Talk Series

2023-24

For the '22-'23 academic year, we are hosting a virtual talk series on the theme of "Critical Pedagogy in Buddhist Studies" and a hybrid keynote lecture. These events co-sponsored by the Departments of Asian Studies, Philosophy, and Religious Studies, the East Asia Program, the Southeast Asia Program, Keeton House, and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. All times listed are for Ithaca's timezone (EST or EDT).

Keynote Lecture: "Eroding Sexism: A Yog─üc─üra Dialectics of Gender."

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Jingjing Li (Leiden University) will join us on Cornell's campus for a keynote lecture at 4-5:30pm (Ithaca time), on Wednesday 15 November 2023. Please join us in-person, in Rockefeller 374, or online via Zoom: register here.

Abstract: In this presentation, I explore the possibility of Yog─üc─üra feminism by drawing upon the writings of Xuanzang (c.602-664) and his disciple Kuiji (632-682). As I will argue, the Yog─üc─üra theory of consciousness-only can be read as a gendered account of non-duality that does not reduce illusory gender into non-existence. Instead, illusory gender functions as an embodied critique of ignorance that inspires sentient beings to transform their perspectives through a collaborative effort. The term "Yog─üc─üra dialectics" is thus coined to describe such a theory of non-duality that highlights fluidity and transformability at the interpersonal level. To illustrate this dialectics of gender, I turn to Kuiji's commentary on the Vimalak─½rtinirde┼øa where protagonists appear with illusory genders on their Bodhisattvas' path. As such, I do not venture to recover the authentic understanding of these texts but rather re-read and recontextualise them for expanding the horizons of both Yog─üc─üra studies and Western feminism.

Virtual Talk Series: Critical Pedagogy in Buddhist Studies

All talks are online-only, and are on Wednesdays at midday (Ithaca time) unless noted otherwise.

Wednesday 27 September, 12pm. Stephen Berkwitz (Missouri State), "Why and How Should We Teach Buddhism? Critical Reflections on Buddhist Studies Pedagogy." Register here.
Friday 13 October, 12pm. Jue Liang (Case Western Reserve), "Teaching Women, Gender, and Sexuality with Buddhist Theories and Theorists." Register here.
Tuesday 7 November, 12pm. Nathan McGovern (Madison Wisconsin), "Teaching Buddhism with Islam to Combat Orientalist Stereotypes." Register here.
Wednesday 29 November, 12pm. Mario Poceski (Florida), "Integrating Contemplative Practice into University Courses on Buddhism." Register here.
Wednesday 31 January, 12pm. Chris Jensen (Carleton), "Teaching Buddhism in Contemporary Canada: The State of the Field." Register here.
Wednesday 21 February, 12pm. Monica Sanford (Harvard), "Pedagogies for Spiritual Formation in Buddhist Ministry Vocations." Register here.
Wednesday 13 March, 9am. Ben van Overmeire (Duke Kunshan), "Ungrading the Introduction to Buddhism." Register here.
Wednesday 10 April, 12pm. Jitsujo T. Gauthier (U. of the West), "Developing Ministry of Presence in Buddhist Education." Register here.
Wednesday 1 May, 12pm. Beverley Foulks McGuire (North Carolina Wilminton), "Teaching Buddhism as a Lived Religion?" Register here.

2022-23

Our '22-'23 talk series is co-sponsored by the Department of Asian Studies and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. All times listed are for Ithaca's timezone (EST or EDT).

Friday 9 September, 12pm. Monima Chadha (Monash), "Responsibility without Self." In-person (Rockefeller 374) only.
Tuesday 20 September, 4pm. Bruno M. Shirley (Cornell), "Opportunities and Obstacles for Digital Buddhology."
Friday 28 October, 12pm. Juhn Ahn (Michigan), "How Not to Restore a Monastery: Buddhism and the Politics of Spending in Goryeo and Joseon Korea. By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 11 November, 12pm. Andrew Ollett (Chicago), "The Disappearance of the Dharma." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 2 December, 12pm. Symposium on 20th century Indian Buddhism, featuring Anand Venkatkrishnan (Chicago), Padma D. Maitland (California Polytechnic State) and Douglas Ober (British Columbia). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 February, 12pm. Anne M. Blackburn (Cornell), "Buddhist-inflected Sovereignties Across the Indian Ocean: A Pali Arena, 1200–1550." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 10 February, 12pm. Maria Heim (Amherst). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 March, 12pm. Richard F. Nance (Indiana at Bloomington). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 10am. Petra Kieffer-Pülz (Academy of Sciences and Literatures, Mainz). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 3:30pm. Liyu Hua (Cornell), "How does Language Work?: Vasubandhu(õ©ûÞª¬)'s Discussions from the Abhidharmako┼øa(bh─üß╣úya) (Úÿ┐µ»ÿÚüöþú¿ÕÇÞêìÞ½û)." Part of the East Asian Program's Classical Chinese reading group; any level of Chinese or Sinographic text welcome. Rockefeller 374 or click here to register for online.

