Tom Tillemans in Conversation

After almost ten years of service, Tom Tillemans, 84000’s outgoing editor-in-chief, has formally handed over the reins to his successor, and pauses briefly to talk with us about his journey, ‘problems of thinking’ that span both East and West, revelatory philosophical arguments in a recently translated sūtra; and the importance of maintaining a balance in 84000's unique, three-pronged approach.

Tributes to Tom

There is no doubt that 84000 would not have been the same without Tom Tillemans. Tom joined the project in the summer of 2010, when it had been running for just under a year. The main outlines of how the project would operate had been discussed, a few pilot translation projects had been accepted, but nothing had really started yet, let alone been published. Our name had just changed to 84000, from the initial, rather clunky, “Buddhist Literary Heritage Project.” Here, some of those who have worked most closely with Tom, pay tribute to his tenure, his contributions, and the incredible wealth of knowledge he has so generously shared with the world.

James Gentry on taking over from Tom

As a long-time translator with the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, James Gentry joined 84000’s editorial committee in 2015, and this year sees him formally taking over the reins from outgoing editor-in-chief Tom Tillemans. Read more on what initially drew James into Buddhist study, the impact Tom has had on James' own work, and how he intends to further Tom’s legacy into the next era of the project.