Convocation Address by Professor Emeritus Y. Karunadasa

The World of Buddhism: A Search for the Common Ground

Seminar on Early Buddhism & Chinese Buddhism, August 15, 2009

IBC, Thailand, Than Hsiang Temple, Penang, and Shah Alam Buddhist Society, Selangor Malaysia are happy to organize the one-day "Seminar on Early Buddhism and Chinese Buddhism: Perspectives of Modern B

Convocation Seminar 1-8-2009 (Audio file included)

The International Buddhist College will be organizing its third convocation seminar on the 1st of August 2009 in conjunction with its 2nd convocation held on the following day at IBC in Southern Thailand. The seminar venue is at Than Hsiang Temple, Penang. Five distinguished scholars of international repute and who are also currently the staff and lecturers at the College have been invited to be the panel speakers. The opening ceremony will be graced with the presence of Prof C. F. Lee, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, who will officially declare the opening of the convocation seminar..

The program for the convocation seminar are as follow:
0745 am – 8.45 am
Registration of participants

08.45am – 09.00am
Opening Ceremony by Prof C.F. Lee, vice chancellor of University of Hong Kong.

Panel speakers:
09.10 – 10.25
Ven. Prof. Dhammajoti
“ The Question of the oldest teachings of the Buddha: some remarks of the criteria for the stratification of the Buddhist Canon”.

10.40am – 11.45am
Prof. Emerituis Y. Karunadasa
“ Birth of Buddhism as a critical response to spiritualist and materialist views”

11.55am – 01.00pm
Lunch Break

01.00om – 2.15pm
Prof. Toshiichi Endo
“Value of Pali Commentaries for the study of Buddhism”.

02.30pm – 03.45pm
Prof. Kapila Abhayawansa
“ The significance of kamma in Buddhist Ethical system”.

04.00PM – 05.15PM
Prof. Charles Willemen
“What is the origin of Chinese Buddhism?”

Below are a brief bio-data of the above speakers.

1. Ven. Professor K.L. Dhammajoti
Ven. Prof. Professor K.L. Dhammajoti, PhD, a Malaysian, is a Glorious Sun (Endowed) Professor in Buddhist Studies at the Center of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong. He was a professor and Head of the Department of Buddhist Sources at the Postgraduate institute of Pali and Buddhist Strudies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He specializes in Abhidharma studies and early Indian Yogacara.

2. Professor Y. Karunadasa
Professor Y. Karunadasa, PhD (London), a Sri Lanka, is a visiting Professor of the center of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong. He was a professor Emeritus, at the University of Kelaniya , Sri Lanka and a former distinguished visiting professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Calgary(Numata chair). Formerly also, a visiting professor of Buddhist studies(SOAS) University of London(Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Professorship). He is currently a visiting professor of the International Buddhist College, Thailand.

3. Professor Charles Wilemen
Professor Charles Willemen holds a PhD in Oriental studies (Belgium). He is currently the Vice Rector for Research and Postgraduate Studies, International Buddhist College, Thailand. He specializes in Sarvastivada Abhidharma and Literary Chinese. He travels to China , US, Cnada, Western Europe, India and Japan to present his research papers at conferences and teaches in several institutions.

4. Professor Kapila Abhayawansa
Professor Kapila Abhayawansa PhD. (Sri Lanka) is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Religious Studies, International Buddhist College, Thailand. Prior to joining International Buddhist College, he was the Professor and Head of the Department of Buddhist Culture at the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. Areas of specialization: History of Western and Eastern Philosophy, Mahayana Buddhist Philosophy and Buddhist monastic discipline.

5. Professor Toshiichi Endo
Professor Toshiichi Endo, PhD (Kelaniya) is a visiting Professor of the Center of Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong and the International Buddhist College, Thailand. He is also a professor at the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. He specializes in Early Buddhism, Pali Commentarial Studies, Sri Lanka and Japanese Buddhism.

The seminar provides an opportunity for the interaction between the panel of speakers and Buddhist researchers and enthusiast to enhance a better understanding of the Buddha dharma. We welcome all bothers and sisters in the dharma to join us in making this seminar a success.

Ven. Prof. Dhammajoti
“ The Question of the oldest teachings of the Buddha: some remarks of the criteria for the stratification of the Buddhist Canon”.

Entrance into the Supreme Doctrine

Title: Entrance into the Supreme Doctrine
Author: Professor K L Dhammajoti
Publisher: Centre of Buddhist Studies, HKU
2nd Edition, 294 pages+
ISBN: 978-988-99295-3-3