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Personal Summary

Dr. Justin Whitaker is a Senior Correspondent for Buddhistdoor Global (BDG). Previously, he was a visiting instructor at Hong Kong University's Centre for Buddhist Studies. He holds a PhD from the University of London, where his work on comparative philosophy focused on early Buddhist ideas and the ethics of Immanuel Kant (1724-1804). He is the author of “Reflecting on Meditation’s Ethics: Ignatian ‘Spiritual Exercises’ and Buddhist ‘Mettā-Bhāvanā’,” (Journal of Inter-Religious Studies, 2014) and co-author with Douglass Smith of "Reading the Buddha as a Philosopher" (Philosophy East and West, 2016) and "Ethics, Meditation, and Wisdom" in the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics, 2018. He currently lives in Missoula, Montana with his wife, daughter, and their cat after an exciting two years living in Hong Kong. 

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 ����ֱ��, Missoula. 

Teaching Experience

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 – Spring 2019)

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 to 60-100 ����ֱ�� from around the world.
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, ����ֱ�� (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

Field of Study

My area of specialization is early Buddhist ethics. I have studied Western philosophy and ethics as well as the full history of Buddhism.

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).
Reprinted in The Pilgrim and the Sage: Ignatian Spirituality and Buddhism in Dialogue, edited by Aristotle C. Dy, SJ. (2019).

Honors / Awards

2014: Awarded a supporting grant by the Spalding Trust for the promotion of religious understanding on behalf of the 19^th Joint Postgraduate Conference on Religion and Theology.

2010: Selected as one of approximately 100 Western ����ֱ�� to travel to Fo Guang Shan 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 ����ֱ�� 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.

Hobbies

Hiking, foraging, photography