*SPECIAL*
Lecture on Ordination in Shan Buddhism
12 November 2008
at The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
London, United Kingdom
by Naw Liang
in Helsinki, Finland
(with details courtesy of Jotika Khur-yearn)

Mai soong kha!
Another short (and sadly out-of-date) post from me. However, despite my tardiness, this unique lecture and its content - both provided by Jotika Khur-yearn (SOAS) - is a must posting for All about Shan Studies. Jotika is a key figure in the Shan community in London as well as the Principal Library Assistant for Southeast Asian Section at SOAS' world famous library and an up-and-coming academic. He has produced two acclaimed works on Shan manuscripts (see them here), including an article entitled "Shan Manuscript Collections outside the Shan State: Reservation and Cataloguing" (see here). Furthermore, he is a keen Shan promoter and was a central figure in the organising of the inaugural Conference on Shan Buddhism and Culture (see my posting here), an event that has spurned on a series of other Shan gatherings worldwide. We are the richer for having him.

For now, the following is the agenda for a lecture that Khur-yearn gave at SOAS this week. Enjoy...

A Lecture on Ordination in Shan Buddhism

SOAS, University of London (12 November 2008)

Lecturer: Jotika Khur-yearn (jk53@soas.ac.uk)

Topics for discussion:

• The term ‘Shan’ - related terms: Siam, Tai, Dai, Thai, Lao
• Shan regions – Shan State (Burma), Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Maehongson (Northern Thailand), Sipsongpanna (Southern China), Assam (India)
• Shan Buddhism - Theravada
• Ordination in Buddhism - Theravada
• Ordination in Shan Buddhism – ‘Sang Long’, tradition, self-transformation, identity and tourism.

Reading list:

1. Crosby, Kate: ‘Only if you let go of that Tree: Ordination without Parental Consent according to Theravada Vinaya.’ in Buddhist Studies Review, 2005.
2. Eberhardt, N. J.: Imagining the course of life : self-transformation in a Shan Buddhist community. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press, 2006. pp. 124-146.
3. Swearer, Donald K.: The Buddhist World of Southeast Asia. Albany : State University of New York Press, 1995. pp. 46-52.
4. Wondertime Magazine, May 2008. pp. 34.

Further reading:

1. Dickson, J. F.: Ordination in Theravada Buddhism : an early account. Kandy, Ceylon : Buddhist Publication Society, 1963.
2. Rittenberg, William: Buad Naag : the structure and performance of a Thai Buddhist ordination ceremony. Thesis--University of California, Los Angeles, 1977.

Web links:

1. http://www.taiculture.org/traditional/poi_sanglong.html
2. http://www.thailand.com/travel/festival/festivals_maehongson_poisanglong.htm
3. http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/poi-sang-long-festival-2007.html

Suggested essay topics:

1. The mess and the significance of the Shan ordination festival
2. Poi Sang Long: a three-day experience as a prince in Shan Buddhist community
3. A comparative study of ordination ceremonies in Theravada Buddhism

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That is all for now. Mai soong kha and gyan ma chan tha ba seh.

Naw Liang