to a smoking-related death: My family breathed a big sigh of releaf last fall when my father finally quit smoking, after nearly 40 years as a smoker. As a kid in the 80s, both of my parents smoked and so did most of their friends. In the 90s my mom quit but my older brother and sister both started and then so did I. I remember tobacco companies advertising the ‘coolness’ of cigarettes with big cartoon smoking action figures. I... Read more
My apologies for being out of touch lately – with travels, study deadlines, and life in general, I’ve had a very full plate. I hope to be back up to speed quickly. And there is a lot to catch up on. This Tuesday, while I was in London for a meeting regarding my phd, two of the most amazing people in the world were meeting (for the first time, I believe) in that very city: H.H. the Dalai Lama and... Read more
My time here in Thailand is winding down. I’m in Sukhothai now, one of the ‘Colosseum’-like archaeological sites of Buddhism in Asia. The kingdom that gave rise to the site arose and fell in just about two hundred years, from the mid 13th century to the mid 15th, in central Thailand. After it fell, the capital was moved to Ayutthaya, and then to Bangkok where it is today. The trip has been amazing thus far; due in great part to the people... Read more
The story of Ian Thornson’s Buddhist retreat death has hit the mainstream. First it found its way the Huffington Post, and today it made its way to the New York Times. As I wrote after the Huffpost article appeared, ‘This is the first major news outlet to cover the story that I have seen, but hopefully more will come. More light is still needed in this bizarre case which unfortunately led to the death of one man.’ Both articles give a... Read more
For Sunday, the 3rd of June, 2012. I am writing to you today from Ayutthaya, Thailand, a past capital and one of the country’s richest cultural cities (wiki, travel guide). It has been an exhausting yet wonderful several days here in the land of smiles. Our main conference discussed several aspects of Buddhism in the modern world, touching on philosophy, psychology, and meditation. I had the honor of sharing the stage discussing unifying philosophical views with some new friends, notable... Read more
I haven’t yet seen this film, though it was screened in Bristol recently and seemed to win over the Tibetan leaning of our academic circle. I’m hoping to borrow the DVD when I get back from my travels; or I might try streaming it from the POV website directly (see below for more on that). Here is a recent news release on the film and screenings: POV Kicks Off 25th Season with ‘My Reincarnation,’ an Intimate Yet Epic Story of... Read more
For Sunday, the 27th of May, 2012 Yesterday the Japan Times reported that monks there are moving out of the temples and into their communities. Discussing the background of some schools of Buddhism in Japan, the Times reports: While Zen and other Buddhist sects prioritize training and practice, including meditation, as necessary for reaching salvation, Jodo Shu adherents believe that “the absolute power of Amida Buddha, not our own strength, will bring us to the Pure Land,” Kajita says. Honen... Read more
In four days I’ll be back in Thailand for a large conference, the 2nd International Association of Buddhist Universities Conference on Buddhist Philosophy and Praxis (do check out the excellent website). The conference coincides with an International Symposium on the Buddha’s Enlightenment for the Well-Being of Humanity. Both are packed with great scholars and many papers can be downloaded (for free!) from the site. I’ve been pretty excited about the conference and opportunity to return to Thailand for a while now,... Read more
This evening I had the great pleasure of attending a lecture on religion and tolerance featuring Lord Parekh (Hull, LSE), with responses from Dr. Amira Bennison (Cambridge, speaking on Islam), Professor John Coffey (Leicester, discussing Christianity), and Professor Peter Harvey (Sunderland, retired, for Buddhism). Lord Parekh provided his philosophical examination of the issue, defining, as best he could and as philosophers do, the terms of the discussion. Tolerance, he suggested, can be exercised in three different realms: In relation to atheists... Read more
Below is an announcement from the Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program at The University of Montana-Missoula. As a student and employee of UM, I studied under and worked with Deni Elliott (wiki) in the Philosophy department and the Center for Ethics (now the Mansfield Ethics and…). In addition to the courses I took from Dr. Elliott and programs I worked with her on, I also had the privilege of sitting in on this particular class. Deni is a phenomenal professor (and... Read more
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