2022-23

Our '22-'23 talk series is co-sponsored by the Department of Asian Studies and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. All times listed are for Ithaca's timezone (EST or EDT).

Friday 9 September, 12pm. Monima Chadha (Monash), "Responsibility without Self." In-person (Rockefeller 374) only.
Tuesday 20 September, 4pm. Bruno M. Shirley (Cornell), "Opportunities and Obstacles for Digital Buddhology."
Friday 28 October, 12pm. Juhn Ahn (Michigan), "How Not to Restore a Monastery: Buddhism and the Politics of Spending in Goryeo and Joseon Korea. By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 11 November, 12pm. Andrew Ollett (Chicago), "The Disappearance of the Dharma." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 2 December, 12pm. Symposium on 20th century Indian Buddhism, featuring Anand Venkatkrishnan (Chicago), Padma D. Maitland (California Polytechnic State) and Douglas Ober (British Columbia). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 February, 12pm. Anne M. Blackburn (Cornell), "Buddhist-inflected Sovereignties Across the Indian Ocean: A Pali Arena, 1200–1550." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 10 February, 12pm. Maria Heim (Amherst). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 March, 12pm. Richard F. Nance (Indiana at Bloomington). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 10am. Petra Kieffer-Pülz (Academy of Sciences and Literatures, Mainz). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 3:30pm. Liyu Hua (Cornell), "How does Language Work?: Vasubandhu(õ©ûÞª¬)'s Discussions from the Abhidharmako┼øa(bh─üß╣úya) (Úÿ┐µ»ÿÚüöþú¿ÕÇÞêìÞ½û)." Part of the East Asian Program's Classical Chinese reading group; any level of Chinese or Sinographic text welcome. Rockefeller 374 or click here to register for online.

2022-23

Our '22-'23 talk series is co-sponsored by the Department of Asian Studies and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. All times listed are for Ithaca's timezone (EST or EDT).

Friday 9 September, 12pm. Monima Chadha (Monash), "Responsibility without Self." In-person (Rockefeller 374) only.
Tuesday 20 September, 4pm. Bruno M. Shirley (Cornell), "Opportunities and Obstacles for Digital Buddhology."
Friday 28 October, 12pm. Juhn Ahn (Michigan), "How Not to Restore a Monastery: Buddhism and the Politics of Spending in Goryeo and Joseon Korea. By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 11 November, 12pm. Andrew Ollett (Chicago), "The Disappearance of the Dharma." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 2 December, 12pm. Symposium on 20th century Indian Buddhism, featuring Anand Venkatkrishnan (Chicago), Padma D. Maitland (California Polytechnic State) and Douglas Ober (British Columbia). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 February, 12pm. Anne M. Blackburn (Cornell), "Buddhist-inflected Sovereignties Across the Indian Ocean: A Pali Arena, 1200–1550." By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 10 February, 12pm. Maria Heim (Amherst). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 3 March, 12pm. Richard F. Nance (Indiana at Bloomington). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 10am. Petra Kieffer-Pülz (Academy of Sciences and Literatures, Mainz). By Zoom: click here to register.
Friday 14 April, 3:30pm. Liyu Hua (Cornell), "How does Language Work?: Vasubandhu(õ©ûÞª¬)'s Discussions from the Abhidharmako┼øa(bh─üß╣úya) (Úÿ┐µ»ÿÚüöþú¿ÕÇÞêìÞ½û)." Part of the East Asian Program's Classical Chinese reading group; any level of Chinese or Sinographic text welcome. Rockefeller 374 or click here to register for online.

Spring 2022

Our Spring '22 talk series was generously co-sponsored by the Departments of Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies, History and Philosophy; the Society for the Humanities; the South Asia Program; and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly.

Friday 4 February, 2pm. Alexander Soucy (Saint Mary's), "Thich Nhat Hanh and the Invention of Zen in Vietnamese Buddhism."
Friday 1 April, 2pm. Jiaxin Luo (Cornell), "Thirty-two Guanyin Portraits and Praises: A Guide on Meditation." In-person only.
Friday 15 April, 12pm. Neena Mahadev (Yale-NUS), "Deprovincizialing the Dhamma: Internal Conversions, and the Micropolitical Management of 'Harmony' via Inter-Asian Buddhist Movements." In-person only.
Friday 22 April, 2pm. Ronald Davidson (Fairfield), "The Development of Indian Buddhist Ritual: Medieval Chinese Evidence, Form and Redaction Criticism."
Tuesday 3 May, 2pm. Eugene Wang (Harvard), "Why Do Buddhist Caves Feature Meditation Images?"
Friday 20 May, 12pm. Stephen F. Teiser (Princeton), "Buddhist Liturgical Manuscripts from Medieval China." In-person only.

