Top Tibetcentric Blogs of 2010

Here, for the benefit of all sentient beings, is Digital Tibetan Buddhist Altar's utterly subjective and thoroughly idiosyncratic list of the Top Tibetcentric Blogs of 2010. If you do not follow these blogs on a frequent basis, then you do yourself an injury. There is no time when they will not  entertain, confound, perplex, and teach you something new. 

To make this list you have to (1) actually know a little something, or know where to find it, (2) be open-minded, (3) have a sense of humor, and (4) fit right in at Hogwarts.

Tibeto-logic Here is where you find pure research at its finest, and as Tibetan Buddhists, we should be nothing less than thankful that Dan Martin decided to apply his considerable grace and skill to subjects we find of interest. It is possible for spirits to become trapped in books. Professor Martin is the bodhisattva who comes to release them. Everybody in the Tibetological world subconsciously tries to imitate him, thus the sincerest form of flattery consistently flows his way.

Lost Yak Found. A new entry in the rarefied world of Tibetcentric blogging, subtitled "Geoff's Experiment in Public Expression." Whether it was his own idea, or that of his therapist, we thoroughly enjoy every time he takes postulate to pixel.

Thor bu Curiosia Indo-Tibetica This high-class operation from "Budapest, Oxford" has long been on our short list of favorites. Peter Szanto is a man so fluent in the language of the gods that he reads Cervantes in Sanskrit.

Early Tibet Early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. Sam van Shaik (he bangs out things like Approaching the Great Perfection: Simultaneous and Gradual Methods of Dzogchen Practice in the Longchen Nyingtig in his spare time) isn't wealthy yet (his publisher is in Boston)  thus he continues to don hardhat, and wield pick axe, in a never-ending search for color in the Dunhuang tunnel.

BabelStone Not specifically Tibetcentric, but think of it as a key that unlocks Tibetcentric doors. The ones in the mysterious castles, with underground passageways. You know -- Fu Manchu's place, but as decorated by Andrew West.

Kili Kilaya Another new entry. Self-described as "discoveries and research hypotheses in Tibetan Buddhism from the Oriental Institute, Oxford University." Tapped out on tables in a place that surely has ghosts better versed in the subject than most breathing scholars. Rob Mayer shakes the curtains. Cathy Cantwell rattles the chains.

Karma Lekshey Ling I read this blog to relax. This crew aimed to put their shedra on the blog map by delivering content, and so they do by warmly inviting you to join in their lives. My favorite feature is "Dharma Downloads."

Shadow Tibet Tibetan politics are nothing if not predictable, so I only read one "political" blog, and this only for the quality of the writing. Jamyang Norbu's true gift is for history, but then again, there is always that tension about where "history" begins and ends.

High Peaks, Pure Earth Well, I take it back. I really read two "political" blogs, but I read this one because it is operated by a relative of one of my teachers. I would like to think this blog is not so much political as it is a mix of current affairs. They also digest the Tibetan blogs from China, in translation, which is like having your very own FBIS Daily Yellow Book. Anybody here remember those? 

In the Footsteps of Joseph Rock I just like everything about this blog, from the premise to the execution. What they do, is show how East Tibet looked in the 1920s, and how it looks now. Well, that and much else of interest. If you know the region, you will love this presentation.

[I may expand this as opportunity permits. I know there were some other blogs I wanted to mention, but I can't remember them right off the top of my head.]

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