“The mirror of mind” - an original sample of old Kalmyk literature in Oirat script. Part 2

The paper continues investigation of one Old Kalmyk Buddhist text in Oirat “Clear Script” named as “The Mirror of Mind” (Oir. Uxāni toli) and kept in two copies in the manuscript repository of the Eastern Faculty Library at St. Petersburg State University. The author is Jinzang lama, the chief bakshi (i.e., abbot) of the Baga Tsokhor ulus, and we have very few information about him in scholarly publications. Having analyzed documents from the Fund I 42 of the National Archive of the Republic of Kalmykia relating to so called Lamaist Clergy Administration and containing various materials on Buddhist clergy in Kalmyk temples, we managed to restore some details of his biography, first of all that he was born in 1782 and died in 1852. His full name was Tsuryumin Jinzang (Oir. curimiyin ǰinzang); he got monastic vows in 1831, became bakshi of the Baga Tsokhor ulus in 1837 and was bestowed the rank of Lama of the Kalmyk people in 1849 until his death in 1852. The study pays particular attention to chapters 13-15 of the treatise, which provide a detailed week by week account of fetal development over nine months in mother’s womb. This passage demonstrates Jinzang lama’s profound knowledge of Tibetan medicine, which spread among the Kalmyks following their adoption of Buddhism. A comparison of this fragment with the Mongolian translation of the “rGyud bzhi” - the foundational text of Tibetan medicine - shows that they are quite close. Thus we can suggest that Jinzang lama may have appealed either directly to the Tibetan original “rGyud bzhi” text or to its Oirat translation, listed among the works of Jaya paṇḍita Nam mkha’ rgya mtsho. This study not only contributes to reconstructing Jinzang lama’s biography but also confirms his deep knowledge not only in Buddhist philosophy but also in Tibetan medicine, enriching our understanding of the scholarly traditions among Kalmyk lamas in the 19th century.