult of Siva.

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Essays

Personal selection listed only:

Available in Hungarian:

BUDDHIST LIBRARY

Click to enter

» the Buddhist Library

 

TAOIST LIBRARY

Click to enter

» the Taoist Library

 

HINDU LIBRARY

Click to enter

» the Hindu Library

 

Buddhist Philosophy :

Hinajána buddhizmus (Hinayana Buddhism):

Tarr Dániel : Dharmabeszéd . (A Speech of Dharma) . [2001] {GDBC Mahayana} - (MS Word) [« read it ]
Tarr Dániel : Hinajána Buddhizmus . (Hinayana Buddhism) . [Autumn 1997]  [Schoolbook of the GDBC, 1997] - (MS Word)[[« read it ]

Mahajána buddhizmus (Mahayana Buddhism):

Tarr Dániel : Mahajána Buddhizmus . (Mahayana Buddhism The History of Mahayana Schools) . [Autumn 1994] – [Schoolbook of the GDBC, 2001.] -[[« read it ]

Tibeti buddhizmus (Tibetan Buddhism):

Tarr Dániel : Csenrézi . (Chenrezig). [Spring 1996] {ELTE CAD} – [MTA Etno-regional Research Centre, Workbook 10., 1996] - (MS Word) [« read it ]

Zen buddhizmus (Zen Buddhism):

Tarr Dániel : Lin-csi . (Lin-chi). [Spring 1994] {GDBC Zen Buddhism} - (MS Word) [« readit ] 
John Drew :
A Kamakurai Buddha . (The Buddha at Kamakura) . [1995] {poems in English} -[[« read it ]

Jógacsára buddhizmus (Yogacara Buddhism):

Vasubandhu: Vijnapti-matrata-siddhi - "The Proof of the Mind only". (translation by Daniel Tarr) [1996] {from Sanskrit} -[[« read it ]

Buddhista ismeretelmélet (Buddhist epistemology):

Tarr Dániel : Vaszubandhu - A Három Önvaló Tanítása . (Vasubandhu - The Teaching of the Three Selves). [Spring 1996] {GDBC Yogacara Buddhism} -[[« read it
Tarr Dániel : Éntelenség és Üresség . (Selflessness and Emptiness) . [Spring 1995] {GDBC Mahayana Buddhism} -[[« read it ]
Tarr Dániel : Buddhista episztemológiai szójegyzék . (Buddhist Epistemological Glossary). [1998] {GDBC Buddhist Epistemology} -[[« read it ]

Chinese Philosophy :

Tarr Dániel : Bevezetés a Kínai Filozófiába . (Introduction to Chinese Philosophy) [Autumn 1993] {GDBC Chinese Philosophy}
Tarr Dániel : A felborult rend filozófiája - Hesziodosz és a Ji-King . (The Philosophy of Lost Order - Hesiod and the Ji-King) [Spring 1994] {GDBC Ancient- and Chinese Philosophy} -[[(MS Word) « read it ]

Hindu Philosophy :

Tarr Dániel : Siva Himnusz . (A Hymn to Siva) . [1999] - [(MS Word) « read it ]

Upanisadok (Upanishad):

Tarr Dániel : Prána - átman . (Prana - Atman) . [1993] {GDBC Upanishad Philosophy} - [(MS Word) « read it ]

Hindu Tantra (Hindu Tantra):

Tarr Dániel : A Hindu Tantra követői és gyakorlata . (The followers and practices of Hindu Tantra) . (GDBC MA Thesis) [Spring 1997] - [(MS Word) « read it ]
Tarr Dániel : Siva Kultusza . (The Cult of Siva) . (ELTE CAD MA Thesis) [Spring 1999] - [(MS Word) « read it ]
Jonathan Parry : Az Aghori Aszkéták . (The Aghori Ascetics) . [Autumn 1996] {ELTE CAD} - [(MS Word) « read it ]
Tarr Dániel : Indiai Aszketizmus
. (Indian Asceticism) . [Spring 1998] {ELTE CAD BA} - [(MS Word) « read it ]
Tarr Dániel : Hindu Tantra jegyzet . (Hindu Tantra Notes) . (Schoolbook of the GDBC, 1996.) [1996] - [(MS Word) « read it ]

Western Thought :

Daniel Tarr : Rabbi Jesus . [Autumn 1994] {GDBC Philosophy of Religion} -[[« read it ] 
Daniel Tarr : Ziqquratu . [Spring 1994] {GDBC Philosophy of Religion} -[[« read it ]

History of Philosophy :

Daniel Tarr : Aurelius Augustinus . [Autumn 1995] {GDBC History of Philosophy}
Daniel Tarr : Aurelius Augustinus: Confessions . [1992] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Daniel Tarr : Descartes: Discourse on Method . [1993] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Tarr Dániel : A felborult rend filozófiája - Hesziodosz és a Ji-King . (The Philosophy of Lost Order - Hesiod and the Ji-King) [Spring 1994] {GDBC Ancient- and Chinese Philosophy} -[[« read it ]
Daniel Tarr : Hume: An Essay Concerning Human Understanding . [1993] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Daniel Tarr : Individualism and modern philosophy . [1992] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Daniel Tarr : Plato . [1992] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Daniel Tarr : Plato: Phaedo . [1992] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}
Daniel Tarr : Pre-Socratic Thought – The Philosophy of ONE . [Autumn 1993] {GDBC Ancient Philosophy}
Daniel Tarr : Rousseau: Social Contract . [1993] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László}

