Workshop Report: Buddhists working in Prison, Corrections, and Rehabilitation: Volunteers, Chaplains and Teachers
On March 18th, 2011, UBC’s Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program hosted an informal workshop on the work of Buddhist practitioners and professionals connected to the Canadian correctional system. The workshop was a chance for participants to share their experiences, ask questions, and discuss important issues. The demand for Buddhist professionals in corrections, both as chaplains […]
Report: “Buddhism in Canada” Conference 2010
From October 15 to 17, 2010, the Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program convened an international conference on “Buddhism in Canada: Global Causes, Local Conditions.” The conference was an opportunity to investigate the contours of Buddhism in Canada and its dramatic growth over the last forty years. All together, the conference drew around one hundred participants to […]
Report: Mark Unno on Shin Buddhism and Interreligious Dialogue
On September 23, 2010, at the I.K. Barber Learning Centre, UBC, Professor Mark Unno spoke before an audience of 60 interested individuals on: “Shin Buddhism in Interreligious Dialogue: A World of Teaching and Learning” In his talk, Professor Unno asked: “What is the potential of Shin Buddhism for dialogue with other religious groups in a […]
Report: Phakchok Rinpoche on Social Development
On a beautiful Saturday afternoon (September 18, 2010), Phakchok Rinpoche spoke about “Compassion in Action: Integrating Buddhism and Social Development” to an audience of 80 people at UBC’s I.K. Barber Learning Centre. Phackchok Rinpoche presented a well-known orientation in Buddhist social engagement: that by developing the self, one can develop society. Helping others begins […]
Photos from Phakchok Rinpoche’s Lecture
Phakchok Rinpoche gave a talk at UBC’s I.K. Barber Learning Centre on September 18, 2010:“Compassion in Action: Integrating Buddhism and Social Development” Original post for the event HERE
Report: Michael Zimmermann on Buddhism and Society
On April 26 and 27, 2010, Professor Michael Zimmermann presented two well-received lectures at UBC’s Asian Centre and C.K. Choi Building, “Is Violence Avoidable? On War and Peace in Indian Buddhism” and “Engaged Buddhism: Social Entanglement with Spiritual Gain?” Zimmermann challenged his audience with the perennial issue of violence and religion, offering a periodization of […]
Report: John McRae Rethinks the Early History of Chan Buddhism
Professor John McRae, a well-known scholar of Chinese Chan Buddhism, presented a lecture on early Chan history entitled, “Rethinking Bodhidharma and the Beginnings of Chinese Chan/Zen Buddhism,” at the Asian Centre on February 4, 2010. The lecture drew around 50 students and faculty. Professor McRae kept all on their toes, combining careful text analysis with […]
Report: Sogyal Rinpoche on the Nature of Mind
It was our great pleasure to host Sogyal Rinpoche at UBC, where he gave two lectures, “Finding Peace and Stability in a Troubled World” and “The Heart Essence of Tibetan Buddhism.” He delighted his audience by introducing Tibetan Buddhist understandings of mind and meditative practice, commenting on how these impact contemporary society and relate to […]
Program Activities in 2008-2009
excerpted from the Institute of Asian Research Annual Report 2008-2009. On April 27, 2008, the College for Interdisciplinary Studies (CFIS), The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation, and the Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program presented Robert Thurman, America’s leading expert on Tibetan Buddhism, at UBC’s Chan Centre for Performing Arts. As the Je Tsong Khapa […]
Gustaaf Houtman Looking Back on the 2008-2009 Year
excerpted from the Institute of Asian Research Annual Report 2008-2009. By Gustaaf Houtman. During my tenure at UBC, I taught Introduction to Buddhism (ASIA 250) and the graduate seminar on Buddhism and Politics in Burma (IAR515B). Both were a delight to teach. Students at UBC are highly motivated and the AV facilities are excellent. For […]