Gregory Sharkey, SJ

Associate Professor

gregory.sharkey@ryi.org

Profile

Gregory Sharkey, born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a member of the Jesuits (Society of Jesus) and an ordained Catholic priest. In addition to degrees in theology and philosophy, he did graduate studies in Sanskrit and Buddhism at Oxford University, where he specialized in Newar Buddhism, one of the subjects he teaches at RYI. Fr. Sharkey is director of the Boston College Nepal Program, and of Desideri House, a centre for intercultural learning and religious dialogue.

Career

• Professor, Rangjung Yeshe Institute
• Director, Boston College Nepal Program
• Research professor of comparative theology, Boston College

Research Interests

Newar and Tamang Buddhism; Ethnography of Nepalese Religions, Himalayan Languages; Comparative Theology.

Current Projects

History of Christian encounters with Buddhism; Comparative lexicon of Tamang.

Publications In Review

• Buddhist Daily Ritual, Orchid Press 2002
• Boudha Stotra Samgraha, HRD 2007

Journal Articles

• “Scholar of the Newars: The Life & Work of John Kerr Locke”, SINHAS, Dec 2011
• “Hinduism and its Core Cultural Values”, Cultures et Foi, 2008-09
• “Interview: Padma Ratna Tuladhar”, Himalayan Research Bulletin, n.6, 1996
• “Nepalese in Origin, But Bhutanese First”, EBHR, 9, 1995
• “Unravelling Newar Buddhism”, Dialogue, 1994

Conference Presentations

• “An Ignatian Approach to Dialogue with Buddhism”, Jesuits in Buddhist Studies & Dialogue, Sri Lanka, Aug 2011
• “The Heritage of Nalanda” (Keynote), Nalanda University, Mar 2011
• “Some Christian Reflections on Buddhist Mission”, Theravada Mission in the 21st Century, Mahamakut Buddhist University, October 2010
• “The Urgency of Dialogue” (Keynote), South Asian Assembly, Pontifical Council for Culture, October 24, 2008
• “Religion in the Himalaya” (Public lectures) Angelicum & Gregorian Universities, Rome, February 2008

Teachings

Undergraduate
Hinduism, Newar Buddhism, Nepalese Cultures, Comparative Theology