Ongoing/Recent Courses
Ongoing/Recent Courses
“Buddhism in Indian Civilizations: what did it follow and how did it differ?”
Buddhists consider Buddhism to be the foremost truth. However, it cannot be denied that, as the teachings attributed to Śākyamuni Buddha, Buddhism originated in the particular cultural context of the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, Buddhism emerged and evolved in close relationship with India's geographical and climatic surroundings, the collective character and customs of the people who lived there, their historical experiences, and cultural creations.
The Spring 2024 Wonhyo Academy offered a lecture series to explore Buddhism in its relationship with diverse aspects of Indian civilizations. It attempted to shed light on the issues of what Buddhism inherited from Indian civilizations, what innovations and independent achievements it achieved, and whether there were any limitations due to its inevitable relationship to Indian civilizations.
This course, which was held both offline and online for six weeks from June 5 to July 10, examined the relationship between Indian civilizations and Buddhism through various keywords such as truth, mind, worldview, deity, scripture, monasticism, precepts, asceticism, sacrifice, and sexuality.
All lectures in this series are posted on the KIBS YouTube channel. We would appreciate it if you would watch and support us with a "like" and "subscribe." Below are YouTube links to the lectures.
June 5
Lecture 1: Rhi Juhyung (Director, KIBS; Seoul National University),
"Introduction to the Lectures Series" and
"Images: Significance and Functions" Link
Lecture 2: Ryoo Hyun-jung Ryu (Gyeongsang National University)"
Sacrifice: Nāgānanda, the Story of a Bodhisattva in Buddhist and Hindu Settings" Link
June 12
Lecture 3: Choe Ji-yeon (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies)
"Asceticism: Buddhist and Jain Views" Link
Lecture 4: Bang Jung-lan (Gyeongsang National University)
"Sexuality: Tabooing the Taboo" Link
June 19
Lecture 5: Kang Hyong-chol (Kyunghee University)
"Mind: Mapping the Mind by Buddhists and Hindu Sankhyas" Link
Lecture 6: Kim Seong-cheol (Geumgang University)
"Worldview: Building Mount Meru" Link
June 26
Lecture 7: Lee Ja-rang (Dongguk University)
"Precepts: Bondage or Freedom?" Link
Lecture 8: Shim Jae-kwan (Sangji University)
"Deities: Buddhist Deities Who Traveled Long Distances" Link
July 3
Lecture 9: Ven. Beopjang (Haeinsa Sangha College)
"Monasticism: What is Buddhist Monasticism?" Link
Lecture 10: Ham Hyoung Seok (Chonnam National University)
"Scriptures: the Fight between a Snake and a Mongoose" Link
July 10
Lecture 11: Lim Seung-taek (Kyungpook National University)
"Truth: the Buddha’s Original View of Truth" Link
Lecture 12: Cho Seung-mee (Chonnam National University)
"Goddesses: Hārītī Becoming a Female Deity in Buddhism" Link
July 13
Epilogue: Rhi Juhyung (Director, KIBS; Seoul National University)"Concluding the Wonhyo Academy series of "Buddhism in Indian Civilizations" Link