July 11
Morning Opening Ceremony - National Taiwan University

8:00 Registration
Chinese Young Buddhist Association

9:00 Introduction
Dr. Yuling Christie Chang

9:05 Buddhist Chanting
Turning the Dharma Wheel Sutra (in Pali)
Heart of Wisdom Sutra (in Chinese, Korean, Tibetan, and Vietnamese)

9:30 Words of welcome
National Taiwan University: President Weizhao Chen
Huafan University: Dr. Sun Ma
Sakyadhita President: Ven. Karma Lekshe Tsomo
Distinguished Guests

9:40 Keynote addresses
Vice President Annette Lu
Ven. Tenzin Palmo
"Thus Have I Heard: The Emerging Female Voice in Buddhism"

10:20 Sakyadhita Video Presentation

10:30 P'ansori: Korean Buddhist Narrative
Dr. Chan Eung Park

10:45 Vote of Thanks

11:00 Lunch

1:00-2:30

Understanding Buddhist Women Around the World(A)
Facilitator: Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo

"Sakyadhita: Empowering the Daughters of the Buddh
Dr. Thea Mohr (Germany)
Assistant Professor, Frankfurt University (Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universitaat) (Germany)


"From Anonymity to Self-Reinvention: Korean Buddhist Nuns in the Twentieth Century"
Dr. Eunsu Cho (Korea/U.S.A.)
Assistant Professor, University of Michigan (U.S.A.)


"Buddhist Women of Cambodia"
Sr. Ly Soeun (Cambodia), Dr. Hema Goonatilake (Translator)
President of Association of Nuns & Laywomen of Cambodia


"Buddhist Women of Sri Lanka"
Ranjani de Silva (Sri Lanka)
President, Sakyadhita Sri Lanka


"Buddhist Women of Bhutan"
Sra. Tenzin Dadon (Sonam Wangmo) (Bhutan)
Jamyang Choling Institute, Dharamsala (India)

2:30 Refreshments

3:00-4:30


Understanding Buddhist Women Around the World(B)
Facilitator: Dr. Maria Reis Habito


"Buddhist Laywomen of Nepal"
Dr. Nivedita Kumari Mishra (Nepal)
Lecturer, Dept. of Sanskrit, Tribhuvan University (Kathmandu, Nepal)


"Buddhist Nuns of Nepal"
Ven. Dhamma Vijaya (Gyan Heera Tuladhar) (Nepal)
Ph.D. Candidate Magadha University (Bodhgaya, India)


"Buddhist Nuns of Myanmar"
Sra. Molini Rai (Myanmar)
Ph.D. Candidate Magadha University (Bodhgaya, India)


"Two Efforts of Reform by Buddhist Women in Contemporary Thailand: Watra Songdharma Kalyani and Dhamma Mata Hermitage"
Tomomi Ito (Japan)
Kanda University of International Studies (Japan)

Ven. Thich Nu Hanh Hue (Le Thi An) (Vietnam), Ven. Thich Hue Tri (Translator)
"Buddhist Women of Vietnam"
Thien Vien Vien Chieu (Vietnam)


"Himalayan Buddhist Nuns"
Sra. Pacha Lobzang Chhodon (Zangskar, India)
Jamyang Choling Monastery, Dharamsala (India)


July 12
Morning: Understanding Buddhist Women of Taiwan
Facilitator: Stefania Travagnin


"Buddhist Women in Taiwan"
Ven. Chuan-Dao Shih (Taiwan)
Executive Secretary, Chinese Buddhist Literary Foundation
Abbot, Miao-hsin Buddhist Monastery (Taiwan)

"A Perspective on Buddhist Women in Taiwan"
Ven. Yikong Shi (Taiwan)
Foguang University (Taiwan)


"Leave Behind and Hold Onto: The Self-Awakening of Buddhist Women"
Ven. Wu-Yin Shih (Taiwan)
Dean, Luminary Buddhist Institute (Taiwan)


