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Institute of Buddhist Studies Podcast

An audio-visual digital archive of scholarly presentations and Dharma talks

Changing Roles of the Written Word in Theravada Buddhism

Daniel Veidlinger of the University of California, Chico, presents an engaging talk on the developing importance of the written word in early Buddhist history. Buddhism arose in an oral world where monks were charged with memorizing the words of the Buddha in order to preserve them. Writing is not mentioned in the Pali canon, and there is little emphasis on the idea of honoring or even using books in authoritative Theravada literature until the end of the first millennium CE. On the other hand, key Mahayana texts have from the beginning reserved their highest praise for the Dharma-bearing written word, and archeological and iconographic evidence as well as accounts of Chinese travelers suggest that stupas were made to enshrine texts and that books were the subject of votive cults. In predominantly Theravada regions such as Burma, Sri Lanka and central Thailand, a positive change of attitude towards books and writing coincided with the height of Mahayana influence in those areas, which led to the ritual veneration of books and manuscripts in these parts of the Theravada world as well.

Originally recording October 2, 2009
© 2009 Daniel Veidlinger

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Strangers to Each Other

STRANGERS TO EACH OTHER
~ Names without Faces or Stories ~

Panel Presentation that sought to connect Ministers, Chaplains, and Counselors to the names, faces, stories, and concerns of members of the LGBT Community. Through their voices we hear from all people who have experienced alienation, exclusion or exile from their faith community.

Facilitator: Demetrio Tafoya (Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, GTU)
Commentator: Dr. Daijaku Judith Kinst (Institute of Buddhist Studies)

Originally recorded April 10, 2009.

Audio only

© 2007 Demtrio Tafoya

Open House Highlights

On May 23, 2009, the Institute hosted an informative open house that showcased our new chaplaincy and MDiv programs. The event was also an opportunity to learn more about what the IBS has to offer, and featured discussions by Dean Richard Payne, Rev. Daijaku Judith Kinst, and others.

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Compassionate Violence: Part Three

Prof. Steve Jenkins of Humboldt State University delivered a lecture at the IBS titled
Compassionate Violence, Torture and Warfare in the Bodhisattva Ideal

This is part three of a three-part series.

Buddhist allowances for compassionate torture, killing, and warfare are dissonant with with the established perception of Buddhist pacifism. While academic studies of Buddhism have accepted that Mahayana and Tantric though allows for such actions, it has been argued that these allowances are rare and narrow allegorical or magical references, not general ethical guidelines. Prof. Steve Jenkins argues that Buddhist allowances for violence are broad and authoritatively attested to in both Yogacara and Madhyamaka treatises of Mahayana sources. Building on previous work, a survey of tantric sadhanas for killing, and references to Buddhist art and folklore, this lecture argues that the exaggeration of Mahayana pacifism has created a false negative space for the evaluation of trantrism.

Originally recorded April 17, 2009
© 2009 Steven Jenkins

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Compassionate Violence: Part Two

Prof. Steve Jenkins of Humboldt State University delivered a lecture at the IBS titled
Compassionate Violence, Torture and Warfare in the Bodhisattva Ideal

This is part two of a three-part series.

Buddhist allowances for compassionate torture, killing, and warfare are dissonant with with the established perception of Buddhist pacifism. While academic studies of Buddhism have accepted that Mahayana and Tantric though allows for such actions, it has been argued that these allowances are rare and narrow allegorical or magical references, not general ethical guidelines. Prof. Steve Jenkins argues that Buddhist allowances for violence are broad and authoritatively attested to in both Yogacara and Madhyamaka treatises of Mahayana sources. Building on previous work, a survey of tantric sadhanas for killing, and references to Buddhist art and folklore, this lecture argues that the exaggeration of Mahayana pacifism has created a false negative space for the evaluation of trantrism.

Originally recorded April 17, 2009
© 2009 Steven Jenkins

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