DRBU Symposium is a lecture series that complements DRBU's academic curriculum and connects the community with experts, expands conversations from the classroom, and applies what we learn from the classical texts to the modern world.
Archive of Past Events
Guanyin and Chinese Culture with Dr. Chün-fang Yü
During the two-thousand year history of Buddhism in China, Guanyin has remained as the most famous Buddhist deity. A Chinese saying aptly describes the great popularity of this savior bodhisattva, “Everybody knows how to chant A-mi-tuo-fo, and every household worships Guanyin.” This talk will discuss how and why this came to pass. What are the scriptural bases of the cult, the rituals and practices which promote the belief, and the legends and visual culture which contribute its spread? More intriguingly, why did Guanyin become a “Goddess of Mercy”, a nickname coined by Jesuit missionaries, in late imperial China? The cult of Guanyin can serve as a case study of the mutual interaction between Buddhism and Chinese culture.
Fourth Annual Student Symposium
DRBU students will be presenting written work from an academic course. We look forward to celebrating student discoveries in close reading and shared inquiry!
Black Lives Matter and Its Historical Context with Rev. Robert McKnight
Lecture by Rev. Robert McKnight on Black Lives Matter and Its Historical Context
Third Annual DRBU Student Symposium
All students, both BA and MA, are eligible (and strongly encouraged!) to present written work from any DRBU class to the entire university.
Interpreting Wisdom—Hermeneutics and Translation of the Prajñāpāramitā
In this lecture, Dr. Orsborn explores the hermeneutics and translation of Prajñāpāramitā texts, tracing their lineage from Indian Sanskrit, through classical Chinese, and into modern English.
Politics of the Common Good in Early China with Dr. Michael Nylan
Lecture by Dr. Michael Nylan on "Politics of the Common Good in Early China." In this lecture, the Shangshu, and its companion piece, the Yi Zhoushu, will be explored for the evidence they provide against contemporary rationales that casts human rights and democracy as antithetical to Chinese tradition. This lecture will show how early thinkers in China argued that the stability of empires rested on democratic notions.
An Introduction to Jainism
Lecture by Dr. Kristi Wiley on "An Introduction to Jainism." In this lecture, the basic beliefs of Jainism will be discussed, including the concept of the 24 Jinas or “Spiritual Victors” in our cycle of time, Mahāvīra’s teachings regarding the nature of reality, and the emergence of the four main sectarian traditions: Śvetāmbara, Digambara, Sthānakavāsī, and Terāpanthī.
Dr. Buswell on Korean Buddhism
Robert E. Buswell Jr., Distinguished Professor of Buddhist Studies in the UCLA Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, is the Irving and Jean Stone Chair in Humanities at UCLA, and the founding director of the university’s Center for Buddhist Studies and Center for Korean Studies. His lecture explores the role of 'doubt' as the principal force driving one towards enlightenment in Korean Sŏn Buddhism.
Ancient Buddhist Manuscripts from Gandhāra with Dr. Stefan Baums
This lecture will provide an introduction to the Buddhism of ancient Gandhāra and its rediscovered literature, show how scholars decipher and study the Gāndhārī manuscripts, and discuss their relationship to Pali and Chinese Buddhist literature.
Second Annual DRBU Student Symposium
DRBU Symposium invites you to mark your calendars for the Second Annual DRBU Student Symposium on Sunday, February 24, 2019.
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