CURRICULUM VITAE JUSTIN S. WHITAKER

EDUCATION:

Ph.D. (2017)/M.Phil. (2012) in History, Goldsmiths, University of London. “Ethics as a Path: Kantian Dimensions of Early Buddhist Ethics,” Supervisor: Damien Keown.

M.A. in Buddhist Studies (with Distinction, 2006), University of Bristol, England.

B.A. in Philosophy (with Honors, 2004), The University of Montana, Missoula.

TEACHING:

Visiting Instructor, Centre of Buddhist Studies Hong Kong University (Fall 2018) Teaching two courses: Buddhism in Contemporary Society and Buddhist Ethics Supervisor: Guang Xing

Associate Faculty, Philosophy Mohave Community College, Online (Spring 2012 – current) Instructed in Introduction to World Religions and Philosophy for the Distance Education program at Mohave Community College in Arizona. Supervisor: Don Weide

Core Faculty, Buddhism Woodenfish Humanistic Buddhist Monastic Life (Summer 2016, 2017, 2018) Taught theory in the study of religion and early Buddhism in Buddhist monasteries in China. Supervisor: Ven. Yifa

Facilitator, World Religions, Eastern Kentucky University, Online (Spring 2016, 2018) Responsible for student relations and grading for REL 301, a survey course of major world religions with special attention to historical context and development of beliefs and practices. Supervisor: Abraham Velez de Cea

Adjunct Faculty, Philosophy, Carroll College (Fall 2016) Created and taught a 3-credit course in Ethics for undergraduates covering major Western traditions and selected non-Western topics including Buddhism, Daoism, and Native American thought. Supervisor: Elvira Roncali

Instructor, Buddhist Studies, University of Montana (Fall 2015) Taught an Introduction to Buddhism, a lecture-style course covering the history, practices, and philosophy of Buddhism, from ancient India to the contemporary world. Supervisor: Stewart Justman

Instructor, Buddhist Philosophy, Antioch Education Abroad, Antioch University (Fall 2010 & 2014) Designed and implemented a 3-credit course in Buddhist Philosophy, taught in Bodh Gaya, India. Duties included library management (2010) and student health coordination (2014), along with meditation discussion oversight and supervision of independent study projects. Supervisor: Robert Pryor

Assistant Instructor, Buddhist Ethics, Whittier College (Winter 2010)

1 CURRICULUM VITAE Presented five one-hour classes on Buddhist Ethics for Whittier College students for a course on the Development of Buddhist Philosophical Thought with Ven. Yifa and Paul Kjellberg in residence at , Hacienda Heights, California. Supervisor: Ven. Yifa

Instructor, Buddhist Studies, University of Montana (2006-2007) In conjunction with a TA award from the Philosophy Department, this included responsibilities teaching one course per semester in Religious Studies (see Teaching below). Supervisor: Paul Dietrich

Teaching Assistant, Ethics: Great Traditions, UM Department of Philosophy (Spring 2004) Supervisor: Dan Spencer

Teaching Assistant / Grader, Introduction to Buddhism, UM Liberal Studies (Fall Semesters 2001-2003) Supervisor: Alan Sponberg

Teaching Assistant, Introduction to Logic: Deduction, UM Department of Philosophy (Spring 2003) Supervisor: Richard E. Walton

PUBLICATIONS:

“Ethics, Meditation, Insight,” co-written with Douglass Smith for the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics; exploring the relationships between the three trainings in Pāli texts, (April 2018).

“Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher,” co-written with Douglass Smith, Philosophy East & West, Volume 66, Number 2, (April 2016) pp.515-538.

“Reflecting on Meditation’s Ethics: Ignatian ‘Spiritual Exercises’ and Buddhist ‘Mettā-Bhāvanā’,” Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, Issue 15 (Fall 2014).

PAPERS PRESENTED:

“Sati, Sammā-sati, and Sīla: A historical examination of Mindfulness in the early texts,” the lead paper in a panel on ethics-based mindfulness: rationales and resistances at the American Academy of Religion International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, Co-Organized by myself and Kin Cheung (November 2015).

“Reflections on Pierre Hadot and Methodology in Religious Studies” as part of a Roundtable on Methodology in Religious Studies. Chaired by Ursula King (March 2014).

“Buddhist Ethics, an Introduction” for Bristol University’s Religion & Theology/Classics & Ancient History. Chaired by Ika Willis, Director of Teaching (January 2013).

“Warnings from the Past, Hope for the Future: The Ethical-Philosophical Unity of Buddhist Traditions” for the International Association of Buddhist Universities, Bangkok. Chaired by Dion Peoples (June 2012).

“Methods in the Study of Buddhist Ethics” at Bristol University’s Department of Theology and Religious Studies 17th Joint Postgraduate Conference. Chaired by Rita Langer (March 2012).

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“Wriggling Eels in the Wilderness of Views: or Studies in Buddhist Ethics” at Balliol College, Oxford University for the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies. Chaired by Richard Gombrich (February 2012).

