Fo Guang Shan Nan Tien Temple
March 2５, 2024

The Humanistic Buddhism Special Interest Group (HB SIG) convened for the first time in 2024 on March 12th. The online meeting brought together 24 scholars and students from diverse corners of the globe who share an academic interest in Humanistic Buddhism.

Dr Badshah Sardar from Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) in Islamabad, Pakistan, spoke on the Buddhist Rock Inscriptions of Uddiyana (Swat Valley), Pakistan and its present state of research. Although little attention has been paid to the study and conservation of these inscription in the past, researchers are actively finding new inscriptions, some of which were reported at the recent “International Conference and Art Festival to promote the Buddhist heritage of Pakistan” in Islamabad. As valuable primary resources, the inscriptions will allow scholars to reconstruct the chronological order and hierarchy of the ruling kingdoms, the geographic and economic condition of the region and a history of the spread of Buddhism in the area. In the Q&A session, Dr Badshah also shared his personal experience on navigating practical challenges to access the inscriptions, which still lie scattered in the libraries, museums, private collection and remote custody.

The second presentation was delivered by Dr Sandra Ng from Malaysia. Her work "Inner Guidance: Of Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese Buddhist Pilgrims” drew upon 27 in-depth interviews to explore the transformative experiences of pilgrims. By viewing pilgrimage in integrated spatiotemporal dimensions, Dr Ng hoped that her work will help to create a deeper understanding of the pilgrimage phenomenon and contribute to understanding the religiosity and spirituality of Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese Buddhists. By highlighting pilgrimage as a form of Buddhist cultivation, her research suggested how the social engagement and movement afforded by pilgrimage could foster ethics, happiness and mindful living. Pakistani scholar Dr Fasiha Ijlal in the audience noted similarities in Buddhist and Muslim pilgrims despite their different religious traditions. Dr Ng was pleased to hear about the observation, which verifies the universality of the notion of pilgrimage.

The Humanistic Buddhism Special Interest Group is an initiative of Humanistic Buddhist Centre (HBC), Nan Tien Institute, and It continues to serve as a dynamic platform facilitating connections, discussions, and collaborations among individuals interested in Humanistic Buddhism research. To join its activities please visit https://www.nantien.edu.au/about-us/humanistic-buddhism-centre/research/sig/