Notice Board

Join U of L religious studies professor Dr. John Harding as he explores

Buddha’s World Tour: Global Buddhism in the Modern Era

February 26, 2015 | 7 – 9 p.m.
U of L Dr. Foster James Penny Building, PB210
324 5 Street S, Lethbridge

This event is free. Everyone is welcome, and there is no need to RSVP. Seating is limited, however, so arrive early!

Appetizers (LA Chefs) and a host bar will be available.

Talk details:

Although Buddhism began in India approximately 2,500 years ago, it was only by the late 1800s that the wider population in the West began to encounter this tradition. In more recent decades, the spread of Buddhism has included innumerable new books, diverse groups of practitioners across Europe and North America along with temples from all traditions, and growing prominence in popular culture from celebrity practitioners and Hollywood films to giant statues of Buddha in trendy bars. So how did we get here? How did modern, global representations—and often quite positive appraisals—of Buddhism come about?

Buddhist Modernism is a term that captures some of the changes in the last 150 years as this tradition often emphasized rationality, science, and greater engagement with the secular world. Global Buddhism is a term that suggests not only its worldwide spread but also the presence of global networks and influences that shape the tradition. Both terms involve mutually transformative encounters with Western cultures, but it is a common mistake to understand these developments simply as the Westernization of Buddhism. In this presentation, John Harding will explore how formative representations of the Buddha and Buddhism from the late 1800s continue to shape the popularity and understanding of the tradition today, from mindfulness practice to statues of the Buddha in Lethbridge stores.

Learn more about the PUBlic Professor Series, visit:
ulethbridge.ca/artsci/publicprofessor

About the PUBlic Professor Series
A Spirited Conversation. The University of Lethbridge is proud to introduce PUBlic Professor Series, a monthly, thought-provoking lecture series that brings a range of experts and researchers from across the arts and sciences to the community for a spirited conversation.

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