Background

Alexander was born on December 10, 1944, in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, the son of Isadore and Rose (Walkowitz) Berzin.

Education

Alexander studied at Rutgers University and received a Bachelor of Arts (with highest honors) in 1965. He also attended Harvard University and got a Master of Arts in 1967 and his Ph.D. in 1972.

Career

Alexander was a member of Translation Bureau at Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, India in 1972. He was an interpreter and assistant to Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche during 1975-83.

In 1976 he and Jonathan Landaw prepared the work Wisdom-Energy l. In the same years, he translated from Tibetan The Guru Puja. In 1977 he and Sharpa Tulku translated A Compendium of Ways of Knowing, with Commentary by Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. Together with Tulku several works were prepared: The Wheel of Sharp Weapons, An Anthology of Well-Spoken Advice.

He worked as an interpreter for the Dalai Lama in India and Europe during 1978-91. He was a research scholar and liaison for offices of the Dalai Lama from 1988. Besides, he was a visiting lecturer in Tibetan and Asian studies and visiting teacher of meditation at universities around the world.

Achievements

• Alexander Berzin is known mainly as the Dalai Lama's archivist and occasionally his interpreter. He is on the Board of Advisors of Tibet House Germany and the International Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding of the College of Religious Studies of Mahidol University, Thailand. His most famous works are Relating to a Spiritual Teacher: Building a Healthy Relationship, Developing Balanced Sensitivity, Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra, Taking the Kalachakra Initiation.

Works

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  • An Anthology of Well-Spoken Advice on the Graded Path of the Mind

    (This anthology is a compendium of oral teachings based pr...)

    1984
  • Wisdom Energy: Basic Buddhist Teachings

    (Wisdom Energy is a simple and compelling introduction to ...)

    1976
  • Relating to a Spiritual Teacher: Building A Healthy Relationship

    (This book explores the sources of misunderstanding and re...)

    2000
  • The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra

    (Mahamudra, the great sealing nature, refers to systems of...)

    1997
  • Developing Balanced Sensitivity: Practical Buddhist Exercises for Daily Life

    (Alexander Berzin introduces a series of techniques for ov...)

    1998
  • Developing Balanced Sensitivity: Practical Buddhist Exercises for Daily Life

    (Alexander Berzin introduces a series of techniques for ov...)

    1998
  • Kalachakra and Other Six-Session Yoga Texts

    (Six-session yoga practices are a common commitment of hig...)

    1998
  • Glimpse of Reality 1989
  • Russia's Tibet File The Unknown Pages in the History of Tibet's Independence 1996
  • The Four-Themed Precious Garland: An Introduction to Dzog Ch'en 1979
  • The Mahamudra: Eliminating the Darkness of Ignorance 1978
  • Taking the Kalachakra Initiation 1997

Membership

Alexander Berzin is a member of Network of Western Buddhist Teachers.

Connections

Father:

Isadore Berzin

Mother:

Rose (Walkowitz) Berzin

coworker:

Jonathan Landaw

coworker:

Sharpa Tulku

coworker:

Matthew Kapstein

coworker:

Thubten Chodron

teacher:

Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche

References

• Contemporary Authors, Vol. 184
  2000