Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Unit

The Buddhist Critical-Constructive Reflection Group explores how Buddhist thought and practice can address contemporary issues and how Buddhist modes of understanding can inform or be informed by academic studies (in Religious Studies, Philosophy, Ethics, Theology, Sociology, Economics, etc.). This year we invite proposals for a roundtable that consists of a diverse group of panelists each engaging in critical-constructive work on a well-defined topic, such as a phrase of significance in the tradition, or a short text from the Buddhist canon. The format for the roundtable will consist in short (5 minute) presentations by panelists followed by critical-constructive dialogue with the audience. Examples of texts or phrases that might be the focus of the roundtable include the Vessantara Jātaka, the Heart Sūtra, or what the Chan/Zen tradition called "the great matter of life and death.” Applicants are invited to submit proposals and rationale for the text or phrase to be the subject of the roundtable. For those who wish to be roundtable panelists, we also seek individual "paper" proposals on one of the three examples given above that are short enough (about 1,000 words) to be formed into a roundtable as described. We envision a roundtable panel that is diverse in terms of social positions, disciplinary backgrounds, and/or areas of concentration in Buddhist Studies.