Gregory Sharkey, SJ

Profile

Fr. Gregory Sharkey, S.J., is a Jesuit priest and scholar specializing in Newar Buddhism. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he holds degrees in theology and philosophy, and pursued his graduate studies in Sanskrit and Buddhism at Oxford University. He teaches at Rangjung Yeshe Institute and serves as the director of the Boston College Nepal Program and Desideri House, a center for intercultural learning and religious dialogue.

Career

• 2012-2024 Associate Professor, Kathmandu University Centre for Buddhist at Rangjung Yeshe Institute
• 2012-2024 Director, Desideri House Centre for Interreligious Learning & Dialogue, Boudha
• 2004-2024 Resident director, Boston College Nepal Program at KU-CBS-RYI
• 2017-2024 Director, Visiting Student program and international collaborations, KU-CBS-RYI
• 2021-2024 Coordinator of doctoral program, KU-CBS-RYI
• 2013-2024 Academic Director, Cardoner Project Nepal (Sydney, Australia-based)

Research Interests

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

Publications

Books Authored
Buddhist Daily Ritual: The Nitya Puja in Kathmandu Valley Shrines. Orchid Press, 2001.
Buddhist Daily Ritual: The Nitya Puja in Kathmandu Valley Shrines, 2nd edition. Orchid Press, 2023.
Bauddha Stotra Sangraha: Buddhist Sanskrit Hymns in Translation. HRD publications, 1996.
Hilarion of Abtei: The Mission to Tibet, Nepal and Bettiah. (forthcoming).

Books Edited
Locke, J. K. Buddhist Monasteries of Nepal: A Survey of the Bāhās and Bahīs of the Kathmandu Valley, 2nd edition.
Orchid Press, 2023
Locke, J. K. Karunamaya, 2nd edition. Orchid Press (in press).

Articles & Book Chapters
Sharkey, G. “Tradition Transformed: The Resilience of Sanskrit Buddhism in the Kathmandu Valley”.
Diversity of Buddhist and Related Cultural Expressions. Po-chi Huang, editor. Huafan University
Press, 51-7. 2023.

Sharkey, G. “Buddhism in a New Key: The Roots and Growth of Engaged Buddhism.” The Wheel & The
Cross. C. Veliath, editor. MAGGA Research Center, 2021, 347–56

Sharkey, G. “Scholar of the Newars: The Life and Work of John Kerr Locke”. SINHAS Journal,
December 2009.

Sharkey, G. “Nepal: An Ideal Territory for Dialogue”. JIVAN, August 2009.

Sharkey, G. “Hinduism and its Core Cultural Values”, Cultures et Foi, 2008-09.

Sharkey, G. “Spelling Justice in Sanskrit”. Perspectives, Spring 2001.

Sharkey, G. and D. N. Gellner. “An Interview with Padma Ratna Tuladhar”. Himalayan Research Bulletin,
n.6, 1996.

Sharkey, G. and M. Hutt, “Nepalese in Origin But Bhutanese First”, European Bulletin of Himalayan
Research. 9, 1995.

Sharkey, G. “Unravelling Newar Buddhism”, Dialogue, 1994.

Sharkey, G. “A Lesson from Oxford”, Samachar-Bichar, Spring 1993.

Sharkey, G. “The Hierarchy of Urgency” Samachar-Bichar, Autumn 1990.

Major Presentations
“Buddhism in a New Key: The Roots & Growth of Engaged Buddhism”. Symposium 2017 –
Transnational Buddhism: Philosophical, Anthropological and Historical Perspectives. Rangjung
Yeshe Institute. March 25-26, 2017.

“Education and Liberation”. Navayana Buddhism & Ambedkar Conference. Pune. May 19-21, 2017.

“Faith & Works: An Interreligious Reflection on the Engaged Buddhism of Tzu Chi”. Tzu Chi 50th
Anniversary Forum, Tzu Chi Foundation Taipei. September 25, 2016. (Co-Keynote Address)

“The Globalization of Buddhism: Care for Our Common Home”. Roundtable Presentation. Tzu Chi
50th Anniversary Forum. Tzu Chi Foundation Taipei. September 25, 2016.

“Buddhism in Nepal: The Triple Distinction”. The Lumbini Conference. Lumbini Buddhist University.
May 17, 2016.

“The Heritage of Nalanda”. Indian Ministry of Culture National Seminar. Nava Nalanda Mahavihara
University. February 11, 2011. (Keynote Address.)

“Some Christian Reflections for Buddhist Mission”. Theravada Mission in the 21st Century Conference.
Mahamakut Buddhist University. September 30, 2010.

“The Urgency of Dialogue”. South Asian Assembly, Pontifical Council for Culture. October 24, 2008.
(Keynote Address)

“Religion in the Himalayas” (Public lecture series) Angelicum & Gregorian Universities, February 2008.

“Life in a Troubled Kingdom: Challenges in a Time of Socio-Political Upheaval” (Public lecture),
Collegio Capranica, Rome, February 2008.

“The Church and Eastern Religions” (Global Awareness Conference, Loras College, April 2000. (Keynote
address)

Languages

In addition to native English and conversational fluency in Nepali, possesses varying degrees of proficiency in Newar, Tamang, German, French, Latin, Koine Greek, Sanskrit, and Pali.