“Buddhist Responses to the Tsunami”
Presented by Dr. Kate Crosby, Visiting Numata Professor, McGill University, Montreal.
Date: Monday October 16, 2006
Time: 12:00 – 1:15 PM
Place: Institute of Asian Research, C.K. Choi Building Room 120, 1855 West Mall
This talk examines the religious responses and interpretations to the December 2004 tsunami among Buddhists in Sri Lanka. The talk draws on interviews conducted, as well as on informal conversations had and witnessed, in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami while engaged in relief work. The interpretations on the part of survivors and observers drew on a range of religious influences, including various understanding of the function of the law of karma, the role of gods and ‘kingship’, Buddhist mythology about the future of the world and Sri Lankan mythology about its own history. In addition to examining these, the talk will briefly look at how religious themes were drawn on to inspire and organise relief work. Finally the talk will conclude by examining some of the challenges that the tsunami presented to Buddhist communities, in particular to organisations involved in relief work and post-traumatic care.
Kate Crosby is a candidate for The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Chair in Buddhism and Contemporary Society.
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