Conference Description
Non-violence, or non-harming, is the first precept and a core teaching of Buddhism. Despite the seeming popularity of the idea, the concept and ways of practicing non-violence have not been clearly developed. In this conference on non-violence, invited scholars will delve into the meaning, application, and practice of non-violence, mainly in Buddhist traditions. To gain comparative perspectives, the specialists in Hindu, Jain, and Sikh traditions as well as in Western philosophy will also be invited to discuss non-violence in these dharmic traditions and Western philosophy.
American society has experienced extreme forms of violence, such as sexual violence, gun violence, police brutality, poverty, worker exploitation, and abuse through social media. Can Buddhist teachings of non-violence be a practical response to such rampant violence? How effective would non-violence be in countering these forces of violence? How should we envision it, and how should we teach it to ourselves, to our students and younger generations? The conference will be a venue to explore these issues among the concerned scholars and if possible, produce an edited volume with the papers presented at the workshop.
American society has experienced extreme forms of violence, such as sexual violence, gun violence, police brutality, poverty, worker exploitation, and abuse through social media. Can Buddhist teachings of non-violence be a practical response to such rampant violence? How effective would non-violence be in countering these forces of violence? How should we envision it, and how should we teach it to ourselves, to our students and younger generations? The conference will be a venue to explore these issues among the concerned scholars and if possible, produce an edited volume with the papers presented at the workshop.