Gustaaf Houtman
Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Visiting Scholar (Jan – May 2009)
The Institute of Asian Research welcomed Dr. Gustaaf Houtman as the TLKY Canada Foundation Visiting Scholar. Dr. Houtman is the Editor of Anthropology Today and served as the Deputy Director of the Royal Anthropology Institute in London. His book, Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics (1999), discusses the Buddhist dimensions to Burma’s conflict between the opposition and the ruling military. He is also the author of Traditions of Buddhist Practice in Burma (1990).
Dr. Houtman will lead a Master of Asian Pacific Policy Studies (MAPPS) seminar on IAR 515B: Buddhism and Contemporary Society. The seminar will focus on Burma:
- “Burma (or Myanmar) has long held up normalization of international relationships between the European Union/US and Asia. Largely because of its self-imposed isolation, this country remains one of the least understood in the Asian region, whilst also posing major international policy problems (Nargis, refugee management, drug trade, etc). This course will focus on the Buddhist underpinnings of contemporary conflicts in this country against the comparative backdrop of Theravada Buddhist traditions in Southeast Asia more widely. Themes addressed will include: the saffron revolution of 2007; Buddhist dimensions to Aung San Suu Kyi’s struggle since 1988 and that of her father Aung San. Other issues addressed include: biographical genres in Buddhism; Buddhist meditation traditions; the relationship between state and Sangha; Buddhism and local religious tradition; Buddhist monasticism and its relationship to laity; Buddhist economics; engaged Buddhism.”
He will also teach ASIA 250: Introduction to Buddhism, an undergraduate course in the Department of Asian Studies. This course examines the origins, basic teachings, and development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric traditions, their historical spread first through Asia and later the world, and Buddhism in contemporary societies.
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