CSRS Public Lecture Series Conflict in the Life Stories of Tibetan Buddhist Masters
Speaker: Ben Wood
CSRS Religious Studies Teaching Fellow, Senior Instructor in the Religious Studies Program
Traditional Tibetan monasteries are often conceived of as places of cohesion, harmony and peace, yet some Tibetan literature tells us otherwise. Pre-modern writings by Tibetan monastics reveal a record of monasteries steeped in persistent quarrels, fighting, violence and conspiracy. In this presentation, Dr. Wood examines the record of conflict in Tibetan hagiography, demonstrating the major role it has played in the development of Buddhist virtues such as patience, insight, selfless generosity and skillful means.
Ben Wood holds a PhD in Buddhist studies from the University of Toronto and researches Tibetan Buddhist life-writing.
