Dr. Ian Harris, a professor from the University of Cumbria in England will bring his perspectives on Buddhist thought and culture to residents at the University of Toronto Scarborough on Wednesday, Feb. 8.
The Department of Humanities at U of T Scarborough is in partnership with Tung Lin Kok Yuen, an organization that promotes Buddhist education internationally, to host a lecture and discussion by Dr. Harris entitled Varieties of Modern Buddhism, part of the Tung Lin Kok Yuen Perspectives on Buddhist Thought and Culture Series.
The lecture will examine how the practice of Buddhism has changed in the modern era.
Since the mid 19th century, the cultures of Buddhist Asia have experienced major transformation as a result of colonialism, nationalism, communism, the erosion of old political certainties, and new forms of economic production. With it's focus on Burma, China, Tibet and Vietnam, as well as Buddhist developments in the west, the illustrated lecture will trace significant moments in the modernization of Buddhism.
It will also attempt to determine whether, taken as a whole, Buddhism continues to be successful or in a state of decline.
Dr. Harris is professor Emeritus at the University of Cumbria. His current research interests focus on the contemporary history of Cambodia, Buddhism, politics in Southeast Asia, Buddhist environmentalism and landscape aesthetics. He has held previous visiting professor positions at the University of Oxford, University of British Columbia, the National University of Singapore and the Documentary Center of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. His most recent books are Cambodian Buddhism: History and Practice and Buddhism under Pol Pot.
The lecture will take place on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in room AA 160 of the Arts and Administration Building at 1265 Military Trail.
Admission is free and the public are welcome to attend. There is also a free shuttle bus service that will leave downtown from Hart House Circle at 5:30 p.m and will return downtown after the lecture.
For more information or to RSVP for the lecture and/or the bus, contact Arts and Events Programming at 416-208-4769 or at aep@utsc.utoronto.ca