Dhammananda Bhikkhuni, 2009. From en.wikipedia.orgTo celebrate the 6th auspicious birth cycle of the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda, abbess of Songdhammakalyani Monastery in Thailand, Rajbhat University in Nakhon Pathom Province in collaboration with the Network of Asian Theravada Bhikkhunis (Vietnam), the Buddhasavika Foundation (Thailand), and the South and South East Asian Association for the Study of Culture and Religion (India) is pleased to announce the first ASEAN Buddhist conference (ABC-1), to be held at Rajbhat University from 22–23 September 2016.
The ten countries of the ASEAN region have a Buddhist population of some 150 million, or 30 per cent of the world’s total number of Buddhists, yet the Buddhists in this region face many challenges. It is these issues, which are central to the religion, its relativity and its relevance in today’s world, that this conference seeks to address.
Researchers, teachers, and independent thinkers are invited to submit proposals for papers on significant topics related to the ASEAN region and Buddhism, as well as papers highlighting the parallel situation of Buddhism in non-ASEAN regions. The following sub-themes are suggested as guidelines:
Buddhism and Women: Current Scenario
Educating Ourselves: Challenges in ASEAN Buddhism
Mental Re-organization through Buddhism
ASEAN Society through the Buddhist Lens
Addressing Nature and Environment the Buddhist Way
Buddhist Heritage as Reflected in Art Forms in the ASEAN Region
The conference aims:
To build up a network of ASEAN Buddhist academics
To support ASEAN Buddhists to work together on various Buddhist projects
To exchange ideas on how to propagate Buddhism in this 26th Buddhist century
To propose a joint agreement on the future development of ASEAN Buddhists
The organizing committee also takes pride in celebrating the completion of the 6th cycle of the Most Venerable Bhikkhuni Dhammananda (associate professor Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh) both for her contributions to academia and for her path-breaking contributions as a monastic practitioner, paving the way for many Buddhist women to gain respect in Theravadin society. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda received full monastic ordination as a bhikkhuni of the Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka on 28 February 2003, making her the first modern Thai woman to receive full ordination as a Theravada bhikkhuni. Songdhammakalyani Monastery, of which she is abbess, is the only temple in Thailand where there are bhikkhunis.
The deadline for submission of abstracts for the conference is 15 May 2016, with full papers to be submitted by 30 June.
For further information, email abc.2016conf@gmail.com
See more
1ST ASEAN BUDDHIST CONFERENCE (ABC-1) (International Nework of Engaged Buddhists)
Dhammananda Bhikkhuni (Wikipedia)
