Wednesday, April 2, 2025 | 12:00PM-1:20PM PT | Zoom Webinar Registration | RSVP

EASC Guest Speaker Series: Talk by Harsha Gautam (University of Texas at Austin) with Faculty Moderator Prof. Jessica Zu (REL 135: Chinese Religions and Culture and REL 342: Buddhist Modernism)

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s embrace of Buddhism in 1956 revived an ancient Indic religion in India. While thousands followed his lead, with many men embracing monastic life, it was not until 1967—eleven years later—that Navayāna Buddhism saw the ordination of its first female monastic, Bhikkhuni Vishakha Mahatheri. This discussion challenges the widespread notion that Navayāna Buddhism is exclusively a lay-focused tradition, emphasizing the pivotal role played by monastics, particularly nuns, within the movement. By focusing on the grassroots efforts of Navayāna nuns with oppressed communities, this talk will explore the innovative strategies the nuns employ to introduce Buddhism to unfamiliar audiences. It will also delve into how these Buddhist nuns navigate and resist the intersecting oppressions of caste and gender, while actively contributing to the broader struggle for social emancipation.

Please complete the Zoom Webinar Registration and the separate RSVP form.