"The Feminization of Tzuchi's Experience"
Dr. Lu Hui-Xin (Taiwan)
Professor, Department of Religious Culture, Tzu Chi University (Taiwan)


Afternoon: Bridging the Gender Gap, Transforming
Facilitator: Dr. Eunsu Cho



"The Nature and Status of Women in the Teachings of the Buddha"
Ven. Minh Hue (Hong Nga) (Vietnam)
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Delhi (India)


"The Buddhist Women's Movement in the New Century: The Taiwanese Experience of Contemporary Nuns' Defiance of the 'Treaty of Non-Equality'"
Ven. Zhao-Hui Shih (Taiwan)
Professor, Hongshi Buddhist Institute (Taiwan)


"Kuan-yin's Gender Transformation in Medieval Japanese Buddhism: Bridging Sexuality and Motherhood"
Dr. Mariko Namba Walter (Japan/U.S.A.)
Research Associate (Sanskrit and Indian Studies), Harvard University (U.S.A.)


"Sexuality in Theravada Buddhism: Wives, Widows, and Divorcees"
Dr. Hema Goonatilake (Sri Lanka)
Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Cambodia


July 13
Morning: Bridging the World's Religions
Facilitator: Elise DeVido



"Love in Any Language"
Dr. Malia Dominica Wong (U.S.A.)
Assistant Professor, Chaminade University (U.S.A.)


"Disappearing Boundaries: Practicing Buddhist, Practicing Sufi"
Dr. Ana Rabia Chisti (U.S.A.)
Professor, Naropa University (Oakland Campus) and University of Creation Spirituality (U.S.A)


"Building Bridges: A Muslim Woman's Perspective"
Ms. Hawwa Morales Soto (Peru/Spain)
Madrasa Yaafar As-Sadiz (Institute of Sufi Studies) (Spain)


"Bridging World Religions from Within: On Being a Buddhist Christian Woman"
Dr. Maria Reis Habito (U.S.A.)
International Program Director, Museum of World Religions (Taiwan)

Afternoon: Bridging the Buddhist Traditions
Facilitator: Dr. Mariko Namba Walter


"Comparing the First Buddhist Women in Early Chinese and Ancient Indian Buddhism"
Ven. Sukdham Sunim (Inyoung Chung) (Korea)
Ph.D. Candidate, University of Virginia (U.S.A.)


"Forging Friendships: Three Traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism"
Ven. Lieu Phap (Vietnam)
Ph.D. Candidate, Delhi University (India)


"Sexuality, Discipline and Ethics"
Elisa Nesossi (Italy)
Ph.D. Candidate, Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy)


"Sisters Across Cultures: Inclusiveness and Empathy in the Buddhist Women's Movement"
Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo (U.S.A.)
Assistant Professor, University of San Diego (U.S.A.)



July 14
Morning: Bridging Monastic Ideals & Everyday Life
Facilitator: Dr. Hengqing Shi


"Vinaya and the Solitary Monastic"
Ven. Tenzin Palmo (U.K./India)
Director, Dongyu Gatsal Ling (Tashi Jong, India)

"Mindfulness and Monastic Life"
Ven. Dhammavijaya (Nepal)
Ph.D. Candidate, Magadha University (Bodhgaya, India)


"Precepts at Enshoji: The Rules of a Seventeenth-century Japanese amadera"
Gina Cogan (U.S.A.)
Ph.D. Candidate, Columbia University (U.S.A.)

"Patience, Precepts, and Practice"
Sra. Molini Rai (Myanmar)
Ph.D. Candidate, Magadha University (Bodhgaya)

Afternoon: Bridging the Vinaya Traditions
Facilitator: Dr. Renlang Shi


"Threads in a Rich Cloth: Historical Developments in Bhikkhuni Vinaya"
Dr. Kusuma Devendra (Sri Lanka)
Director, Sri Gotami Ashram (Sri Lanka)


"Tracing the Roots of the Bhiksuni Tradition"
Roseanne Freese (U.S.A.)


