Events

Instructor: Manuela Möbius-Andre
Concept: Almut-Barbara Renger
Time and Venue: every Thursday, 4–6pm, Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion, Gossler St. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, 009 (Lecture Room) (click for course description)

Descriptions and comments of lectures and excursions:

– Fo Guang Shan Temple, Berlin-Mitte, 17.04.2014
– Das Buddhistische Haus (The Buddhist house), Berlin-Frohnau, 19.06.2014

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Lecture on Buddhist Education in Contemporary China
Lecture by: Yuanying Wu

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Lecture on Body and Form within Contemporary Thai Theravada Monasticism 31/11/2013
Lecture by: Robekkah Ritchie

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Lecture on Greco-Roman and Asian Motifs on an Eight-Century Japanese Buddha Pedestal 5/07/2013
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Cynthea J. Bogel

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CfP: Buddhism and National Socialism
Workshop at Vienna University, May 4th – 5th, 2012

Among the numerous academic studies of Nazism only a few focus on the topic of “Buddhism and National Socialism”. There is a lack of research concerning the knowledge and interpretations of Buddhism available between 1933 and 1945 and their distribution. Moreover, narratives and reflections of contemporary witnesses are often ambiguous and contradictory. It is difficult to draw conclusions about the life of Buddhists under the Nazi regime: It seems that at times they were marginally persecuted, and sometimes not at all.

The workshop “Buddhism and National Socialism” aims to explore, to question, and to classify the existing sources in order to foster further research.

We are inviting submissions of papers on the following issues:

Buddhist biographies and the history of Buddhist associations during the period of National Socialism in Germany.
Buddhist publications (books, journals etc.) and correspondences between 1933 and 1945.
Buddhism in popular papers, journey reports, class books and films.
Buddhism in Indology and other academic fields of investigation, trade publications etc.
Images of Buddhism in National Socialist literature and public statements of the regime (including relevant legal texts).
Recent interpretations of Buddhism, which claim an affinity of Buddhism to National Socialist ideas and the transfer of this argumentation to current critiques of Buddhism and, particularly, the Dalai Lama.

Junior researchers are especially encouraged to apply. The workshop offers a platform to present and discuss research projects and to inspire interdisciplinary collaborations. In addition to the detailed discussion of the lectures, in-depth discussions of selected topics in study groups are planned in order to assure an intense and efficient exchange of views.

We invite articles from different fields such as cultural and religious studies, philology and study of literature, history and social science.

Please send the title of your paper and an abstract (max. 500 words) as well as a short Curriculum Vitae (1 page max.) by January 1st 2011 to: buddhismus@geschkult.fu-berlin.de.

The deadline for submission of full papers is November 1st, 2011. Accepted papers will be distributed to the participants of the workshop. Further information and the complete program of the workshop will be sent out at a later date. Publication of selected articles is intended.

The conference languages will be English and German. Participants may therefore choose to make presentations in either of the two languages, however, there will be no interpretation service.

We look forward to interesting discussions!

Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger
Freie Universitaet Berlin, Department of History and Cultural Studies
Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion
Gosslerstr. 2-4
D 14195 Berlin
Germany

Prof. Dr. Karl Baier
DDr. Franz Winter
University of Vienna
Institute of Religious Studies, Catholic Theological Faculty
Schenkenstraße 8-10
A 1010 Vienna
Austria

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Lectures on Buddhism and Illumination, 13/10/2012
Lectures by: Prof. Dr. Jörg B. Quenzer, Prof. Dr. Hans J. Schneider

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“Enlightenment”: Concepts—Roles—Models, Lecture Series – Winter Term 2012/13
Organized by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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Workshop on Buddhism at JNU, New Delhi, 24-25/8/2012

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Workshop on “Meditation in Religion, Therapy, Aesthetic and Education”, 10-12/05/12
Organized by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger, Prof. Dr. Christoph Wulf

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Workshop on “Buddhism and National Socialism”, 04-05/05/12
Organized by: Prof. Dr. Karl Baier, Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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Enhancing International Co-operation, Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India, December 2011

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Cultural Divide?—An Excursion to the Buddhist Centre Bodhicharya in Berlin-Friedrichshain, 12/01/11

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Lecture on Buddhism in the West, 09/11/11
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Dr. Johann Figl

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Conference on Myth and Folklore in China, 17-22/07/11
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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An Excursion to Buddhistisches Tor in Berlin-Mitte, 08/07/11

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A Visit to the Confucius Institute, Freie Universität Berlin, 24/06/11
Lecture by: Dagmar Yu-Dembski and Zhang Zhuo

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An Excursion to Lotus Vihara in Berlin-Mitte, 17/06/11

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Workshop on “Buddhism and Film: Aspects and Perspectives of Media-Communicated Religion”, 02-03/06/11 (click here to view the poster)
Organized by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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CfP: Buddhism and Film: Aspects and Perspectives of Media-Communicated Religion

Workshop at Freie Universitaet Berlin, June 2nd and 3rd, 2011

During the past several decades in North America and Europe a continuously increasing interest in Buddhism can be observed which is also reflected in the mass medium of film. More and more movies are being released which can somehow be related thematically to Buddhism – even though they do so without contributing to a more precise understanding of this pluralistic religion. In general, standardized images and preconceived ideas and imaginations of Buddhism are neither challenged nor reflected as a consequence of stereotyped representations. Rather, they are consistently reproduced and perpetuated. As in Western receptions of the 19th and 20th century, Buddhism serves as a projection screen for Western criticism of its own culture as well as for alternative conceptions of religion and spirituality, or for suppressed dreams, hopes and desires.

