The Leslie S. Kawamura Memorial Lecture

The Leslie S. Kawamura Memorial Lecture with Dr. Richard K. Payne Institute of Buddhist Studies Berkeley, CA The Study of Buddhist Tantra: State of the Art For over a century tantric Buddhism was despised as a religious tradition, and dismissed as an area of scholarly inquiry. Significant changes to these views began early in the second half of the twentieth century. This lecture will discuss the cultural assumptions that impeded the study of Buddhist tantra, assumptions that in many cases still inform scholarly inquiry. The key historical events and changes to the intellectual assumptions guiding Buddhist studies that have expanded the field will be introduced. The current issues in the study of Buddhist tantra that give direction for future research will be suggested.

Location:

Taylor Family Digital Library Gallery Hall

Speaker:

Richard K. Payne, Dean of the Institute of Buddhist Studies, received his PhD (History and Phenomenology of Religion, 1985) at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. He began teaching at IBS after graduating, and was appointed Dean in 1994. Among other editorial and leadership roles, Dr. Payne is Chair of the editorial committee of Pacific World: Journal of the Institute of Buddhist Studies. He has also edited and contributed to a number of important works in the field, including the Japanese section of Esoteric Buddhism and the Tantras in East Asia (2011, Brill); How Much is Enough? Buddhism, Consumerism, and the Human Environment (2010, Wisdom); Path of No Path: Contemporary Studies in Pure Land Buddhism Honoring Roger Corless (2009, Hawai’i); Tantric Buddhism in East Asia (2005, Wisdom), and others. His papers, published in a variety of venues, demonstrate the range of his research interests: ritual, cognitive science, psychology, the environment, meditation, Japanese religion, and Tantra.

More information at http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/calendar/leslie-s-kawamura-memorial-lecture