“Meditation’s Ethics: Ignatian ‘Spiritual Exercises’ and Buddhist ‘Mettā-Bhāvanā’” at the American Academy of Religion International Conference in Montreal, Canada. Chaired by Bradley Clough (November 2009).

“A Buddhist Reading Kant, a Kantian Reading the Buddha” at the , Rosemead, CA. Chaired by Rev. Danny Fisher (July, 2009).

“Buddhist Meditation as a Moral Activity” for the Center for Ethics spring talks at noon series at The University of Montana-Missoula. Chaired by Dane Scott (April 2009).

“Is Buddhist Ethics Kantian?” as the inaugural lecture for a series of research seminars in Religion, Philosophy & Ethics at the University of Gloucestershire, UK. Chaired by David Webster (January 2009).

“Studies in Buddhist Ethics” at the Bristol University Department of Theology and Religious Studies 12th Joint Postgraduate Conference. Chaired by Rupert Gethin (March 2007).

“Buddhist Ethics: A Kantian Analysis” at the Pacific Northwest American Academy of Religion/ Society for Biblical Literature Annual Meeting (May 2006).

“The (Early) Buddhist Philosophy of Mind: Use and Abuse of Ontology in Buddhist Studies” at the Bristol University Department of Theology and Religious Studies 10th Joint Postgraduate Conference. Chaired by Rupert Gethin (March 2005).

LANGUAGES:

English with moderate proficiency in Spanish and Pāli, including a Pāli intensive course with Oxford University’s Richard Gombrich in 2011. Additional formal training in Latin, German, French, and Sanskrit.

ONLINE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS USED:

Blackboard, Angel, Schoology, and Moodle.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS, PAST AND CURRENT:

American Academy of Religion American Philosophical Association Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies UK Association of Buddhist Studies UK Kant Society International Association of Buddhist Studies

3 CURRICULUM VITAE ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICE:

Administrative: Moderator for the Timely Issues section of the Blog of the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies (2017- current). Referee for HARTS and Minds, the Bristol Journal of Humanities and Arts (2013-current). Referee for the “Journal of Buddhist Philosophy” (2012-current). Copy Editor for the “Journal of Buddhist Ethics” (2010-current). Chair, “Meditation and Vipassana” session at the 19th Joint Postgraduate Conference on Theology and Religious Studies (March 2014). Referee for the “Claremont Journal of Religion” (2012-2013). Committee Member for the “Buddhism in the West” consultation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Religion. Committee Chair: Jeff Wilson (2007-2009). Departmental Student Coordinator for History postgraduate students, Goldsmiths, University of London. Advisor: Melinda Smith (October 2007- February 2008). Student Representative for Masters Students in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Bristol. Advisor: Paul Williams (October 2004 - May 2005). Student Evaluation Committee for the Philosophy Department, The University of Montana. Advisor: Tom Huff (Committee Chair in 2003, Member in 2002, 2005, and 2006).

Leadership and Activism:

Association of Mindfulness Meditation and Secular Buddhism (2015-current). Elected to serve as a board member for this 501c3 organization. Bristol’s 19th Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology (2014). Advisor: Jon Balserak Co-organized the conference specifically in charge of outreach, promotions, contact with presenters for the largest postgraduate conference in the humanities in Europe (second in the world only to a similar event at Harvard): Keynote Speaker: Rupert Gethin. UM Campus Sangha (Meditation Community): Student coordinator 2001-2004; Faculty liaison 2006-2007. UM Philosophy Society. Advisor: Burke Townsend President, Webmaster, and Event Coordinator (2002-2004). Co-organizer of “Does God Exist” featuring Edward Tabash and Richard Swinburne (Oxford University), with assistance from Richard Hull (Fall 2003). UM chapter of Golden Key International Honour Society. Advisor: Lynne Koester Treasurer (2003) President (2004), Graduate Advisor (2006-2007).

Teaching:

“Introduction to Philosophy” PHIL 101 at Mohave Community College. A survey of major themes in Western philosophy with some readings from non-Western thinkers (Spring 2017-current). “World Religions” REL 301W at Eastern Kentucky University. A course covering major world religions under six categories as well as an introduction to the study of religion (Spring 2016, 2018). “Introduction to Ethics” PHIL 107 at Carroll College in Helena, Montana. A course covering the breadth of Western ethical traditions (Aristotle, Kant, and Mill) with additional materials from lesser-known and non-Western thought (Fall 2016). “Introduction to Buddhism”

