[Blog] The Oriental Nun and Representation of Buddhist Female Monastics or Monasticism

By Ngoc Le On June 3, 2019 I had a chance to sit down with Elizabeth Guthrie, PhD Candidate at the University of Waterloo, to chat about her conference paper at Congress at the University of British Columbia. Titled “Jane Iwamura’s Virtual Orientalism and the Oriental “Nun,”” the paper is presented at the Canadian Society …

[Blog] Religion and Politics in Bhutan: An Interview with Dagmar Schwerk

By Ngoc Le Dagmar Schwerk’s working paper “Drawing Lines in a Maṇḍala: A Sketch of Boundaries Between Religion and Politics in Bhutan” was published in August 2019. I had an opportunity to chat with her about the research, the Kolleg-Forschergruppe “Multiple Secularities - Beyond the West, Beyond Modernities” project, her upcoming monograph and more. Can …

[Blog] The Politics and Pathways of Return: Trans-regional perspectives on a Buddhist homeland (June 28-29, 2019) – A Conference Report

By Ngoc Le “The Politics and Pathways of Return: Trans-regional perspectives on a Buddhist homeland” workshop/ conference took place at the University of British Columbia from June 28 to 29, 2019. Sponsored by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society, …

[Blog] Buddhist Young Adult Fiction: In Search of a Linguistic Connection

By Ngoc Le I was drawn to The Astonishing Color of After by Emily X. R. Pan due to its intriguing premise. The novel revolves around Leigh Chen Sanders, a teenager searching for her deceased mother who has turned into a bird. It follows her to Taiwan where she attempts to reconnect with her maternal …

[Blog] Modernized Buddhism & Secular Religion: A Write-Up of Dr. Victor Sogen Hori’s Presentation at UBC 2016 Conference

By Ngoc Le On August 10th 2016, the Sixth Annual Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation Conference “Buddhism in the Global Eye: Beyond East and West” commenced at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Co-sponsored by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society at UBC and The Modernization of …

[Blog] Navigating Cultural Differences: A Buddhist Approach to Mental Health – An Informal Discussion (UBC, March 22nd, 2016)

By Ngoc Le VANCOUVER - On the night of March 22nd, scholars, experts, and the general public gathered for a discussion about cultural differences in psychotherapy practices and how Buddhism can be a viable factor in bridging the gap. Panel speakers included: Dr. Dzung X. Vo, MD, FAAP, a Pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at …

[Blog] The Mindful Teen: Secular and Buddhist Mindfulness for Adolescents – A Talk by Dr. Dzung X. Vo (UBC, March 22, 2016)

By Ngoc Le On the night of March 22, scholars, Vancouver’s Buddhist community members and interested public attended Dr. Dzung X. Vo’s talk on mindful clinical therapy for adolescents and controversies surrounding secular mindfulness. Dr. Vo, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine at British Columbia Children’s Hospital, and clinical assistant professor at …

[Blog] Bringing Buddhist Art to Vancouver: A Luncheon Preview of “Cave Temples of Dunhuang: Buddhist Arts on China’s Silk Road” Exhibition (May 7th-September 4th, 2016)

By Ngoc Le Buddhist arts enthusiasts, scholars and local press gathered on February 16th for a special presentation of the upcoming exhibition “Cave of Temples Dunhuang: Buddhist Arts of the Silk Road” at Fairmont Pacific Rim Hotel in downtown Vancouver. Notable attendants were Tim Whalen, Director of the Getty Conservation Institute; Marcia Reed, Chief Curator …

[Blog] Buddhist Violence: East Asian Perspectives – A Public Lecture by Dr. Jinhua Chen (UBC, February 3, 2016)

By Ngoc Le On February 3rd 2016, Professor Jinhua Chen, Department of Asian Studies, University of British Columbia (UBC), held a talk on East Asian Buddhism’s involvement in warfare and other forms of violence. It was part of the Wall Wednesday Afternoon Public Lecture Series of the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWAIS), UBC …