"From Language as Self to Ethical Conduct as Essence" Pre-Conference Workshop

In preparation for the upcoming workshop titled "From Language as Self to Ethical Conduct as Essence: Buddhism and Psychological Healing," which will be held in the next semester, Fo Guang University's Center for Buddhist Studies organized a pre-conference workshop on December 22, 2023, at Yunshui Building, Fo Guang University. The workshop aimed to gather ideas from scholars from the field of Buddhist Studies and Psychology, allowing for discussions to take root and advance research. Approximately 50 faculty members and students attended the event.

Regarding the conceptualization of the theme: "Language as Self" refers to the concept discussed in Yogācāra Buddhism, where a sentient being's "self" is formed by the accumulation of "seed syllables" or linguistic elements. The term " Ethical Conduct as Essence" originates from the Buddhist concept of "śīla" (ethical conduct). How can one transform the karmic body formed by "language" into a being characterized by ethical conduct? To address this issue, it is necessary to establish a discourse within Buddhism and translate it into a way that modern people can understand, breaking free from the confines of traditional terminology. Therefore, interdisciplinary knowledge and practical experiences from fields such as psychology, phenomenology, and psychoanalysis are introduced to clarify the theoretical framework and mechanisms of how Buddhism advocates the purification of habitual tendencies through ethical conduct.

This is an imageThe discussion topics of the event were divided into two major categories: "Language as Self" and "Ethical Conduct as Essence," with psychology and Buddhist scholars providing theoretical insights and case analyses for each category.

It is anticipated that the conference will be held in May 2024. Please stay tuned for further details.