Brian Cutillo was introduced to Geshe Wangyal while a student at MIT. He became one of theearliest American students of Geshe-La.
Geshe Wangyal wrote the book
The Door of Liberation published by Maurice Girodias Associates, Inc., (1973) now out-of-print. (The book has been reissued in paperback Wisdom Publications). Among the Acknowledgments in the original edition are:
- "In connection with the Buddhist Studies Institute, I must acknowledge the efforts of two of my students, Dr. Christopher George and Dr. Robert Thurman, who are now coordinating the activities of the Institute.
- "Also, I appreciate very much Dr. Jeffrey Hopkins' many years of dedicated service to the Lamaist Buddhist Monastery of America.
- "And last but not least, I extend my thanks to my students: to Brian Cutillo, for his devotion and effort in our work of translation ..."
Geshe Wangyal and Brian Cutillo also translated the
Illuminations ofSakya Pandita published by (LOTSAWA 1988). The book is now out-of-print.
From the rear book cover:
- "Like a blind man finding a jewel
- In a heap of garbage.
- Through what good fortune
- Was this Illumination born in me."
Cutillo writes in the Preface to
Illuminations:
- "The work of translation began in 1970 with a reading of the text by the late Geshe Wangyal to close students at his retreat house in Washington, NJ...In the fall of 1985 I once again turned to the translation, but felt that the manner of presentation was too formal for its intended audience in America. Recalling Geshe Wangyal's exhortation to 'Do it PROPERLY'...
- "Illuminations attempts to (provide) a practical manual of essential Buddhist practices in a clear and direct style. This was also Sakya Pandita's purpose in the thirteenth century, and the book has been translated with his aim in mind."