Council and Board of the Estonian Institute of Buddhism - CV-s

Märt Läänemets, member of the Board

Born in Avinurme, Ida-Virumaa County, Estonia, 1962

1985 graduated from the University of Tartu majoring in psychology; studied classical Chinese, Sanskrit and Tibetan at the Cabinet for Oriental Studies at the University of Tartu under the supervision by Linnart Mäll and Maret Kark; 1999 MA in history, University of Tartu, MA thesis "Lunyu as the Historical Sources", supervised by Linnart Mäll; since 1999 PhD studies at the department of history, The University of Tartu, on the Avatamsakasūtra; training in contemporary (Mandarin) Chinese and Chinese Literature at the Shenyang University, P. R. China (1992/1993) and Beijing Language and Culture University (1997/1998)

Research fellow at the Centre for Oriental Studies, Faculty of Philosophy, The University of Tartu; main research fields: history of thought of ancient China and Mahāyāna Buddhism on the basis of investigation of texts; participant in the research project "Humanistic Base Texts in the History of Mankind"; held the lecture courses on the history of thought and culture in China, Chinese Art of War, taught contemporary and classical Chinese at The University of Tartu.

Academic studies in Buddhism under the supervision by Linnart Mäll since early 1980s; one of the founders and teachers of the first Mahāyāna Institute (worked in 1991-1994); member of the organizing boards of the visits of H. H. The Dalai Lama (1991, 2001) and H. H. Sakya Tridzin (1995) as well as other high Buddhist Teachers in Estonia

Membership in the academic associations: Estonian Oriental Society (board member), Estonian Tibetan Cultural Society, Estonian Academic Society of History; worked for Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation since 1990; editor of the Oriental Monthly Newspaper "EAO Sõnumitooja" in 1989-1991

Main publications

Yoko Alender, member of the Board

Born in 1979 in Tallinn, Estonia

Graduated Estonian Academy of Arts majoring architecture and urban planning

One of the managers of constructing of the Avalokiteshvara sand mandala in Tallinn in June 2001 on the occasion of the visit of His Holiness The Dalai Lama in Estonia

Tiina Jokinen (Dharma name Sherab Drolma), member of the Board

Born in Rapla, Rapla County, Estonia, 1961

1984 graduated from the University of Tartu, majoring in the English language and literature; Postgraduate courses: Moscow Academy of Foreign Trade, 1987; airline handling coordinator and tarification; 1990, 1991, 1992, 1995; IATA advanced marketing, 1998

Professional career: 1984-1988 Estonian Ministry of Agriculture, specialist of foreign trade; 1988-1989 Estonian Academy of Sciences, research fellow in psycholinguistics; 1989-1996 SAS Tallinn, Riga, St.Petersburg, New Delhi; since 1997 Carslon Wagonlit Travel Agency K, Chairman of the Board; since 2001 Estonian Record Productions, Member of the Board

The interest in Buddhism arose at the early teens while travelling in Central Asia and deepened with the help of respective literature; training of martial arts in the 80s only added its fair share to the above; the research field during the Academy of Sciences period was related to the philosophy of the East; the root lama is His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche; a lot of credit should be given to Peeter Vähi for counseling and teaching, as well as, more recently, to Linnart Mäll; took refuge in July 2000

Pro-Buddhist activities: being a travel professional and having extensively visited many Buddhist regions and countries over the world have written a number of articles about respective travel and culture, held lectures and arranged travel and pilgrimages to monasteries and Buddhist areas.

Co-author of the book "Search for the Soul of Asia" 2000

Peeter Vähi (Dharma-name Konchok Lundrup), member of the Council

Born in Tartu, Estonia, 1955

1980 graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music as composer

Free-lance composer; 1989-1995 author of the programmes on the oriental music for Estonian Radio; since 1992 artistic director of the Music festival "Orient"; since 1995 artistic director of the music festival "Glasperlenspiel"; since 2001 artistic director of the Estonian Record Productions

Buddhist Teachers: Acharya Sarvamitra, 1988-94; since 1994 His Holiness XXXVII Drikung Kyabgon Rinpoche

Membership in the associations: Estonian Composers' Union, member of the board; Drikung Kagyu Ratna Shri Centre; Estonian Academic Oriental Society

Author of numerous articles on Buddhist culture and music published in the newspapers and magazines of Estonia, UK, USA and Russia (since 1989); author of photos of Buddhist monasteries, monks, rituals etc published in a number of books, magazines, CD covers, displayed at several expositions

Main music works

Andres Herkel, member of the Council

Born in Tallinn, 1962

1985 - graduated from the University of Tartu majoring in psychology; 1997 MA in history, University of Tartu, MA thesis "Mythological Psychology in the Ancient Indian Texts (Upanishads and Buddhist Texts)", supervised by Linnart Mäll

Career: 1985-1989 junior research fellow, Research Institute for the Pedagogic; 1990-1991 editor, Estonian cultural magazine "Vikerkaar" [The Rainbow]; 1991-1992 research student, University of Tartu; 1992-1993 lecturer, Estonian Institute for Humanities; 1993-1999 councillor at the Chancellery of the Parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu); since 1999 member of the Parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu)

Academic studies in Buddhism under the supervision of Linnart Mäll since early 1980s; currently doing research work, has held lectures and published a number of articles on Buddhism

Member of the Estonian Oriental Society, since 2001 vice-president; award of the Estonian cultural magazine "Looming", 1993; award of the Estonian cultural weekly "Sirp", 1998

Main publications

Teet Toome, member of the Council

Born in Pärnu, Estonia, 1974

2000 graduated from the University of Tartu with baccalaureus artium degree, majoring in Estonian literature; since 2001 master studies at the Department of the Literature and Folklore, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Tartu, on the theme "Personology of the Lotus-Sutra", supervised by Linnart Mäll; 2000-2001 trained in contemporary (Mandarin) Chinese in the Shanghai International Studies University
Academic studies in Buddhism under the supervision by Linnart Mäll since middle of 1990s
Member of the Estonian Oriental Society

1997-1999 taught the History of Oriental Culture in Tartu Miina Härma High School; worked as volunteer for Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization