The , , and Tibet Himalaya Initiative are co-hosting Anthropologist John Osburg on Friday, April 22nd at 3:30 pm in Guggenheim 205. Professor Osburg is the recent author of Anxious Wealth: Money and Morality Among China's New Rich (2013) and will speak on the interface between Han Chinese business people and ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Buddhism. His talk is titled "Business and Belief among Han Chinese Practitioners of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Buddhism in the People's Republic of China."Â
The abstract for his talk reads:Â
In the context of a perceived spiritual and moral crisis in Chinese society, growing numbers of Han Chinese are turning to ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Buddhism for ethical guidance. This talk is based on an ethnographic study of a group of wealthy, urban Han Chinese who have become followers of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Buddhism and patrons of reincarnated lamas and charismatic ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ monks. Dr. Osburg will examine the sources of the appeal of ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Buddhism for wealthy Han and the range of ways in which they integrate Buddhist principles and ritual practice into their lives. For some, donations to monks serve as a form of "spiritual protection money" that will safeguard their businesses and enhance their careers, while for others Buddhist principles become the basis for dramatic moral and social self-transformation.
For more inforamtion see the