Glorisun Lecture Series in Buddhist Studies 2024–2025
Launched in 2023 at the University of Oxford, this lecture series, features talks on a variety of subjects in the Buddhist tradition.
Dates: October 14th, 2024 – February 10th, 2025
All talks take place in Basement Teaching Room 1 at 5:00pm, Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Pusey Lane, Oxford, OX1 2LE
All are welcome for tea and snacks at 4:30 – 4:50pm (Common Room in the basement)
All enquiries: pyi.kyaw@ames.ox.ac.uk
Schedule
Monday 14 October 2024 (Week 1 MT)
Venerable Khammai Dhammasami (Oxford Buddha Vihara and Shan State Buddhist University)
Challenges of Buddhist Studies in Southeast Asia
Abstract: Most of the contemporary Buddhist universities and colleges in Southeast and East Asia were established in the 1950s and 1960s, inspired by the celebrations of the 2500th Years of Buddhism “Buddha Jayanti” (1954–1956). They have been regarded as a revival of Buddhism and Buddhist higher education throughout the Buddhist world, particularly in the Theravada nations. Despite setbacks in the late 1960s and 1970s, a new generation of Buddhist universities came into existence in Asian countries from the 1980s. Many of them emphasize teaching in English medium and aim to emulate the rich, diverse Buddhist scholarship that was a feature of ancient Buddhist institutions such as the famous Nālandā institution in India in the 5th–12th centuries CE. This talk gives an overview of the current situation of research in Buddhist studies in Southeast Asia, focusing on the efforts and challenges to develop a research-based teaching approach at these new Buddhist institutions.
Biography: Prof. Dr. Khammai Dhammasami, also known as Oxford Sayadaw, is a distinguished Burmese Theravada Buddhist monk. He completed his DPhil in 2004 at the Institute of Oriental Studies, Oxford under the supervision of the then Boden Professor of Sanskrit, Richard Gombrich. During his time in Oxford, he founded and became abbot of the Oxford Buddha Vihara (OBV) with branches around the world. He also founded the Shan State Buddhist University (SSBU) in Taunggyi, Myanmar. In addition to his role as the Buddhist chaplain at Oxford University, he is a member of the Oxford Council of Faith, a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS) and serves on the World Council for Religions for Peace. His various leadership roles include the International Council for the United Nations Day of Vesak, the International Association of Buddhist Universities (IABU) and the Association of Theravada Buddhist Universities (ATBU).
Monday 11 November 2024 (Week 5 MT)
Nelson Landry (University of Hamburg)
The Miraculous in Buddhism: Western Misconceptions from Original Buddhism to the Űbermensch
Monday 2 December 2024 (Week 8 MT)
Bogdan Diaconescu (University of Oxford)
Udayana’s refutation of apoha
Monday 3 February 2025, 17:00
Irene Lok (University of Cambridge)
Great Compassion in Art: The Guanyin Mural of Tang Dynasty Dunhuang
Abstract: The Mural of Guanyin from Tang Dynasty Dunhuang is an extraordinary embodiment of spiritual devotion and artistic mastery, seamlessly merging Buddhist iconography with the refined aesthetics of one of China’s most cosmopolitan eras. Guanyin, the Bodhisattva of Infinite Compassion, is rendered with sublime grace and ethereal presence, reflecting both the transcendence of the divine and the depth of human empathy. The mural’s intricate lines, delicate shading, and luminous palette convey a sense of tranquillity and reverence, hallmarks of Tang-era artistry at its zenith.
Dunhuang, a vital oasis on the Silk Road, was not merely a crossroads for trade but a flourishing centre of cultural and religious exchange. This mural exemplifies the artistic synthesis that arose from these interactions, blending Chinese, Central Asian, and Indian influences into a harmonious whole. Every detail, from the flowing robes to the serene expression of Guanyin, evokes a spiritual serenity, offering both a visual feast and a meditative experience.
More than a work of Buddhist art, the mural serves as a profound reflection of Tang Dynasty values: the elevation of compassion, the pursuit of enlightenment, and the integration of diverse cultural traditions into a unified, transcendent vision. It stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to inspire, elevate, and connect across time and place.
Monday 10 February 2025, 17:00
Hyebin Lee (Norwegian Institute of Philology)
The Māṇavikā Chapter in the Uttaragrantha of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya
Abstract: The Vinaya (Tib. ’Dul ba, Chi. lü 律) is a collection of teachings on the rules and regulations that form the foundation of Buddhist monastic communities, ensuring their unity and communal living. Among the ancient Buddhist schools, the Mūlasarvāstivāda, which flourished in many parts of India, particularly in North India, was one of the most influential schools of Indian Buddhism. Its Vinaya is still in use today by Tibetan Buddhists and was also translated into Chinese by Yijing (義淨, 635–713 CE), one of the most important figures in the history of Chinese Buddhist translation.
Despite its significance, the final section of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Uttaragrantha, has received limited scholarly attention, partly due to limited access to the original Sanskrit materials as well as its availability in three different classical Buddhist languages, posing challenges regarding its translations and transmission. However, this section holds considerable historical significance for understanding of the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya.
At the end of the last century, Sanskrit manuscript fragments of the Uttaragrantha were discovered in two Private Collections—the Schøyen Collection and the Private Collection, Virginia—and this discovery initially drew academic attention to the Uttaragrantha. Drawing on these materials, I investigate the Māṇavikā Chapter of the Uttaragrantha in the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, filling significant gaps in our knowledge of the specific content of Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya as well as its textual history, transmission, and multiplicity. In this talk, I will present a summary of my research on the Māṇavikā Chapter including the background, the Sanskrit manuscript of the Uttaragrantha, and key findings.
Kindly supported by Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies.