Video and Text Q&A: “Other Power” in Buddhism
Q&A What was the ‘incorrect understanding’ about, that needed to be corrected? — Ronald K. The incorrect understanding regarding emptiness was to understand it as nihilism or that nothing exists. Plus, Tathāgatagarbha proponents deemed that emptiness thought had the tendency to sap seekers from weakening aspiration or lead to, in their words, “withered mind” (linam […]
Video: Robert Thurman, “Buddhism as a Civilization Matrix and the Current Global Crisis”
Professor Robert Thurman, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism, and author of several books on Tibet, Buddhism, art, politics, and culture presented a lecture entitled Buddhism as a Civilization Matrix and the Current Global Crisis at UBC’s Chan Centre (April 27, 2008): Part 1: Part 2: Part 3: Part 4: Part 5: Part 6: Part 7: […]
Video: Patricia Berger on the Manchu Emperors of China
Prof. Patricia Berger, Professor of Chinese Art at the University of California, Berkeley, delivered a lecture on October 28, 2014 at UBC Robson Square. Her lecture, titled “Multiple Identities: The Many Faces of the Manchu Emperors of China” looked at the important role of Buddhist painting, sculpture, and decorative arts produced by Imperial Qing court artists […]
Video: Georgios Halkias on Pure Land in Tibetan Buddhism
**Reblogged from Asia Pacific Memo*** Featuring Georgios T. Halkias A few months ago the Asia Pacific Memo sat down with Dr. Georgios T. Halkias a noted scholar of Pure Land Buddhism, particularly of the Himalayan region, and the author ofLuminous Bliss, A Religious History of Pure Land Literature in Tibet (University of Hawai‘i Press, 2012). He was a […]
Report: Donald Stadtner’s Lecture on Sacred Sites of Burma
On May 29, 2011, Dr. Donald Stadtner spoke to around 40 museum-goers on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at UBC’s Museum of Anthropology. Based on his recent book, he discussed both established and new: “Sacred Sites of Burma” Stadtner discussed the characteristics of successful sacred sites and reasons why they consistently draw large numbers of […]
Report: Ven. Sik Yin Kit’s Lecture on Teaching Vipassana in Canadian Prisons
Around 90 people attended the Venerable Sik Yin Kit’s lecture on Prison Dhamma at I.K. Barber Centre, UBC campus, early Friday evening, March 18, 2011: “Dhamma in Prison: The True Transformation?” The Venerable Sik reflected on her experiences as a meditation teacher in Fraser Valley prisons. She shared many stories and her views on […]
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 […]
Video: Hopkins Lectures at the Asian Centre
Professor Jeffrey Hopkins, scholar of Tibetan Buddhism and Professor Emeritus of Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Virginia, presented a lecture entitled Gender, Sexuality and Tibetan Buddhism: How Sex Is Used in the Spiritual Path at UBC’s Asian Centre (April 20, 2009):