Bangkok
Thailand
FRANCAIS | ENGLISH


Responsable: Gregory Kourilski

Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Centre
20 Borommaratchachonnani Road
Bangkok 10170
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 433 12 68
Fax: +66 2 880 93 32 gregory.kourilsky@efeo.net
efeo@sac.or.th


PRESENTATION
P. Skilling @ Hong Kong
02 SEPTEMBER 13
Peter Skilling will visit Hong Kong from September 2 to 7, to give a lecture entitled "Early Indian Mahayana: Thoughts and Questions", 4 Sept 2013 (Wed, 7-9 pm), Room 436 (Academic Conference Room), 4/F, Run Run Shaw Tower Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. The lecture is organised by the Centre of Buddhist Studies, HKU. It is ponsored by Tung Lin Kok Yuen Hong Kong and supported by Buddhistdoor.
AbstractThe evolution of 'early Mahayana' is a topic that perennially fascinates, perhaps because there are more questions than answers. The recent publication and ongoing study of newly discovered  manuscripts from Gandhara have already radically transformed our picture of early Mahayana. We now have physical evidence for the development of Buddhist practice and metaphysics in the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent from about Buddhist Era 400 or the beginning of the Christian Era. The manuscripts include a Prakrit Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) and an unknown sutra from Bajaur (Pakistan), as well as fragments of several other Mahayana sutras like the Fortunate Aeon (Bhadrakalpika). In addition, excavations in India in recent decades have uncovered numerous new Buddhist sites, including major stupa complexes like Deorkothar (Rewa, MP), Bhon (Maharashtra), Phanigiri (AP), and Kanaganahalli (Karnataka). These discoveries completely revise the archaeological map of Indian Buddhism. In short, the old theories and the old textbooks are now very much out of date. With this situation – which I term the 'revolution in Buddhist Studies' – in mind, I will discuss some of the new finds and their implications for the history of Buddhist thought.

 conference