Event — Lecture

Hendrik Kern and the body of the Buddha

01 April 2008

01/04/2008 - 13:30

1 April 2008
13.30 - 15.30 hrs

Lecture by Prof. Johannes Bronkhorst, Department of Oriental Languages and Cultures, University of Lausanne, Switzerland

The body of the Buddha plays a vital role in Buddhism in virtually all its forms. Indeed, it has rightly been observed that "the cult of [bodily] relics is central to all Buddhisms". In spite of this, Hendrik Kern held views about the body of the Buddha which are hard to reconcile with relic worship. These views were not accepted, not even in Kern's own time. Prof. Bronkhorst will argue that, even though Kern's position was no doubt extreme, the scholarly consensus that has taken its place is in need of serious reconsideration.

Venue: Gravensteen (room 111), Pieterskerkhofsteeg 6, Leiden

Information:
International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS)
Ms Martina van den Haak
P.O. Box 9515
2300 RA Leiden
E: m.van.den.haak@let.leidenuniv.nl
T: +31 (0)71 527 2227

The lecture is organised on the occasion of the inaugural lecture of Prof. Jonathan Silk, Professor in the Study of Buddhism. This inaugural lecture will take place at the Academy Building, Rapenburg 73, Leiden on 1 April 2008 at 16.15 hrs.