Global Buddhism
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The Global Buddhism blog is dedicated to discussing the global character of Buddhism both historically and in the contemporary world. The idea to set up the blog emerged out of conversations between the editors of the Journal of Global Buddhism (JGB), an academic journal devoted to understanding and analysing the relationship between Buddhist teachings, institutions and practitioners.
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Buddhism in Dialogue with Contemporary Societies 20-22 June 2018
Museum für Völkerkunde, Großer Hörsaal, Hamburg
The ongoing encounter between Buddhism and contemporary Western societies has already left a lasting mark on both parties, as happens in any open dialogue. Arriving in the “West”, Buddhism has been confronted with the values of European enlightenment and human rights, articulated within the paradigms of Judeo-Christian culture. Buddhism has often been described as a kind of philosophy and lifestyle. Buddhist voices have joined discussions of secular values, Buddhist-inspired mindful ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Here’s a nice review of Robert Wright’s Why Buddhism is True by Adam Frank.
I haven’t read the book yet, but judging from the review it seems to take a more self-conscious about the selective appropriation of Buddhist contemplative traditions in ‘the West’ than is often the case.
To his credit, Wright is more than cognizant that exploring just these aspects of Buddhism means he is filtering out quite a bit of its history. As he reminds his readers:
“Two of the most common Western conceptions of Buddhism — that it’s atheistic and that it revolves around meditation — are ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
In a recent article, the Northwest Dharma Association reports on Lama Choyin Rangdrol, a Seattle-based African American lama in the Tibetan tradition, who was talking at the B.R. Ambedkar International Conference in Bangalore, India. In his talk, Rangdrol draws parallels between the experience of African Americans and so-called ‘untouchables’ in India.
Lama Rangdrol said participating in the conference was very powerful, because he saw so many parallels between the experience of African Americans and Indian people who fall outside the caste system, who traditionally were called untouchables ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
From Scott Mitchell:
Friends and colleagues,
I would like to cordially invite you to the following symposium at the Institute of Buddhist Studies, Berkeley, Friday October 6, 1:00-5:00.
Mass Meditation: Practices and Discourses in Contemporary Global Buddhisms
The fourth annual graduate student symposium at the Institute of Buddhists Studies examines the popularity of meditation practices in contemporary global Buddhisms. Papers will present a range of scholarship from historical perspectives on the modern origins of a diversity of mindfulness practices; scientific studies of Buddhist practice ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Here are the details for another upcoming event aimed at raising awareness about Buddhism in the West.
More at: thewordonthestreet.ca ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Here is the press release of an exciting new film being released today.
FILM ON MINDFULLNESS & MEDITATION COMING TO OVER 300 MOVIE THEATERS NATIONWIDE ON SEPTEMBER 12 – WALK WITH ME
NOTE: Oscar®-Winning Director Alejandro Iñárritu and Other Prominent Hollywood Figures In-Person with the film’s directors Marc J. Francis and Max Pugh for the Premiere Screening and Walking Meditation with Monastics
“A moving examination of mortality and life choices.”
– Ren Jender, Village Voice
Who is Thich Nhat Hanh? And What is Mindfulness?
What is the Value of Med ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
The Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies is currently seeking students for their latest online Pali course, with Professor Richard Gombrich. Here are the details:
Pali Online School
Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies
(A Recognised Independent Centre of the University of Oxford)
World-renowned intensive three week Pali language course enters its second year online.
The Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies will run its Pali Intensive course online again in November 2016. This course enables students to read Pali texts for themselves by the end of three weeks.
This course ran three times last y ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
One way to think about the “global” nature of Buddhism is to consider not just the spread of Buddhist practitioners and institutions across the globe but also how they imagine and address global issues. The most literally global issue of our time is anthropogenic climate change. Recently, the Sydney Buddhist Centre announced that it would divest from all fossil fuels, claiming that it is the first Buddhist organisation in the world to do so. Seeing the media release, I was immediately interested whether and how the move was justified in Buddhist terms. Indeed one of the Centre’s mem ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Here is a call for papers for a panel at an upcoming conference in Poland.
‘Contemplative Sociology. Towards
the Mindful Sociological Research and Empathic Society’ organized during
XVI Polish Sociological Congress (14-17 September 2016 Gdańsk).
Panel description:
The goal of contemplative sociology is to understand individuals and
communities by taking into account the point of view of the Other, as well
as the interconnectedness of the world. Contemplative sociology questions
the common sense and scientific distinctions (e.g., internal/external,
micro/macro, self/other, solidarity/anomy, etc ..read more
Global Buddhism
2y ago
Here’s an announcement about an upcoming E-learning course on Buddhist women in Asia. Sounds like it will be very interesting.
The Numata Center for Buddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg, in cooperation with the Dharma Drum Institute of Liberal Arts, offers an E-learning Course on Asian Buddhist Women. The course consists of a series of lectures by a group of international scholars.
Participation is free of charge and open to anyone interested, but requires online registration.
Lectures will start on 14 April and will be held every Thursday at 2.15 pm German time.
Recordings ..read more