10th Seminar of Himalayan Religion

10th Seminar of Himalayan Religion
“Traditional Tibetan Buddhist Scholars on Dharma, Law and Politics: philosophical discussions in Boudhanath (Nepal)”
[Date] Fri. 15 July 2016
[Time] 14:00-15:30
[Place] Seminar Room No. 225 (2nd floor) at Kyoto University Inamori Center
　　　　(46 Shimoadachi-cho, Yoshida Sakyo-ku, Kyoto)
　　　　http://kokoro.kyoto-u.ac.jp/en/AboutUs/access.html
[Speaker] Dr. Miguel Alvarez ORTEGA (University of Seville, Department of Philosophy of Law)
[Title] Traditional Tibetan Buddhist Scholars on Dharma, Law and Politics: philosophical discussions in Boudhanath (Nepal)
[Abstract] The legal and political study of Buddhism has predominantly taken the shape of text exegesis or analysis of head figures such as H.H. the Dalai Lama, widely neglecting the question of how normative issues are addressed by the intellectual middle class within the tradition. Exploring the possibilities of such an approach, I carried out a series of in-depth interviews with traditional Tibetan Buddhist scholars in the exile community of Boudhanath (Nepal) covering: the canonical treatment of law and politics; a comparison with the ‘Western’ paradigm; law and politics in Buddhist countries and social activism and ethics.
A primary analysis of the data points to a heterogeneous picture that challenges common assumptions regarding both the intellectual activities taking place in traditional contexts as well as scholarly interests and philosophical stands on legal and socio-political matters.
*Open to Researchers and Students
**Free of Charge

2016/07/07