Fall 2021

Our Fall '21 talk series was generously co-sponsored by the Departments of Anthropology, Art History, Asian Studies and Philosophy; the Society for the Humanities; the South Asia Program; and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly.

Friday 24 September, 12pm. Laura Guerrero (William & Mary), "Are Conventional Entities Real? Ontological Pluralism in Abhidharma Debates About What Exists."

Wednesday 6 October, 6pm. Bruno Shirley (Cornell), "Theorising 'Gender' in Medieval Indian Ocean Buddhism." Hosted by Feminist, Gender & Sexuality Studies; in person only (Rockefeller 190).
Friday 5 November, 12pm. Gray Tuttle (Columbia), "The Lifespans of Lamas: Mining Biographical Data to Examine Tibetan Longevity."
Friday 29 October, 12pm. Jiang Wu (U of Arizona), "The Beginning of Modern Buddhist Canon Compilations: ´╝í History of the ┼îbaku Canon Ú╗âµ¬ùÞùÅ in East Asia and the West."
Monday 1 November, 12:15pm. Geethika Dharmasinghe (Cornell), "Whose Force is Violence? Sangha Sovereign and Authority of the Tradition." Hosted by the South Asia Program; in-person only (Uris G08).
Friday 12 November, 12pm. MK Long (Cornell), "Reconsidering Renunciation: Models of Practice and Devotion in the Biography of a Buddhist Woman." In-person only (Asian Studies Faculty Lounge, Rockefeller level 3).
Friday 3 December, 12pm. James Robson (Harvard), "Strange Parallels: Consecrated Chinese Buddhist Images in Context".

Spring 2021

Our Spring '21 talk series was generously co-sponsored by the Departments of Asian Studies, History, Anthropology and Philosophy; the South Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia and Religious Studies Programs; and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. Prof. Gleig's talk was additionally co-sponsored by the Society for the Humanities.

Tuesday 16 February, midday. Eviatar Shulman (Hebrew University of Jerusalem), "Creative Dimensions of Early Buddhist Textuality: The Practice of Scripture."
Friday 26 February, 9am. Peter Skilling, "Early Buddhist Multilingualism."
Friday 5 March, 4pm. Ann Gleig (University of Central Florida), The Dukkha of Racism: Racial Justice Work in American Convert Buddhism.
Tuesday 16 March, 4pm. Lucinda Ramberg (Cornell), "'We Were Always Buddhist:' Dalit Historiography and the Temporality of Caste."
Friday 2 April, 4pm. Joseph A. Marino, III (University of Washington), Hell as a Metaphor in Early Buddhist Literature.
Friday 9 April, 2pm. Alexey Kirichenko (Moscow State University), "Navigating Between the Law and a Distant Place: Judicial Procedures for non-Burmans and Legal Ethnography in the Late Eighteenth- and Early Nineteenth-Century Burma."
Friday 16 April, 10am. Jack Meng-Tat Chia (National University of Singapore), "Toward a History of South China Sea Buddhism."
Friday 23 April, 4pm. Kristin Scheible (Reed College), "Epic Work: Readings of the Mah─üvaß╣âsa."
Friday 30 April, 4pm. Jay L. Garfield (Smith College), "Cognitive Illusion and Immediate Experience: Perspectives from Buddhist Philosophy?"
Friday 7 May, 4pm. Matthew William King (UC Riverside), talk from Ocean of Milk, Ocean of Blood.
Monday 10 May, 4pm. Sara L. McClintock (Emory), "Is Truth a Story? A Buddhist Inquiry."

Fall 2020

Our Spring '21 talk series was generously co-sponsored by the GPSA-FC, the Department of Asian Studies, the Department of Religious Studies, the South Asia Program and the Southeast Asia Program.

Friday 2 October: "Reading a Buddha Biography as a Whole Person: Lessons from Medieval Sri Lanka" (Charles Hallisey, Harvard)

Friday 16 October: "Exploring Buddhist Manuscript Cultures of Thailand through the indigenous Vaß╣âsa Literature" (Peera Panarut, Universit├ñt Hamburg)

Friday 30 October: "Why Study Buddhism in a Liberal Arts Education?" (Jane Marie Law, Cornell University)

Friday 13 November: "Agents of Unending Change: A Buddhist Approach to Identity" (Jonathan C. Gold, Princeton)

Friday 11 December: "Buddhism as Corporate Disruptor: Pre-Modern and Modern Perspectives" (Matthew D. Milligan, Trinity)