Buddhism is often considered an uncommonly egalitarian and, indeed, universally accessible religion. Its very existence entails a disruption of racial and economic class hierarchies, and many of its tales and teachings explicitly reject the idea that spiritual power is only available to those born into it. Nevertheless, Buddhist texts, cultures, and institutions throughout history have often undermined and underserved Buddhist women. In this 5 session course, we will examine a number of questions concerning the presence and status of women in Buddhist cultures and institutions. Looking at a variety of texts (sutras, folk poems, scholarship, etc.) from a variety of cultural contexts (ancient India, medieval China, early modern Sri Lanka, contemporary US, etc.), we will examine tensions between Buddhist teachings and Buddhist institutions. We will listen to the voices of Buddhist women—and reflect on the scores of women whose voices were not preserved or promoted over the centuries.
Session 1, 9/18: Introduction to the course / introduction to the order of nuns
Session 2, 9/25: Who says women can’t reach enlightenment?
Session 3, 10/2: Mothers, wives, practitioners
Session 4, 10/9: Women as sources of power/danger
Session 5, 10/16: Lay Buddhist women in the modern world
About the Professor: James Marks is a recent graduate of the doctoral program in Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley. He received a BA in Philosophy from Eugene Lang College and an MTS from Harvard Divinity School in Buddhist Studies. His dissertation focuses on interreligious debate in classical Indian philosophy, primarily between the Buddhist epistemological tradition and the brahmanical Nyāya tradition. He is interested, among other things, in the literary qualities and effects of philosophical texts, the continuities and discontinuities between different Buddhist cultures, and the modern Western fascination with Buddhism.
When: Wed., Oct. 16, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: Jefferson Market Library
425 Ave. of the Americas
212-243-4334
Price: Free
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Buddhism is often considered an uncommonly egalitarian and, indeed, universally accessible religion. Its very existence entails a disruption of racial and economic class hierarchies, and many of its tales and teachings explicitly reject the idea that spiritual power is only available to those born into it. Nevertheless, Buddhist texts, cultures, and institutions throughout history have often undermined and underserved Buddhist women. In this 5 session course, we will examine a number of questions concerning the presence and status of women in Buddhist cultures and institutions. Looking at a variety of texts (sutras, folk poems, scholarship, etc.) from a variety of cultural contexts (ancient India, medieval China, early modern Sri Lanka, contemporary US, etc.), we will examine tensions between Buddhist teachings and Buddhist institutions. We will listen to the voices of Buddhist women—and reflect on the scores of women whose voices were not preserved or promoted over the centuries.
Session 1, 9/18: Introduction to the course / introduction to the order of nuns
Session 2, 9/25: Who says women can’t reach enlightenment?
Session 3, 10/2: Mothers, wives, practitioners
Session 4, 10/9: Women as sources of power/danger
Session 5, 10/16: Lay Buddhist women in the modern world
About the Professor: James Marks is a recent graduate of the doctoral program in Buddhist Studies at UC Berkeley. He received a BA in Philosophy from Eugene Lang College and an MTS from Harvard Divinity School in Buddhist Studies. His dissertation focuses on interreligious debate in classical Indian philosophy, primarily between the Buddhist epistemological tradition and the brahmanical Nyāya tradition. He is interested, among other things, in the literary qualities and effects of philosophical texts, the continuities and discontinuities between different Buddhist cultures, and the modern Western fascination with Buddhism.
Buy tickets/get more info now
When: Wed., Oct. 16, 2019 at 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Buddhism is often considered an uncommonly egalitarian and, indeed, universally accessible religion. Its very existence entails a disruption of racial and economic class hierarchies, and many of its tales and teachings explicitly reject the idea that spiritual power is only available to those born into it. Nevertheless, Buddhist texts, cultures, and institutions throughout history have often undermined and underserved Buddhist women. In this 5 session course, we will examine a number of questions concerning the presence and status of women in Buddhist cultures and institutions. Looking at a variety of texts (sutras, folk poems, scholarship, etc.) from a variety of cultural contexts (ancient India, medieval China, early modern Sri Lanka, contemporary US, etc.), we will examine tensions between Buddhist teachings and Buddhist institutions. We will listen to the voices of Buddhist women—and reflect on the scores of women whose voices were not preserved or promoted over the centuries.