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a public event

The Spread of Buddhist Scholasticism in Northwest India

Center for Buddhist Studies Colloquium with Charles Willemen

Friday, April 30, 2004
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
UCLA
243 Royce Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095

The kind of Buddhism which went to China comes from the Gandharan cultural area, certainly until the time of Kumarajiva (ca.400 CE). As for doctrinal affiliation, most literature may be called sarvastivada (different kinds of sautrantikas; non-vaibhasika), mahasamghika, pudgalavada, dharmaguptaka. The early use of such terms as yogacara, dhyana, etc., presents a picture which clearly shows Kasmira hardly had any influence during the period of ancient and old translations.

Dr. Willemen obtained his PhD in 1971 with a study of the Chinese Udanavarga. Subsequently, he studied in Japan under H. Nakamura ( University of Tokyo, 1972). In 1974 he was Fullbright-Hays Visiting Scholar (Harvard University, Dept. of East Asian Languages and Civilisations). He has taught at many universities in Europe and in Asia (e.g., Guest Professor: Beijing Language and Culture University, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Banaras Hindu University, Nava Naland Mahavihara, Vishvabharati University in Shantineketan). He has published extensively about Buddhism in South and East Asia and about Chinese art. Dr. Willemen is a member of the Belgian Royal Academy of Sciences (since 1997).

Sponsor(s): Center for Buddhist Studies, Asia Institute