"Arguments for the Validity of the Chinese Bhiksuni Lineage"
Dr. Heng-ching Shih (Taiwan)
Professor, National Taiwan University (Taiwan)

Dr. Karma Lekshe Tsomo (U.S.A.)
"Not Quite Equal: Obstacles on the Way to an International Bhiksuni Sangha"
Assistant Professor, University of San Diego (U.S.A.)

 


July 15
Morning: Bridging Contemplation and Social Action
Facilitator: Dr. Hema Goonatilaka


Ouyporn Khuankaew (Thailand)
Network of Engaged Buddhists (Bangkok, Thailand)

Dr. Chatsumarn Kabilsingh (Sra. Dhammananda) (Thailand)
Professor, Thammasat University (Thailand)


"From Family to Vihar to Temple: The Bond Between Buddhist Laywomen and Nuns"
Qianhui Yang (Taiwan)
National Taiwan University

"Mindfulness in Action: Sakyadhita and Social Activism in Sri Lanka"
Ranjani de Silva (Sri Lanka)
Director, Sakyadhita Sri Lanka

Ven. Zhao-Hui Shih (Taiwan)
Professor, Hongshi Buddhist Institute (Taiwan)

Afternoon: Bridging Generations
Facilitator: Dr. Yuling Christie Zhang


"Coming of Age in Sri Lanka: The Stages of Life in Theravada Buddhism"
Dr. Hema Goonatilake (Sri Lanka)
Director, Heinrich Boell Foundation (Cambodia)


"Reaching Out to Elders: Social Activism among the Younger Generation of Korean Buddhist Nuns"
Ven. Neungin Sunim (Korea)
Professor, Joong Ang Sangha University (Korea)



"Reaching All Generations: Buddhist Outreach in Taiwan"
Dr. Elise deVido (U.S.A.)
Associate Professor, National Taiwan Normal University (Taiwan)


"Betwixt and Between: Communicating the Dharma Across Generations"
Ven. Ren-lang Shih (Taiwan)
Huafan University (Taiwan)


July 16
Morning: Bridging Value Systems: Ancient & Modern
Facilitator: Dr. Yuzhen Li


"A Plum Tree in the Pure Land"
Dr. Yixun Huang (Taiwan)
Assistant Professor, College of William and Mary (U.S.A.)


"Ven. Miaoqing and Yuantong Chan Nunnery: A New Beginning for Monastic Women in Taiwan"
Stefania Travagnin (Italy)
Ph.D. Candidate, Zheng Chi University (Taiwan)


"Overcoming Tradition and Transforming the Future: The Meaning and Significance of Education for Korean Buddhist Nuns"
Ven. Bongak Sunim (Korea)
Professor, Joong Ang Sangha University


"Transforming Instead of Slaying the 'Red Dragon'"
Sra. Yeshe Chokyi Lhamo (Germany)
Ph.D. Candidate, Australia National University (Australia)

 

Afternoon: Bridging Study & Practice
Facilitator: Dr. Thea Mohr


"The Eight Special Rules: The Disconnect Between Theory and Practice"
Weiyi Zheng (Taiwan)
Ph.D. Candidate, School of Oriental and African Studies (U.K.)

Dr. Yu Chun-fang (Taiwan/U.S.A.)
"The Hsiang-kuang Bhiksuni Sangha of Chia-yi
Professor, Rutgers University (U.S.A.)

 

"Religiosity and Leadership Among Taiwanese Buddhist Nuns"
Dr. Yuchen Li (Taiwan)
Associate Professor, Chinghua University (Taiwan)

 

"Nuns of the Mendicant Tradition in Vietnam"
Ven. Tri Lien (Vietnam)
Ph.D., Delhi University

"Preaching to the Unconverted: De-marginalizing the Buddhism of Women in Buddhist Studies"
Lecturer, School of Oriental and African Studies (London, U.K.)


July 17
Morning Closing Ceremony
9:00 Loving Kindness Sutra (Metta Sutta)
Vote of Thanks
Dedication of Merit