Professor Mattia Salvini is currently Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Dean of Scriptural Languages at the International Buddhist College, Sadao Campus, Thailand.

Date: Thursday, October 7 from 7:30 – 9:00 PM, PST
Where: Online via Zoom – Register here for Zoom link

Abstract
Prajñākaramati is known as one of the most authoritative commentators on Śāntideva’s classic guide to the practices of Bodhisattvas, the Bodhicaryāvatāra. He was a master (ācārya) in the famed monastic institution of Vikramaśīla, heir to the tradition of Nālandā, wherein Śāntideva is also believed to have spent a portion of his life. Prajñākaramati starts his commentary on the Wisdom Chapter of the Bodhicaryāvatāra with a new opening verse. This verse of “auspicious beginning” (maṅgalācaraṇa) can tell us a lot about his approach to the Perfection of Wisdom, through his choice of words and even by the choice of meter. This single verse can also function as a simple introduction to what many regard as the ultimate intent of the Buddha’s teachings, the cultivation of Prajñāpāramitā, the Perfection of Wisdom.

About Dr. Mattia Salvini
Professor Mattia Salvini is currently Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Dean of Scriptural Languages at the International Buddhist College, Sadao Campus, Thailand. He obtained a BA and MA Sanskrit from RKM Vivekānanda College Chennai, India, and a PhD in Buddhist Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (London). His main research interests are: Buddhist philosophy as expressed in Sanskrit, and especially Madhyamaka; the relationship between philosophy and vyākaraṇa (traditional Sanskrit grammar); the relationship between Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and non-Mahāyāna Abhidharma; Buddhist Sūtras in Sanskrit and Tibetan; Vāstuśāstra (traditional architecture); Buddhist kāvya (poetry). During his stay in India and Nepal, Mattia had the opportunity to study with Prof. Rāṁśaṅkar Tripāṭhī, and has learnt from several Tibetan Buddhist masters, especially Ayang Rinpoche, Lama Gelong Tsultrim Gyaltsen, and Lama Rinchen Phuntsok. Mattia has taught in Nepal (Rangjung Yeshe Institute), Thailand (Mahidol University), and as visiting professor in Taiwan (Hua Fan University) and Germany (Hamburg University).