UBC’s Jessica Main to speak on Buddhism and human rights March 6

Jessica Main will be speaking about Buddhism and human rights, from 19th century reformers to contemporary advocates, at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, at the Firehouse Performing Arts Center in Fairhaven.

This talk is co-sponsored by Western Washington University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Department of Liberal Studies. Main will discuss innovative and contextual examples of Buddhists claiming rights for themselves and others, as well as the occasional appearance of philosophical stumbling blocks.

Main received her doctorate in Asian Religions from McGill University in 2012. Her dissertation was on the topic of human rights and Buddhism, with a particular focus on the unfortunate existence in Japan’s Pure Land Buddhist community of discrimination against Japan’s “untouchables” (the burakumin).

Since 2009, Main has served as the director of the University of British Columbia’s Buddhism and Contemporary Society Program.

For more information, contact Stephanie Wanne at Western’s Department of Liberal Studies at 360-650-3031 or stephanie.wanne@wwu.edu.