The Monastery Rules

Reviews / Votes

"The Monastery Rules is one of the most important contributions to Tibetan studies to emerge in recent years because of the author's ability to situate the story of Tibetan monasticism within mainstream Buddhist Studies as well as to address important questions in Buddhist ethics." * Journal of Buddhist Ethics * "In its geographical, temporal and topical focus, the range of the book is exceptional. . . . a great reference for anyone studying Buddhist economies, Buddhist institutions, the Vinaya and the history of Tibetan and Mongolian societies, and of monastic institutions more generally. By surveying and compiling vast stores of knowledge on monastic guidelines, Jansen is able to illustrate compellingly the socio-economic relationships between pre-1950s monastic institutions and the laity." * Inner Asia (INAS) * "In this excellent study, the author undoes the myth that Tibetan monks and monasteries were ever completely separated from lay society, highlighting the complex social role that monasteries negotiated in premodern Tibet." * Reading Religion * "The Monastery Rules offers an excellent specialist study of Tibetan Buddhist monasticism, which emphasizes indigenous voices and. . . . constitutes a monumental achievement that breaks new ground on an understudied but vitally important topic." * Eastern Buddhist * "The Monastery Rules is an eminent and indispensable contribution to the study of Tibetan society, presenting the daily reality of monastic life in its hitherto undocumented diversity." * European Bulletin of Himalayan Research *