Awakening from the Illusion of our Separation: A Buddhist Perspective on the Ecological Crisis

The Numata Chair in Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary presents The Leslie S. Kawamura Memorial Lecture with Dr. David Loy Visiting Scholar Department of Classics & Religion Awakening from the Illusion of our Separation: A Buddhist Perspective on the Ecological Crisis Can Buddhist teachings help us understand and respond to our ecological situation? We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separation, says the Vietnamese Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. There are precise parallels between what traditional Buddhism teaches about our usual individual predicament, and our collective ecological predicament today. This suggests that the eco-crisis is not only a technological and economic problem but also a “spiritual” challenge. If so, can the Buddhist understanding of our personal predicament also help us respond to the collective one?

Location:

TFDL Gallery Hall

Speaker:

David Loy is a visiting scholar in the Department of Classics and Religion. He is a professor of Buddhist Studies, a Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition, and the author of many books. David lectures nationally and internationally on various topics, focusing primarily on the encounter between Buddhism and modernity: what each can learn from the other. He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues. See: http://www.davidloy.org

More information at http://www.ucalgary.ca/events/calendar/awakening-illusion-our-separation-buddhist-perspective-ecological-crisis