Earlier this week, the Center for Asian studies wrapped up its 2012-2013 Brown Bag events with “Buddhism To-go: Creating Mobile Sacred Space Through Smartphone Meditation Apps.” The talk, presented by CAS’ Graduate Research Assistant and CU Religious Studies graduate student Joanna Piacenza, covered digital Buddhism, as framed through a smartphone app.
In the talk, Piacenza reviewed examples of digital Buddhism and argued that these representations remove aspects of institution, doctrine, community, and mythology. Instead, Buddhism online, especially Buddhism in smartphone apps, elevates individual experience and psychological benefits, while emphasizing secular “mindfulness” practice.
The Daily Camera featured an article promoting the event, written by a CU alumna. Please click here to access the article.
CAS will continue its Brown Bag events in the 2013-2014 academic year. These informal events give students and faculty the opportunity to present research they consider work-in-progress, in order to generate new ideas and angles from the group conversation that follows each talk.
Faculty or graduate students who are interested in presenting at a future Brown Bag events should contact Kunga Lama at kunga.lama@colorado.edu.