- #ManuscriptMonday Writing to the Dalai Lama edition. A letter & envelope dated March 18, 1946, addressed to the Regent of Tibet (perhaps Takdrak Rinpoche) on behalf of the 14th Dalai Lama, written by Wesley Needham, librarian at the Beinecke Rare book & Manuscript Library. 1/
- Wesley Needham was a fascinating figure. Through his correspondence w/ the 14th Dalai Lama, he was able to request a woodblock print edition of the 100-volume Lhasa edition of the Kangyur, rare in the west at that time. It travelled by horse caravan & freighter, reaching New Haven in February 1950.
- Needham was interested in all sorts of things, and took copious notes. He helped Tsepon Shakabpa come to New Haven and publish A Political History of Tibet. He also worked with the Mongolian reincarnate lama Dilowa Hetukhtu to study various elements of Tibetan Buddhism. 3/Apr 28, 2025 23:47
- More on the Kangyur that Needham arranged (@babelstone.co.uk beat me to posting it) bsky.app/profile/babe...
