“Symposium and Workshop on Middle Indic Tantric Buddhist Literature, focusing on the Caryā Songs in Old-Bengali,”

Julian Schott Dohās and Siddhas: Sources and Contexts A talk by Julian Schott, Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Vienna, that will serve as the opening for the “Symposium and Workshop on Middle Indic Tantric Buddhist Literature, focusing on the Caryā Songs in Old-Bengali,” (see attached flier for details) to be held from April 23rd to 25th, 2026.

Dr. Schott's presentation offers a concise synopsis of the historical facts and research areas relevant to the Caryāgīti corpus, beginning with a review of primary sources and existing scholarship. To provide literary and doctrinal context for the elusive siddhas who compiled these songs, the lecture examines stanzas from an anonymous siddha genealogy that offers archetypal summaries of their practices. Finally, it explores the various ways in which dohās were utilized and contextualized by later Tantric traditions and engaged with by commentators.

DATE: Thu, Apr 23, 2026 TIME: 5-6:30 pm PST VENUE: 10 Stephens Hall SPEAKER BIO

Julian Schott studied in Göttingen, Pune, and Hamburg. He received his doctorate from the Center for the Study of Manuscript Cultures (CSMC) under the supervision of Prof. Harunaga Isaacson, with a dissertation on Amitavajra’s Dohākośaṭīkā. He has held teaching and research positions at the University of Sydney and the Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI), before returning to his alma mater as a Principal Investigator (PI) for a collaborative research project on Indrabhūti’s Jñānasiddhi. In 2023, he joined the University of Vienna as a postdoctoral researcher.

Julian’s expertise lies in Indo-Tibetan Tantric traditions, with a focus on primary Buddhist Sanskrit sources (manuscript studies) and Tibetan translation literature. He has published on dohā traditions and exegetical “siddha literature” centered on Mahāmudrā and the Kālacakra. Additionally, he is active in the field of contemplative sciences.

Sponsor(s): Numata Center for Buddhist Studies, Institute for South Asia Studies

Contact: buddhiststudies@berkeley.edu Event FREE and OPEN to the public