4 CURRICULUM VITAE RELS 232H at The University of Montana. A course covering the full history of Buddhism from pre-Brahmanic India to modern/Western Buddhism, for the Department of Liberal Studies at UM (Fall 2006, 2015). “Comparative World Religions” PHIL 205 at Mohave Community College’s Distance Ed program. A survey of methods for the study of religion and major world religions under twelve categories (Spring 2012 – Fall 2015). “Buddhist Philosophy” APHIL 318 for Antioch Education Abroad. A survey of Buddhist Philosophy ranging from the Nikāyas, through the development of Mahāyāna Buddhism, the Heart Sutra, and Śāntideva, taught in Bodh Gaya, India (Fall 2010, 2014). “Buddhist Ethics” An introduction to Buddhist ethics with emphasis on early Buddhism and Mahāyāna adaptations at Hsi Lai Temple for Whittier College students (Winter 2010). “Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism” RELS 295 at The University of Montana. A course on Tibetan Buddhism from both socio- historical and religio-philosophical perspectives, for the Department of Liberal Studies at UM. Supervisor: Paul Dietrich. (Spring 2007). “Buddhism: Philosophy, Religion, Way of Life” For the Missoula Free School, six weekly classes on Buddhism open to the public (Fall 2005). “Introduction to Meditation in the Buddhist Tradition” For the UM University Center Office of Annual and Special Events (Fall 2003).

Public and Invited Lectures:

“Introduction Buddhism” and “Buddhism comes West,” two 8-week courses for the University Unitarian Church of Seattle (Fall 2017, Spring 2018). “Mindfulness and Contemplative Education,” an invited talk to the University of Montana senior class of Peers Reaching Out, a part of the university’s Health Center (April 2017). “What is Buddhism?” for Merlin CCC, a Philosophy non-profit in Helena, Montana (August 2016). “Contemplative Education,” an invited talk to the University of Montana senior class of Peers Reaching Out, a part of the university’s Health Center (May 2016). “Buddhist History: developments, debates and diversity” and “Buddhist practice: from generosity to the perfection of wisdom” for Helena’s Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (July 2015). “Why Study Buddhism?” for prospective students at the University of Bristol (July 2014). “Photography talk and slideshow: India and Burma” at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, Missoula, MT (April 2011). “Buddhism & Borderline Personality Disorder” for the UM Philosophy Society (September 2008). “Regard for oneself, hrī, and others, opatrapia: Friendship as a Buddhist Virtue” in Valencia, Spain for the Western Buddhist Order, with translator (August 2006). “Introduction to Buddhist Philosophy” for the UM Philosophy Society, open to the public (March 2004).

Press: “Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher” With Doug Smith on the Podcast of the Secular Buddhist Association. http://secularbuddhism.org/2017/04/02/episode-271-doug-smith-and-justin-whitaker- reading-the-buddha-as-a-philosopher/ (April 2017). “ChiRunning: A Sitting Meditation – Justin Whitaker” an interview with ON BEING’s senior producer Lily Percy for a series called Creating Our Own Lives. http://www.onbeing.org/blog/lily-percy- chirunning-a-sitting-meditation-justin-whitaker/8829 (July 2016). “The Future or Death of Religion” an interfaith discussion with four other young scholars on where we see religion going in 2014, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-hT6lokPsU (February 2014).

5 CURRICULUM VITAE “A roundtable conversation with Charles Prebish, Sarah Haynes, Justin Whitaker, and Danny Fisher on Two Buddhisms Today,” with Ted Meissner of the Secular Buddhist Association, http://secularbuddhism.org/2012/09/22/episode-135-charles-prebish-sarah-haynes-justin-whitaker- danny-fisher-two-buddhisms-today/ (September 2012). “Q&A With American Buddhist Perspective Blogger Justin Whitaker” by Emma Varvaloucas of Tricycle Magazine, https://tricycle.org/trikedaily/qa-american-buddhist-perspective-blogger-justin- whitaker/ (August 2011).

HONORS AND AWARDS:

2014: Awarded a supporting grant by the Spalding Trust for the promotion of religious understanding on behalf of the 19th Joint Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology. 2010: Selected as one of approximately 100 Western students to travel to Monastery in Taiwan with the Woodenfish Program in conjunction with the 2010 World Youth Summit on Cross- Cultural Education. 2010: Named amongst the 100 “most influential [bloggers] that contribute to an online discussion about religion in the public sphere and the academy” by the Social Science Research Council. 2009: Selected as one of approximately 25 Western students to travel to Shanghai and Xi’an China with the Woodenfish Buddhism in China program led by Ven. Yifa. 2006: Granted a one-year Teaching Assistantship with stipend and partial tuition/fee waiver, UM Philosophy Department. 2006: Awarded a travel stipend by the UM Graduate Student Association. 2004: Earned the regional “Leader of the Year” award and scholarship from Golden Key International Honour Society. 2004: Awarded the Presidential Medal for Outstanding Senior, The University of Montana, nominated by Golden Key International Honour Society. 2002-2004: Named Scholar of the College of Arts and Sciences. 2001: Honored with life membership in Golden Key International Honour Society.

OTHER INTERESTS AND ACTIVITIES:

Meditation/Mindfulness Interfaith Awareness/Solidarity Running (Marathon, half-marathon, trail runs) Outdoor and Travel Photography

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