Workshop :
"Death and Life in Buddhism"
Workshop :
"Death and Life in Buddhism"
June 4, 2003 15:00-18:00
at Classroom No. 319, Faculty of Letters, The University of Tokyo
- Main Speaker :
- Jacqueline Stone (Princeton University)
- Panelists :
- Jean-Noel Robert (Ecole pratique des hautes etudes)
- Paul Groner (University of Virginia)
- Daniel Stevenson (University of Kansas)
- Paul Swanson (Nanzan University)
- Linda Penkower (University of Pittsburgh)
- Lucia Dolce (University of London)
- Moderator :
- Fumihiko Sueki (The University of Tokyo)
- Masahiro Shimoda (The University of Tokyo)
We have hosted the workshop "Death and Life in Buddhism" which
discussed the perspectives on death and life in Japanese Buddhism. This
discussion workshop invited researchers of East Asian Buddhism (including
Japan and China) and the atmosphere of the room where the renowed experts
gathered together was rather spectacular.
At first, Professor Jacqueline Stone presented
a talk on "Perspectives on Life and Death-- centering on four themes."
She presented various examples of deaths of Japanese Buddhist monks
through religious manuscripts such as sutras and Buddhist narratives.
Followed by Professor Stone's presentation, each discussant then elaborated
and asserted a new interpretation on the topic that Professor Stone
discussed from different angles. After a short break, a discussion continued
for questions from the floor.
Since the discussants were all Western researchers, the comments included
various types of comparison between Christianity and Judaism, citing
Latin quotations at times, and the workshop became a productive site
of international communication. As if to demonstrate the present situation
of the field of Japanese Buddhism (as well as other Asian Buddhist study),
there were many foreign students and researchers that participated and
contributed to the lively discussions.
Most of the discussion was held in Japanese, and there were interpreters
for questions and comments in English.
Discussion Workshop :
"The Significance of Japanese Buddhism
---- Centering on Perspectives on Death and Life"
June 5, 2003 10:30-12:30
at Classroom No. 312, Faculty of Letters, The University of Tokyo
- Discussants :
- Paul Groner (University of Virginia)
- Fumihiko Sueki (The University of Tokyo)
We hosted a discussion workshop that focuses on the present state of
studies of Buddhism by inviting leading scholars of the field.
Professor Paul Groner discussed his research
history as the scholar of a second generation of the studies of Buddhism
and Professor Jacqueline Stone (Princeton
University) then talked on the same theme. They have also elaborated
on the directions of research on the perspectives on death and life.
The contrasting ideas and understanding demonstrated an interesting
aspect from comparative points of view, as they are both scholars in
the U.S.
The comments by Professor Lucia Dolce (University
of London) on the cultural similarities between Catholicism and Japanese
Buddhism were also compelling.
Professor Fumihiko Sueki spoke at the end
of the workshop and stated that the studies of Japanese Buddhism should
consider global points of view.
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