This complex topic will be analyzed more closely in the workshop “Buddhism and Film”. The workshop aims to explore the cultural self-conceptions and self-understandings as well as aesthetic and hermeneutic patterns upon which Western movies with Buddhist themes are based. Furthermore, tensions between Eastern traditions on the one hand, and Western modernism and postmodernism on the other (“Colonizing the Other”) are to be revealed: between the interior and the exterior view of Buddhism; between self-perception and perception through others; and between fiction and reality. For this purpose, we intend to involve information about the producers, directors and actors as well as to analyze distinct genres regarding their differences and similarities of the representation of Buddhist matters. Additional attention will focus on selected examples of how symbolic values of Buddhism and the picture language of cinema are related, and how religious and political resources as well as financial and material forces and energies of circulation relate to each other during the production and reception of the movies.

We invite you to discuss the following questions in your paper:

Which standardized images of Buddhism were re-shaped in movies with Buddhist themes within the past decades? Upon which historical developments and cultural parameters are these images based?

In what ways do Asian movies provide models of imagery for Western film productions?

What kind of cultural self-perceptions are produced or selected in Western films? Are these self-perceptions related to specific genres? Which cinematic techniques (perspective and motion of the camera, takes, montage, colors, music, sound etc.) and codes (symbols, language, gesture, mimic etc.) are used?

Which films reveal a level of meta-reflection or self-critical hermeneutic by broaching the issues of how perspective is interpretively intertwined with the continuous creation of Buddhism (as Western perceptions of Buddhism in the 19th and 20th century had already been picked up again in Asia)?

Which films provide illustrative material and function as a medium of education? Which films serve to create room for self-awareness? How is this achieved?

By which cinematic techniques and codes are social and political, spiritual and religious norms and values, conceptions and goals of the respectively depicted schools and traditions visualized?

How is intended “work on the consciousness” implemented by cinematic technique? Does it catch the recipient? Is spiritual knowledge of the recipient linked to a certain genre? How do recipients communicate spiritual knowledge they gained from watching certain movies about Buddhism?

Which psychological patterns are picked up as central in advisory movies that deal with Buddhist teachings and doctrines? How are these patterns said to be cured through these engagements with Buddhism?

Which connections are evoked between Buddhism and other religions through the medium of film? On which reference points are these connections fixed?

The call for papers is also especially addressed to young academics. Submissions from different areas such as Cultural and Religious Studies, Psychology, Film and Media Studies, Journalism, Communication Science as well as Sociology and Social Science are welcome.

Please send your abstract (max. 500 words) and a short biographical note by January 31st 2011 to: buddhismus@geschkult.fu-berlin.de. The conference languages will be English and German. Participants may therefore choose to make presentations in either of the two languages, however, there will be no interpretation service.

Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger
International Study Group Buddhism / Internationale AG Buddhismus
http://www.buddhismusberlin.wordpress.com

Freie Universitaet Berlin
Faculty of History and Cultural Studies
Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion
Gosslerstr. 2-4
14195 Berlin
Germany

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An Excursion to the Diamond Way Buddhist Center Berlin-Mitte, 06/05/11

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Seminar Summer 2011:
Buddhism in Berlin

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger
Time and Venue: every second Friday, 10am-2pm, Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion, Gossler St. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, 009 (Lecture Room) (click for course description)

Descriptions and comments of lectures and excursions:

– Buddhistisches Tor in Berlin-Mitte, 08.07.11
– Tea Ceremony hosted by Confucius Institute, Freie Universität Berlin, 24.06.11
– Lotus Vihara in Berlin-Mitte, 17.06.11
– Diamond Way Buddhist Center in Berlin-Mitte, 06.05.11

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Reading as Spiritual Exercise in Christian and Buddhist Tradition, 21/01/11
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Karl Baier

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Liberation through Hearing on the Psychedelic Plane, 19/01/11
The Psychedelic Interpretation of the Bardo Thödol
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Karl Baier

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An Excursion to the Fo Guang Shan Temple in Berlin, 17/12/10
Guided tour by: Ven. Miao Yen and Wolfgang Wulf

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A Visit to the Asian Art Museum in Berlin, 10/12/10
Museum Guide: Hans-Werner Klohe

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Seminar Winter 2010/11:
Introduction to Buddhism: Philosophy—Religion—Meditation System

Instructor: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger
Time and Venue: every second Friday, 10am–2pm, Institute for the Scientific Study of Religion, Gossler St. 2-4, 14195 Berlin, 009 (Lecture Room) (click for course description)

Descriptions and comments of lectures and excursions:

– Trip to Fo-Guang-Shan Temple in Berlin, 17.12.10
– Trip to Asian Art Museum in Berlin, 10.12.10
– Lecture on “Reading as Spiritual Exercise in Christian and Buddhist Tradition” by Prof. Dr. Karl Baier, 21.01.11
– Comment on the Second Session and “What is Dzogchen?”

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Chan in the Field of Religion and Politics. The Revival of a Form of Chinese Buddhism in the Contemporary People’s Republic of China (PRC), 19-22/07/10
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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Two Contemporary Chan Masters: Jinghui Fashi and Shengyan Fashi (Sheng-yen Fa-shih), 16/06/10
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Almut-Barbara Renger

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Buddhism in the Third Reich, 20/05/10
Lecture by: Verena Düntsch

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The Master-Disciple-Relationship in the Art of Zen, 23-25/04/10
Lecture by: Prof. Dr. Helmut Brinker