HCBSS Research Projects

HCBSS currently supports three ongoing research projects.

Buddhist Manuscript Project

This project seeks to foster international collaboration and understanding of the different Buddhist manuscript finds worldwide through hosting workshops and conferences on a regular basis. The goal of the project is to publish a state of the field survey of recent research on Buddhist manuscripts, and to facilitate networking among the various international project groups now working in this area.

The project held a major conference at Stanford, June 15-19, 2009: "Indic Buddhist Manuscripts: The State of the Field."

For more information, contact Prof. Paul Harrison, Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, Building 70, Room 71E, Main Quad, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; pmaxharrison@gmail.com.

Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra Project

This project will provide a varied set of opportunities for scholars to explore the texts, teachings, and history, of the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra.

The first workshop of the project was held at Stanford during summer 2008. A second workshop took place at Munich in summer 2010.

For more information, contact Dr. Irene Lin, Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, Building 70, Room 71E, Main Quad, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; ihl@stanford.com.

Sōtō Zen Text Project

Undertaken with support from the Sōtōshū Shūmuchō, Tokyo, this project organizes an international team of scholars for work on the major texts of the Sōtō school of Zen Buddhism. When complete, it will provide annotated translations and glossaries, in both electronic and printed forms, for over one hundred works. The project offers an annual reading group open to all members of the Stanford community and others by invitation.

For more information, visit the project website or contact Prof. Carl Bielefeldt, Ho Center for Buddhist Studies, Building 70, Room 71E, Main Quad, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; carl@stanford.edu.