Buddhist studies. The Fear Research Network invites you to a seminar with Dr Sara Swenson (Dartmouth College) who will deliver a paper "Harsh Truths and Mistaken Vows: The Ugly Side of Buddhist Charisma". In this talk, Sara will examine "the ugly side" of Buddhist charisma through the case of an iconoclastic monk in Vietnam. Lay and monastic followers respected this monk for his extraordinary capacity to read minds and perceive karmic obstacles in the lives of others. He also defied conventional monastic vows by openly consuming meat and alcohol, wearing lay clothing, and teaching through insults. The paper will analyze the dynamics of this Buddhist community through theories of charisma and moral aesthetics. 16 October, 4–5.30pm, in room Williamson 2.05.
