Date

Venue

Presenter

Topic

25/03

USYD

Robert Sharf, University of California, Berkeley

Some scholars have argued that certain Indian Buddhist philosophers, notably those associated with Madhyamaka, allowed for the possibility of paradox or “true contradictions.” Other scholars insist that the supposed paradoxes that show up in Madhyamaka and Prajñāpāramitā works can be parameterized through the application of the doctrine of two truths, which defuses the apparent contradictions. But what if the two truths are themselves paradoxical? In that case the doctrine of two truths could not be used to tame other paradoxes.

In this talk, Professor Sharf will argue that medieval Chinese Buddhist exegetes recognised, endorsed, and elaborated on paradoxes implicit or explicit in Mahāyāna thought. Chan cases (gong’an, kōan) probe the nature and import of these paradoxes with philosophical rigor and subtlety. Hence rather than viewing Chan cases as literary ephemera, or as anti-philosophy, or as incoherent mystical utterances, he will argue that they are philosophically cogent treatments of issues at the very heart of Mahāyāna thought.

USYD

Anja-Karina Pahl

This seminar presents an overview of the fractal mathematics of Buddha forms in traditional Tibetan Buddhist paintings known as Thangkas. After describing recent findings of higher order patterns inside the Mandelbrot Set through the so-called Buddhabrot Render, this talk outlines an experiment comparing the internal artistic elements of 13 Thangkas of well-known Deities such as Avalokiteśvara and Tārā and two photographs of Buddhist teachers with its mathematics. In a third step, this paper presents the use of Augmented Reality smartphone technology to unmask the connections. Discussion will cover the statistical significance of the coincidence as well as arguments against it, including symmetry bias and anthropomorphisation in pattern matching. We conclude with the question whether non-dual decision-making is a fundamental behaviour inherent in the laws of physics. The experiment presented opens new possibilities for the interdisciplinary study and practice of Buddhism and Science.

6/6

USYD

The structure of the Buddhaghosa’s Visuddhimagga is based on the description of the seven purifications. One of these, the purification of view (diṭṭhi-visuddhi, Vism 587-579), is defined as “correct seeing of name and form” (nāmarūpānaṃ yāthāvadassanaṃ diṭṭhivisuddhi nāma). On the base of understanding Buddhaghosa’s hermeneutic use of nāmarūpa we can interpret his definition of the purification of the view. 

In this paper I will investigate from an historical, linguistic and philosophical point of view how and why Buddhaghosa’s description of the purification of view has been conserved in a medieval Singhalese Pali compendium of the Buddhist teaching, namely, the Sārasaṅgaha. Taking into consideration previous scholars’ understanding of the purification of view section of the Visuddhimagga (e.g. Hamilton 1996, Endo 2015, Heim and Ram-Prasad 2018), I will analyse the original Pali texts and discuss the value of the concept of purity for Buddhaghosa and its evolution in later Medieval Sri Lanka.  

22/8

29/8

5/9

12/9

USYD

This series of lectures will focus on one particular strand of thought in the history of Indian Buddhism. Often neglected by scholars and even deemed to be non-Buddhist, the idea of universal Buddhahood unfolded enormous influence throughout the history of Buddhism. The concept that all living beings have buddha-nature has its beginning in the early centuries of the common era in India and can be considered to be one of the essential pillars leading to the spread of the Buddhism of the Great Vehicle (Mahāyāna) in Asia.

Direct forerunners of the idea that all living beings have buddha-nature are the Lotus Sutra and parts of the Avataṁsaka (華嚴經). We will discuss how the idea of buddha-nature came into existence and what kind of factors were crucial for this development. The lecture will guide through the most important representatives of that line of thought such as the Tathāgatagarbha-sūtra (如來藏經), the Mahāparinirvāṇa-mahāsūtra (大般涅槃經), the śrīmālādevīsiṁhanāda-sūtra (勝鬘経), the Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśa (不増不減經), and, as the major Indian commentarial work on buddha-nature: the Ratnagotravibhāga(vyākhyā). Recent years have seen a fresh and unexpected re-arrangement of parts of the early history of buddha-nature thought. In the lecture series we will evaluate also these new developments.

USYD

Michael Zimmermann, University of Hamburg

In the workshop we will read selected passages from one of the most important Mahāyāna texts of Indian Buddhism: the Lotus Sutra. The sutra is particularly well known in East Asia and the simile of the burning house has made it into world literature. We will read the simile of the burning house and other core passages in Sanskrit and its Tibetan translation(s). The Lotus Sutra promotes the concept of universal Buddhahood (ekayāna) and paves the way for what later becomes known as the idea that all sentient beings have buddha-nature. The influence of the Lotus Sutra on major developments in the history of Indian Buddhism is still not fully appreciated. As a piece of literature it represents many aspects of what made Mahāyāna Buddhism a powerful and popular movement throughout Asia.

17/9

USYD

Michael Zimmermann, University of Hamburg

Can traditional Buddhist meditation techniques be applied to modern ways of living outside the monastery? Mindfulness has become a widely followed form of “meditation” outside the meditation hall. There are mindfulness sessions offered even at public schools and universities. Other techniques from the Buddhist toolbox of mental and emotional emancipation are applied in therapies aiming at “wisdom” in everyday life. Buddhists claim no copyright on such techniques. The original soteriological aim of overcoming samsara is not anymore an aim. It has been argued that the practice of mindfulness can even lead to the opposite effect: to make one appreciate and love samsara more instead of overcoming it.

The lecture will take up these issues and discuss them against the background of some of the major strands of meditation in the Buddhist traditions. A focus will be on the crucial question of whether a solid moral foundation and ethical motivation can support an effective meditative practice. A joint research project on this issue by the universities of Jerusalem and Hamburg has recently been started.

17/9

USYD

Michael Zimmermann, University of Hamburg

Can traditional Buddhist meditation techniques be applied to modern ways of living outside the monastery? Mindfulness has become a widely followed form of “meditation” outside the meditation hall. There are mindfulness sessions offered even at public schools and universities. Other techniques from the Buddhist toolbox of mental and emotional emancipation are applied in therapies aiming at “wisdom” in everyday life. Buddhists claim no copyright on such techniques. The original soteriological aim of overcoming samsara is not anymore an aim. It has been argued that the practice of mindfulness can even lead to the opposite effect: to make one appreciate and love samsara more instead of overcoming it.

The lecture will take up these issues and discuss them against the background of some of the major strands of meditation in the Buddhist traditions. A focus will be on the crucial question of whether a solid moral foundation and ethical motivation can support an effective meditative practice. A joint research project on this issue by the universities of Jerusalem and Hamburg has recently been started.