Announcement:
Buddhist Texts
in Sanskrit: Intensive Readings at Mahidol University (12th to
25th February 2015).
Under the
auspices of the Ratnākara Grant, named after the illustrious Buddhist Ācārya
Ratnākaraśānti, and generously funded by the Khyentse Foundation, the
International PhD Programme in Buddhist Studies, Mahidol University (Thailand)
will host a series of intensive reading classes with Prof. Harunaga
Isaacson (Hamburg University).
Prof. Isaacson
will focus on different genres of Sanskrit literature:
Kāvya,
represented by selections from the Jātakamālā of Āryaśūra and the
Avadānakalpalatā of Kṣemendra;
Tantric
Commentaries, i.e. a selection from Ratnākaraśānti’s writings, with a focus on
the philosophical sections expounding the Yogācāra view.
For two hours
each day, Prof. Franceso Sferra (University of Naples
‘L’Orientale’) will lead reading sessions on the Abhidharma
Abhidharmasamuccayakārikā of Saṃghatrāta, an unpublished Sāmmitīya work of
great philosophical and historical importance.
The readings
will take place on a daily basis (excluding Saturdays and Sundays), from 10.00
until 17.00, at the International PhD Programme in Buddhist Studies, Department
of Social Sciences and Humanities, Faculty of Humanities, Mahidol University,
Salaya Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.
On the 20th,
we will have a one-day conference entitled ‘Buddhist Studies: The Role of
Sanskrit’. Participants will include Prof. Peter Skilling (EFEO,
Bangkok/Paris), Prof. Harunaga Isaacson (Hamburg University), Prof. Francesco
Sferra (University of Naples ‘L’Orientale), Dr Kengo Harimoto (Hamburg
University), and perhaps others. Details of the conference will be advertised
on this same mailing list in the near future.
During the
first week of March, Dr Kengo Harimoto will offer additional reading classes on
philosophical texts in Sanskrit. The details are yet to be
decided and will be posted soon.
Those
interested in participating in the reading classes should contact me (Mattia
Salvini) at prasajya@gmail.com,
and I will be able to provide further details, as well as some assistance with
practical matters.
Best,
Mattia Salvini
