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Religious Identities in Asia Series
Jin Y. Park
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy and Religion; Director, Asian Studies Program, American University
Abstract
Chan/Sŏn Buddhism has been criticized for its seeming lack of social engagement. In this talk, Professor Park will examine potential social dimensions of the Korean Sŏn Buddhist tradition known as hwadu meditation. Park will first offer a philosophical interpretation of Pojo Chinul’s (1158-1210) hwadu meditation and the logic of its soteriology in connection with contemporary philosophical discourses. In the second half, she will examine how Sŏn Buddhism was envisioned through its social dimensions in different forms of socially engaged Buddhism in 20th century Korean Buddhism. In sum, Professor Park asks: what forms of social theory does Sŏn Buddhism offer and what are their potentials and limitations as a social theory in our secular world?
Click here for more information about the speaker: http://www.american.edu/cas/faculty/jypark.cfm
Jointly sponsored with the Harvard Asia Center and the Center for the Study of World Religions