Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women will host its next conference from 22–28 June 2017 at The University of Hong Kong, with support from the university’s Centre of Buddhist Studies (CBS).

The theme of the 15th conference, “Contemporary Buddhist Women: Contemplation, Cultural Exchange & Social Action,” highlights the diversity of contemporary Buddhist women throughout the world. The Sakyadhita website states: “Buddhism is a significant cultural force in our world, influencing virtually every sphere of human activity from business to popular music. This global spread of Buddhist ethics, iconography, meditation, and philosophy is having an impact on science, psychology, government, and the arts. Today, women have more pathways to self-enrichment than at any time in recorded history. Whether the choice is career, family, or monastery, women are expanding beyond traditional roles in creative and beneficial ways.

“Women also take different paths and approaches to spirituality. Depending on their cultural backgrounds and personal interests, they may be inclined to meditation, scholarship, social activism, or the arts. The 2017 conference theme is broad enough to encompass the many aspects of what Buddhism means to women and to embrace the range of Buddhist women's experiences.”

Sakyadhita is inviting submissions for panel presentations and workshops on topics related to the conference theme. The deadline for proposals has been extended to 15 June 2016. Notification of acceptance will be sent within a month. Final papers (2,500 words maximum) are due by 15 August 2016.

Further information about the conference theme is available at the Sakyadhita website. Proposals should be sent to hongkong2017@sakyadhita.org, with a copy to tsomo@sandiego.edu. All speakers and workshop presenters must register for the conference and are responsible for their own expenses. Requests for special dates for presentations must be included with the proposal.

Topic suggestions encompass three rubrics, and ideas for panel presentations are listed below:

Contemplation, which addresses personal introspection, mindfulness practice, meditation, and reflection on contemporary life issues.

Cultural exchange, which looks at interreligious dialogue, indigenous Buddhist experience, inter-generational dialogue, and Buddhist transcultural exchange, expressed through music, literature, drama, painting, social media, and the martial arts.

Social action, which examines charitable activities, social entrepreneurship, community leadership, and other ways of transforming society.


PANEL IDEAS

Buddhism & Cultural Exchange

Buddhism & Globalization    

Buddhism in Contemporary Art

Buddhism, Sexual Identity & Cultural Identity

Buddhist Images Along the Silk Road

Buddhist Interconnections: Sharing Identities & Experiences

Buddhist Sacred Arts

Buddhist Sculpture Across Cultures

Death, Birth, and Rebirth across Cultures

Evolution of Buddhist Cultures

Rap Across Cultures

Respectful Communications Across Buddhist Traditions

Sacred Dance Across Cultures

Sacred Writings: Languages, Scripts, Devotion

Vinaya & Buddhist Cultural Exchange

Women & Trans-Buddhist Dialogue

Women in Indigenous Buddhist Cultures

Women, Compassion & Buddhist Art


Chinese Buddhist Cultures

Buddhism & the Martial Arts

Buddhism in the Chinese Diaspora

Buddhism of Dunhuang

Buddhist Saint, Daoist Sage

Chinese Buddhist Pilgrims & Pilgrimage

Chinese Buddhist Poetics

Chinese Buddhist Texts: Abhidharma & the Agamas

Chinese Contemplative Arts

Cultural Transformation of Guanyin

Women in Chinese Buddhist Art

Women in Chinese Buddhist Traditions


Contemporary Buddhist Women

Applied Buddhist Teachings: Dharma in Daily Life

Buddhism & Business

Buddhism & Social Media

Buddhist Chaplaincy

Buddhist Ethics in Contemporary Life

Buddhist Pastoral Care

Busy Women: Mind the Gender Gap

Monastic Life in the Modern World

Prominent Buddhist Women, Lay & Ordained

Secular Buddhism

Women & Buddhism, Leadership & Tradition

Zen at Work


The Contemplation Arts

Basic Sanity: Buddhist Mental Health

Caves & Community, Solitude & Engagement

Cognitively Based Compassion Training

Dealing with Crisis

Comparing Contemplative Traditions

Compassion & Art

Engaged Mindfulness & Listening Skills

Learning Compassion, Being Compassion

Meditation for Homemakers

Mindful Eating

Mindfulness Across Cultures

Mindfulness Industry

Speaking from the Heart

Stress Reduction in Daily Life

Ten-Minute Meditations


Buddhism & Social Action

Are Buddhists Really Equal?

Buddhism & Animals

Buddhism & Capitalism

Buddhism & Gender Politics

Can Corporations Be Compassionate?

Dealing with Ignorance

Future of Buddhist Education

People Problems: Creating Healthy Dharma Centers

Women & Economic Justice

Women as Caregivers: Buddhism & Palliative Care

Women, Children, Poverty & Love

Women, Religion & Law


Women & Contemporary Social Issues

Being with Dying

Buddhist Emergency Relief Services

Buddhist Women & the Climate Crisis

Building Healthy Families & Communities

Challenges Facing Buddhist Societies

Children in Buddhism: Will There Be a Next Generation?

Courage: Healing a Troubled World

Cultivating Compassion, Dealing with Difficult People

Gender Equality: Only a Dream?

Responding Skillfully in a World of Conflict

Skillful Negotiations: Relationship Matters

Sustainable Compassion


New Directions

Adapting the Dharma or Diluting the Dharma?

Buddhism & Sexuality

Buddhism in the Media: Representations

Buddhist Art Therapies

Buddhist Teachers: Quality Control

Buddhist Women Storytellers

Debating the Dharma

Feminism & Femininity

Publicizing Buddhist Women

Publishing Buddhist Books

Self-expression: Indulgence or Survival?

Teaching Buddhism to Non-Buddhists

Western Buddhist Converts: Tradition & Interpretation


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15th Sakyadhita International Conference (Sakyadhita)