Department of Religious Studies
Department of Religious Studies
Sonam

Tulku Ngawang Sonam

Doctoral Student
tns5hv@virginia.edu

Education:

  • University of Virginia - PhD, Religious Studies (anticipated Spring 2025)
  • University of Virginia - MA, Religious Studies (2021)
  • Gelugpa University, India - Completed Geshe Lharampa degree (Equivalent to PhD in Buddhist Philosophy) (2015) 
    • Dissertation title: A Detailed Analysis of Madhyamakāvatāra and Its Auto-Commentary: The Ornament of Brilliance (in Tibetan: Dbu ma la ’jug pa rang ’grel dang bcas pa gsal bar bshad pa blo gsal dga’ ba’i rgyan)
  • Gelugpa University, India – Lopön degree (Equivalent to M.A. in Buddhist Philosophy) (2012)
  • Gelugpa University, India - Karampa degree (Equivalent to B.A. in Buddhist Philosophy) (2010)

Research Interests:

  • East and South Asian intellectual and cultural history
  • Tibetan literature and poetry
  • Asian religion and philosophy
  • Philology and Textual criticism
  • Translation and transmission of Buddhist and Hindu philosophical literature
  • Buddhist Ethics

Research Languages

  • Tibetan (native), English, Sanskrit, Hindi

Teaching Experience

  • Teaching Assistant, University of Virginia (2018-2024)
    • Introduction to Asian Religions (Spring 2024)
    • Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Fall 2023, Spring 2021, Fall 2020, Fall 2019, Fall 2018)
    • Introduction to Buddhism, (Spring 2020, Spring 2019)
  • Lecturer, University of Virginia, (2024 - 2025)
    • RELB 5470, Literary Tibetan V (Fall 2024)

Publications

  • Roar of the Turquoise Dragon, a collection of poetry based on Kāvyādarśa style, self-published in India, 2003 (in Tibetan).
  • Spirit of the Snow Mountain Goddess, a collection of poetry based on Kāvyādarśa style, self-published in India, 2005 (in Tibetan).
  • The Rules and Regulations of Gaden Jangtse Monastic University (Edited work), published by the Gaden Jangtse Monastery University, 2011 (in Tibetan).

Awards and Grants

  • The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Dissertation Fellowship (administered by ACLS) (2022)
  • Khyentse Foundation Travel Grant (2023)
  • The Dalai Lama Graduate Scholarship (2024-2025)

Selected Conference Activity

  • Keynote speaker at International Seminar of Young Tibetologists at University of Virginia (August 2022)
    • Keynote Address: What Tibetan Studies Academics Can Learn from the Tibetan Traditional Education System and Vice-Versa
  • American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas (November 2023)
    • Paper title: “Chapa Chökyi Sengé’s Doxographical Work and Its Influence”
  • Robert H. N. Ho family Foundation’s Early Career Retreat hosted by American Council of Learned Societies, Mexico City, Mexico (August 2024)