The Center for Southeast Asian Studies organizes and sponsors a number of events such as lectures, film screening, workshops, symposia, conferences, exhibits, and performances throughout the year. Several of these events are in collaboration with other U-M units, and are often free and open to the public. To see what we have planned for this semester, please visit our 2020 Lecture Series page.
CSEAS Lecture Series. Crafting Theravada Buddhism: Touch and Material in the lives of Thai Buddhists
Anthony Lovenheim Irwin, University of Michigan
Forming, touching, and repairing Buddhist objects and architecture are central to the religious lives of Thai Buddhists, be they monks, craftspeople, or laypeople. Thai historical chronicles, local legends, and everyday discourse position the intentional physical contact with Buddhist material (through ritual and everyday labor) as generating spiritual benefit and constructing ethical values. Drawing on historical analysis and ethnographic work, this talk presents a number of cases that show how Thai Buddhists hold hand-based religious touch to be spiritually powerful and socially efficacious.
| Building: | Weiser Hall |
|---|---|
| Event Type: | Lecture / Discussion |
| Tags: | Cseas Lecture Series, Lecture, Southeast Asia |
| Source: | Happening @ Michigan from Center for Southeast Asian Studies, Asian Languages and Cultures |
