Event overview
RUPE Seminar on Political Theology - Anarchism and Buddhism
Much before Gary Snyder used the term Buddhist anarchism in his homonymous 1961 essay, Buddhism and Anarchism had met in various Asian contexts. At the turn of the 20th century, as industrialisation and modernisation took place in East Asia, many ideas derived from the post-Enlightenment reached Japan, Korea and China. Several political texts were translated (especially into Japanese) and anarchist writers like Lev Tolstoy were immensely popular in Japanese intellectual circles. Among those receptive to the new social theories coming from Europe were not only the new working classes emerging from industrialisation but also Buddhist monks who, at least in Japan, had also experienced the repressive policies of the (Meiji) State. Individuals like Uchyama Gudo or Takagi Kemmyo (Japan) who attempted a synthesis of Buddhist and anarchist ideas, were dealt with ruthlessly by both State and Buddhist authorities. On the continent, figures like Han Yongun (Korea) or Taixu (China) did not suffer the same fate, but were obviously not well regarded by the established order, leading to their lives taking a more conservative turn as they grew older.
The American Counterculture marked a (perhaps shallow but widespread) reigniting of interest in both Buddhism and anarchism; many of the current attempts to formulate Buddhist anarchism in Europe and America trace their lineage back to 1960s America. This talk aims to outline some of the common strategies employed by Buddhist anarchists, in different parts of the globe and in different eras, to articulate a Buddhist practice of resistance. These strategies comprise a critical rereading of Buddhist history and the interaction of Buddhist institutions and individuals with various forms of power, a meditation on Buddhist doctrines such as karma, impermanence or interdependence and their social implications or a radical browsing of the canonical texts in search for anarchic potential. Assessing these and other strategies can not only further a better understanding of the possibility of Buddhist anarchism but also shed light on various instances of resistance to power and authority in Buddhist cultures.
Dates & times
| Date | Time | Add to calendar |
|---|---|---|
| 2 May 2013 | 5:30pm - 7:30pm |
Accessibility
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