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Department of the Study of Religions

Ms Pyi Kyaw

BA (Hons) Economics and Management, St Peter's College, University of Oxford, UK; MA Religions: Buddhist Studies Pathway, SOAS, University of London, UK.

Overview

Staff Silhouette
Name:
Ms Pyi Kyaw
Email address:
Office Hours:
Term 2 - Fridays 3-4pm in room 481
Thesis title:
A Living Tradition of Paṭṭhāna: A Study of the Roles of The Conditional Relations (Paṭṭhāna) in the context of Contemporary Burmese Buddhism.

PhD Research

My thesis will explore the living tradition of Abhidhamma, Theravāda Philosophy, in contemporary Burma, examining its perversive roles in Buddhist scholarship, apotropaic practice and meditation. In particular, I shall focus on the Paṭṭhāna, the seventh text of the Abhidhamma Piṭaka. Paṭṭhāna is the book of the Theravāda Buddhist canon that describes a comprehensive view of a fundamental Buddhist teaching of causality. Very little material on Abhidhamma has been written in Western scholarship, and virtually none on its as a living tradition. This will be the first thesis to undertake a critical, in-depth study of Paṭṭhāna in relation to how and to what extent its teachings are practised by Burmese Buddhists. This thesis will also attempt to bridge a gap between insider-outsider divide by using an inclusive paradigm with regards to the Theravāda Buddhist path. This means the Buddhist path has social relevance and can be used as a tool to achieve both this-worldly and otherworldly success.

The thesis will use both textual, socio-historical and anthropological research methods. I shall analyze the canonical Paṭṭhāna and the contemporary Paṭṭhāna literature by Burmese commentators to a manageable extent using textual research methods. I shall conduct interviews with both monastic and lay Paṭṭhāna teachers and students, and also with Burmese Buddhist informants during my fieldwork in 2011-2012 academic year.

PhD Conferences

Conference Papers
  • (10 January 2011) ‘Emptiness through dhammas or Emptiness of dhammas: understanding of Emptiness in Theravāda Meditation Traditions’ at the 3rd International Buddhist Research Seminar organized by The Buddhist Research Institute, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya, Thailand.
  • (5 October 2010) ‘A Good Business Person and/or A Good Buddhist: Pervasiveness of Buddhist teachings and symbols in contemporary Burmese business practices’ at Buddhist Forum, SOAS, University of London.
Conference Attended
  • (8-10 January 2011) 3rd International Buddhist Research Seminar organized by The Buddhist Research Institute, Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya, Thailand.
  • (15-18 November 2010) Panel Discussions with Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, The Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies (OCBS).
  • (26-28 March 2010) 35th Spalding Symposium on Indian Religions, Harris Manchester College, The University of Oxford.
  • (3 July 2009) UK Association for Buddhist Studies Conference 2009. SOAS, University of London.