*The Buddhist Studies Group at the University of Virginia is pleased
to announce an interdisciplinary graduate student conference to be
hosted on the UVa Grounds in Charlottesville, VA from Feb 28 to
March 2 on the theme of “Buddhist Meditation: History, Culture,
Development, Science.”*
In recent years, Buddhist meditation has come to be studied within
an increasing number of academic disciplines in the humanities and
social sciences as well as the physical sciences. At the same time,
there has also been an explosion of interest in the functional
applications of Buddhist and Buddhist-derived meditation techniques
within a wide range of professional fields including education,
medicine and care giving, athletics, and business.
This conference will provide a collaborative forum for both
established and emerging scholars from a diverse range of academic
and professional disciplines to showcase their research and engage
in discussion about the range of methodological approaches currently
being brought to bear on the study of Buddhist meditation and to
discuss and contextualize current appropriations and transformations
of Buddhist contemplative practice. The conference will include:
·Keynote address by *Georges Dreyfus* (Williams College) [to be
confirmed].
·Innovative interactive panels, in which selected graduate students
will present and discuss their research.
·A symposium investigating contemporary definitions and applications
of contemplative practice (Details to follow).
*Call for Paper Proposals***
Along the lines of this year’s theme, we are looking for paper
proposals from students *currently enrolled in M.A. or Ph.D.
programs* froma diverse range of disciplines including: *Religious
Studies, Area Studies, History, Cognitive Science, Philosophy,
Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Neuroscience, Medicine and
Care-giving, Visual and Performing Arts, Education, *and*Art
History*.We strongly encourage proposals that stretch received
boundaries and challenge the way we study and think about Buddhist
meditation. The papers that will be chosen for presentation will be
those that not only reflect excellent research and inquiry within
their respective fields of study, but also demonstrate a relevancy
to other disciplines and illuminate some of the challenges that
arise when we approach Buddhist meditation in the academic world.
Some potential approaches include:
* Problems in studying the *historical development* of Buddhist
meditation
* Critical investigations into the *secularization* and
*re-contextualization* of Buddhist meditation practices
* *Behavioral, interpersonal, and ethical **dimensions*of Buddhist
meditation
* The role of the *visual and performing arts* in Buddhist
meditation practice
* How *the body* has been perceived and utilized within specific
Buddhist contemplative systems
* The role of *creativity and innovation* vis-à-vis lineage and
“tradition”
* *Therapeutic**and instrumental*(vs. soteriological) applications
of Buddhist meditation
* *Institutional*and *pedagogical frameworks*
* The role of *the literary* in Buddhist meditation traditions
(e.g. biography, philosophical literature, poetry, etc…)
**
*Paper Proposal Submission Guidelines***
Please submit an abstract of your paper of not more than 500 words,
along with your name, university and department affiliation, and a
brief bio, to gradbuddhismconf2013@gmail.com
gradbuddhismconf2013@gmail.com
> by *September 30,
2013*.Youto announce an interdisciplinary graduate student conference to be
hosted on the UVa Grounds in Charlottesville, VA from Feb 28 to
March 2 on the theme of “Buddhist Meditation: History, Culture,
Development, Science.”*
In recent years, Buddhist meditation has come to be studied within
an increasing number of academic disciplines in the humanities and
social sciences as well as the physical sciences. At the same time,
there has also been an explosion of interest in the functional
applications of Buddhist and Buddhist-derived meditation techniques
within a wide range of professional fields including education,
medicine and care giving, athletics, and business.
This conference will provide a collaborative forum for both
established and emerging scholars from a diverse range of academic
and professional disciplines to showcase their research and engage
in discussion about the range of methodological approaches currently
being brought to bear on the study of Buddhist meditation and to
discuss and contextualize current appropriations and transformations
of Buddhist contemplative practice. The conference will include:
·Keynote address by *Georges Dreyfus* (Williams College) [to be
confirmed].
·Innovative interactive panels, in which selected graduate students
will present and discuss their research.
·A symposium investigating contemporary definitions and applications
of contemplative practice (Details to follow).
*Call for Paper Proposals***
Along the lines of this year’s theme, we are looking for paper
proposals from students *currently enrolled in M.A. or Ph.D.
programs* froma diverse range of disciplines including: *Religious
Studies, Area Studies, History, Cognitive Science, Philosophy,
Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Neuroscience, Medicine and
Care-giving, Visual and Performing Arts, Education, *and*Art
History*.We strongly encourage proposals that stretch received
boundaries and challenge the way we study and think about Buddhist
meditation. The papers that will be chosen for presentation will be
those that not only reflect excellent research and inquiry within
their respective fields of study, but also demonstrate a relevancy
to other disciplines and illuminate some of the challenges that
arise when we approach Buddhist meditation in the academic world.
Some potential approaches include:
* Problems in studying the *historical development* of Buddhist
meditation
* Critical investigations into the *secularization* and
*re-contextualization* of Buddhist meditation practices
* *Behavioral, interpersonal, and ethical **dimensions*of Buddhist
meditation
* The role of the *visual and performing arts* in Buddhist
meditation practice
* How *the body* has been perceived and utilized within specific
Buddhist contemplative systems
* The role of *creativity and innovation* vis-à-vis lineage and
“tradition”
* *Therapeutic**and instrumental*(vs. soteriological) applications
of Buddhist meditation
* *Institutional*and *pedagogical frameworks*
* The role of *the literary* in Buddhist meditation traditions
(e.g. biography, philosophical literature, poetry, etc…)
**
*Paper Proposal Submission Guidelines***
Please submit an abstract of your paper of not more than 500 words,
along with your name, university and department affiliation, and a
brief bio, to gradbuddhismconf2013@gmail.com
will be notified by November 15 of the status of your proposal,
after which we will publish a detailed schedule of the conference.
* Due to generous support we are pleased to announce that we will be
able to provide accommodation and partial travel stipends for
those accepted panelists who are unable to secure funding from their
home institutions.
*We also warmly welcome and encourage non-presenting graduate
students and academic scholars to attend at their own cost.
Regrettably, we cannot provide letters of invitation to
international presenters and attendees for visa purposes, as we are
not equipped to take legal responsibility for international
visitors. Thus, all travel and visa arrangements are your own
responsibility.*
If you require further information or clarification, please contact
the conference organizers at: gradbuddhismconf2013@gmail.com
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