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The Buddha’s Footprint: An Environmental History of Asia

When: Thursday, February 26, 2015
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Where: Claire T. Carney Library, Room 314
Description: The Buddha's Footprint: An Environmental History of Asia

Thursday, February 26th, 12pm-1pm
Claire T. Carney Library, Room 314

Dr. Johan Elverskog
Southern Methodist University


Contrary to popular imaginings, the Dharma has not historically been an inherently environmental religion. Rather, early Buddhism was a prosperity theology that succeeded largely on account of its willingness to exploit both people and natural resources on the commodity frontier. As such, by investigating the links between Buddhism and agricultural expansion this talk will explore how Buddhists radically transformed Asia's environment.

Johan Elverskog is Altshuler University Distinguished Teaching Professor and Chair of Religious Studies at SMU. He is the author of numerous books and articles, all of which focus on the history of Buddhism across Asia. During 2014-2015 he is a visiting fellow at the Center for Buddhist-Muslim Understanding at Mahidol University, Bangkok.

For further information see www.umassd.edu/indic/, or contact: parag.waknis@umassd.edu
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