Epistemology and Metaphysics :

Available in English:

Daniel Tarr : Cognition and Freedom in 17-18th century philosophy . [1992] {ELTE PHIL Nagy László} 
Daniel Tarr : The Theory of Direct Realism – In the light of Theories of Perception . [Autumn 2001] {CEU Empiricism} -[[« read it ]
Daniel Tarr : The Concept of Metempsychosis in Early Greek Philosophy . [Autumn 2001] {CEU Philosophy and Religion} -[[« read it ]
Daniel Tarr : Plato's Enlightenment – The concept of phronesis . [Autumn 2001] {CEU Ancient Philosophy} -[[« read it ]

 

Interested? All written documents are available for reading in the » Library.

» Read the summary of my Oriental Studies thesis on » Hindu Tantra.

» Read the summary of my Cultural Anthropology thesis on » The Cult of Siva.

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Course Description

BA equivalent course in Philosophy of Religion

[Autumn 1993 – Spring 1997]

Courses in Classic Philosophy (Department of Philosophy of Religion)

Name of course Teacher Grade

Classic Greek Philosophy

Lőrincz Imre Farkas

A level (5)

Classic Greek Philosophy II.

Lőrincz Imre Farkas  

A level (5)

History of Philosophy I.

Bakos & Fórizs & Ruzsa
B level (4)

History of Philosophy I. seminar

László Fórizs
A level (5)

History of Philosophy II.

Bakos & Fórizs & Jancsik
A level (5)

History of Philosophy II. seminar

László Fórizs
A level (5)

Philosophy of Religion

Lőrincz Imre Farkas  
A level (5)

Philosophy of Religion II.

Lőrincz Imre Farkas
A level (5)

Philosophy of Nature

József Bakos
A level (5)

Philosophy of Nature II.

József Bakos
A level (5)

Name of course

Teacher

Grade

Chinese Philosophy

Lőrincz Imre Farkas
A level (5)

Chinese Philosophy II.

Lőrincz Imre Farkas
A level (5)

Hermetic Philosophy

József Bakos
passed

Hermetic Philosophy II.

József Bakos
A level (5)

Logics

Ferenc Ruzsa
passed

Logics seminar

Gábor Karsai
A level (5)

Aesthetics

Károly Jancsik
passed

Aesthetics II.

Károly Jancsik
A level (5)

Comprehensive Exam of Western Philosophy

A level (5)

Special Courses in the Philosophy of Religion

Name of course
Teacher
Grade

Hermetic Philosophy III.

József Bakos
A level (5)

Hermetic Philosophy IV.

József Bakos
A level (5)

Scholastic Philosophy

József Bakos
passed

Mythology

József Bakos
A level (5)

Ethnology of Religion

Gábor Vargyas
passed

Ethnology of Religion II.

Gábor Vargyas
A level (5)

The Philosophy of the Tao Te King

József Bakos
passed

Buddhist Philosophy (Department of Buddhist Studies)

Name of course
Teacher
Grade

Hinayana Buddhism

András Laár
A level (5)

Hinayana Buddhism II.

András Laár
A level (5)

Theravada Buddhist texts

László Tenigl-Takács
A level (5)

Indian Buddhism

László Tenigl-Takács
passed

Indian Buddhism II.

László Tenigl-Takács
passed

Mahayana Buddhism

Tamás Agócs
A level (5)

Mahayana Buddhism II.

Tamás Agócs
A level (5)

Madhyamaka Buddhism

Judit Fehér
A level (5)

Yogacara Buddhism

László Tenigl-Takács
A level (5)

Yogacara Buddhism seminar

László Tenigl-Takács
A level (5)

Buddhist Epistemology and Ontology

Tamás Agócs
A level (5)

Comprehensive Exam of Buddhist Philosophy

A level (5)

Other Buddhist courses

Name of course
Teacher
Grade

The History of Tibetan Buddhism

Katalin Jakab
passed

Tibetan Buddhism

Tamás Agócs
A level (5)

The History of Zen Buddhism

Tibor Tátrai
passed

Zen Buddhism

Róbert Hegedűs
A level (5)

Buddhist enquiries

Tamás Berhidai
passed

Hindu Philosophy

Name of course
Teacher
Grade

Upanisad Philosophy

László Tenigl-Takács
B level (4)

Darshan Philosophy

Ferenc Ruzsa & L. Takács
A level (5)

Darshan Philosophy II.

Ferenc Ruzsa & L. Takács
A level (5)

Rig-Veda

László Fórizs
A level (5)

Dissertation: "The followers and practices of Hindu Tantra"

A level (5)

Courses in Tibetan Language

Name of course
Teacher
Grade

Classic Tibetan Language 1.

Mónika Szegedi
C level (3)

Classic Tibetan Language 2.

Mónika Szegedi
D level (2)

Classic Tibetan Language 3.

Mónika Szegedi
B level (4)

Classic Tibetan Language 4.

Mónika Szegedi
C level (3)

Index No.: C-93/46

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Want to know more?

» Check out my work at The Gate of Dharma Buddhist College

» and Cultural Anthropology studies too.

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Last updated: 21-01-2006