Institute of Oriental Philosophy UK
IOP Forum
3.30 pm - 5.30 pm, Sat 12th May 2007
New Century Hall, Taplow Court, Taplow, Nr. Maidenhead, SL6 OER
"The 'Re-Discovery' of Buddhism on the Silk Road"
Dr Susan Whitfield
Director, Dunhuang Project, British Library
The Eastern Silk Road's Buddhist ruins and relics are now well-known. Yet in the late nineteenth century they were still hidden by the desert sands. It was the curiosity of scholars such as Stein which led to their discovery and the start of scholarship in this area. Just as Buddhism travelled from India through Central Asia, so the rediscovery of its sacred sites made the same journey. This lecture will tell the story of the scholars and their finds and consider how far - or how little - we have travelled in our own journey of understanding Buddhism in this region.
AND
"Buddhist Studies - Within and Without"
Dr. Peggy Morgan
Mansfield College, Oxford University
"The IOP is a valuable addition to the British scene for those with an interest in Buddhist religion and culture. The IOP library is magnificent and extremely comfortable. This is probably the best specialist library for Buddhist studies in the UK"
Prof. Richard Gombrich, Oxford Centre for Buddhist studies
Admission free. Booking not required
Please do not bring children to this event
