“Seminar on Early Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism: Perspectives of Modern Buddhist Scholarship.”

The International Buddhist College (IBC), Hatyai, Thailand, and its parent organization, Than Hsiang Temple, Penang, and Shah Alam Buddhist Society, Selangor, are happy to organize the one-day “Seminar on Early Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism: Perspectives of Modern Buddhist Scholarship.”

The theme of this seminar is to reflect the importance of Buddhist Studies in our understanding of Buddhism as we practice this 2600-year old religious philosophy as a way of life.

The four topics in this seminar cover both key aspects of early Buddhism (especially Theravāda Buddhism) as well as Chinese Mahāyāna Buddhism. As such the scholars invited to present these four topics represent the best experts trained in modern Buddhist scholarship.

This seminar will be useful not just for Buddhist scholars or students of Buddhist Studies, but ordinary Dharma practitioners too. The Buddha has adviced that it is very important for us to have a good knowledge-base of the Buddha’s teachings to complement our practice. Thus, we have the oft-quoted reminder to “Study, Practice, Realize” (Pariyatti, patipatti, pativedha). As such, this one-day seminar will help us improve the “pariyatti” aspects of our dharma practice.

REGISTRATION FEE
The Registration Fee is RM 80.00 per person, inclusive of a breakfast, lunch and one coffee break.
For societies or individuals who register five persons, the fifth person is entitled to a free seat.
Sangha Members are invited to attend free of charge.

The four distinguished Buddhist scholars invited to present their papers at this seminar are as follows:
Professor Charles Willeman of Belgium holds a PhD in Oriental Studies (Belgium). He is currently the Vice Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, International Buddhist College, Thailand. He specializes in Sarvastivāda Abhidharma and Literary Chinese. He has presented his research papers in China, US, Canada, Western Europe, India and Japan, and has also taught at several institutes of higher learning.

Professor Kapila Abhayawansa has a PhD from Sri Lanka and is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies, International Buddhist College, Thailand. Prior to joining IBC, he was Professor & Head of the Department of Buddhist Culture at the Postgraduate Institute of Pāli and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. His areas of specialization include History of Western and Eastern Philosophy, Mahāyāna Buddhist Philosophy, and Buddhist Monastic Discipline

Professor Toshiichi Endo from Japan holds a PhD from Kelaniya University, Sri Lanka, and is a Visiting Professor at the Centre of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong and at IBC. He is also a Professor at the Postgraduate Institute of Pāli and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya. His specialization is Early Buddhism, Pāli Commentarial Studies, Sri Lankan Buddhism, and Japanese Buddhism.

Dr Fa Qing from China received his PhD from Calgary, Canada, in 2001. He was invited to teach at the Than Hsiang Buddhist Research Centre, Penang. In 2003, he was transferred to Hatyai of Thailand to assist in the establishment of IBC. Being a senior lecturer, Dr Fa Qing is also the Head of Library and Information Technology at IBC, responsible for the management of the e-learning project at the College.

ENQUIRIES
For further inquiries about this seminar, please contact any of the following for further details:
1. Sis Sing Hui, Tel. 012-3875859
2. Sis Moon Hew, Tel. 012-3189935
3. Bro Canon Yeo, Tel 019-2179933.

PROGRAM
8.00 am- 8.45 am : Breakfast / Registration
8.45 am : Welcome Address by Ven Wei Wu / Observance of Five Precepts
9.00 am: Session I: The Value of Studying the Pāli Commentaries in Buddhism
by Professor Toshiichi Endo (Japan)
10.30 am: Session II: The Importance of Kamma in Buddhist Ethics
by Professor Kapila Abhayawansa (Sri Lanka)
12.00 pm: Lunch
1.30 pm: Session III: The Origins of Chinese Buddhism
by Professor Charles Willeman (Belgium)
3.00 pm: Coffee Break
3.30 pm: Session IV: The Significance of Chinese Buddhism for Modern Times
by Dr Fa Qing (China)
5.00 pm: End of Seminar

Seats are limited. Registration Now!
Click here for Online Registration