The first “WE in Buddhism” discussion will be held as an event of the Comparative WE Studies group. We will approach “WE” in Buddhism from various perspectives including philosophy, sociology, and anthropology.
Date：29th Nov., 2022. AM9:00 – (JST) TBA
Venue：Zoom
About the Discussion Group：
This is a discussion group on ‘WE’ issues in Buddhism. The ‘WE’ issues include the following questions. What is Buddhist community? What bundles together Buddhists (and potentially non-Buddhists) into a community? What meanings, significance or functions does a community have for Buddhism? Is it constitutive for attaining nirvana? If so, can we call nirvana as OUR nirvana rather than MY nirvana? Did we have a ‘WE-turn’ in Buddhism: a shift of subject, agent or unit of nirvana from an individual ‘I’ to a collective ‘We’? What problems does Buddhist community have? How can we make a Buddhist community good, better or best? Those questions can be addressed, examined and answered by philosophical, sociological, anthropological and other approaches.
Yasuo Deguchi, Supervisor/ Leader of Comparative WE Studies Group, will present at this first discussion.
Speaker：Yasuo DEGUCHI（Kyoto Univ.）
Title：’WE-turn’ in Japanese Buddhism: Yuzu-nembutsu and Its Philosophy of Community
This talk will explore the philosophical significance of a Japanese pure land Buddhism movement, Yuzu or fusion nembutsu, identifying in it a ‘WE-turn’ of Buddhism; i.e., the shift of subject, agent or unit of attaining nirvana or rebirth into pure land from an individual ‘I’ and a collective ‘We’.
If you wish to participate, please contact the Office of Smart WE Project (smart-we.office[at]bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp).
