Papers by Peter de Graaff
This research paper examines recent literature that reconsiders the notion of a person and its im... more This research paper examines recent literature that reconsiders the notion of a person and its implications in relation to disjunctures occurring in early Buddhism between for example notions of not self and no self, the unanswered questions of the Buddha, and claims made by the Buddhist Pudgalavadins that there was a person. Doubt concerning a person highlights issues in relation to the formation of knowledge in the function of debates, where opponents of the Pudgalavadins in the Vijnanakaya implied they believed there was "a fifth basis for mindfulness, a basis for mindfulness of the sentient being.” Accounts of debates with Pudgalavadins, provided by their opponents from other Buddhist schools, underpin modern attempts to reconstruct the philosophical framework in which notions of a pudgala functioned in relation to the teachings of the Buddha. Their opponents claims have also led to assertions that the Pudgalavadins were heretical is reconsidered in recent literature, and the heuristic implications are considered. With the recent identification of a number of texts as Pudgalavadin in Chinese translations, outlines of positions they held have been reconstructed and interrogated. For example, Hurvitz (1967, p. 465-468) in his translation of a text which he seemingly did not realise was Pudgalavadin notes in a schematic of its outline, that although right mindfulness has four objects body (kaya), sensation (vedana), thought (citta) and dharma, a fifth mindfulness oddly is included as an action under right effort along with faith and non-abandonment.
Research questions highlighted in this project, include: is there a fifth mindfulness, towards what is it directed, and if there is, is it realisable in practice; what are various Buddhist theories of the person, and is this useful; what are the implications for heuristics concerning a person, emptiness, and dependent origination; do Buddhist methods of inquiry and philosophical proof constitute a form of mindfulness in contemplative practice, including as a search for truth to overcome doubt.
Proceedings - International Conference on Humanistic Buddhism and Chinese Buddhst literature, 2019
In The Universal Gate, Venerable Master Hsing Yun argues that to "learn Buddhism means to learn a... more In The Universal Gate, Venerable Master Hsing Yun argues that to "learn Buddhism means to learn about oneself; the questions one must ask must be asked of oneself alone." Within a context including Buddhist pilgrimage, this paper will explore the synthesis of approaches that Venerable Master Hsing Yun uses derived from Mahayana Buddhism, including those used in Tiantai and Yogacarin thinking for example, to consider questions concerning the self in his commentary on the Avalokitesvara or Universal Gate Sutra; his approach to sravakas and pratyekabuddhas; recent debates concerning enchantment and disenchantment in religion and science; and observations made whilst visiting Buddhist holy sites in India including Vulture Peak of the questions which "selfie" taking ironically raises in regard to learning Buddhism, and learning about oneself.
Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 1993
This paper investigates a case of resistance to the dominant culture in which the criminal justic... more This paper investigates a case of resistance to the dominant culture in which the criminal justice system is claimed to lack jurisdiction by an indigenous offender. Analysis is then given to the claims of shaming theory, within the context of republican criminology: (a) where there exist ethnographic differences between cultures impacting on conscience and shaming; (b) where there exists marginalisation of the Other impacting on reintegration; and (c) in terms of a Hegelian-Marxist position.
Current Issues in Criminal Justice, 1998
Imagine a hypothetical correctional system in which the delivery of education and vocational trai... more Imagine a hypothetical correctional system in which the delivery of education and vocational training courses to inmates were accepted and valued as a key responsibility in the planning of a correctional service. Imagine that this responsibility was included in the accountabilities and performance requirements of prison managers to the same degree as the focus upon security and the prevention of escapes. Imagine a system which respected the value of freedom, and the responsibilities which flow from it such as open debate, freedom o f speech, freedom o f information, transparency o f process, etc, since, through its being the agency engaged in punishing offenders through the deprivation of liberty, it understood the nature o f liberty and freedom. Imagine a system in which there was a high level o f cooperation between custodial and non-custodial staff, where resourcing was adequate and not under contest. Imagine a system in which reports generated on it from within and without where circulated for discussion, comment and then acted upon. Imagine a system which was progressive in its evolution, that recognised and built upon its successes, and that wasn't being tugged at by industrial posturing, ideological pressure, law and order campaigns, manipulation for political advantage, only to crumble and to fail again. Sometimes one can imagine that this hypothetical correctional system could be brought to exist in reality as the NSW Department of Corrective Services. If one were to mistake the sample of positive articles contained in the Corrective Services Bulletin or occasional human interest story in the mass media for the total reality, then one could be mistaken for thinking that the imaginary already exists.
Vocational education and training for adult prisoners and offenders in Australia: Research readings, 2007
This chapter explores current debates about models for educational delivery in correctional centr... more This chapter explores current debates about models for educational delivery in correctional centres, with a view to examining proposals for making it compulsory for prisoners to participate in education. In particular, it compares the 'criminogenic needs' model of prisoner education with the 'opportunities' model of adult education traditionally used in prisons as a way to study how the implementation of the 'criminogenic needs' model has affected curriculum and funding programs. Further, the chapter investigates the impact which the 'criminogenic needs' (or 'prison works') model has had upon sentence management and legislation, particularly in New South Wales, in relation to the coercion of inmate participation in rehabilitation programs. The real question is whether it should be compulsory for the correctional system to guarantee provision of education and vocational training and inmates' rights to access it?
Conference Proceedings - Australasian Correctional Education Association, 2001
In this paper the author will explore the role of the NSW Teachers Federation and the Corrective ... more In this paper the author will explore the role of the NSW Teachers Federation and the Corrective Services Teachers Association as both a professional and industrial organisation in supporting the provision of public education within the NSW Correctional system through encouraging teacher activism: which supports strong foundations for learning and development: engagement with theoretical issues; campaigning with a long term historical overview.
Conference proceedings - Australasion Correctional Education Association, 2005
This paper will investigate the purpose of prison education, “compulsory” participation and the l... more This paper will investigate the purpose of prison education, “compulsory” participation and the lack of a legislative basis to provide for mandatory funding of educational provision. It will examine the question of whether prison education can be compulsory if there is no resource or access guarantees for inmates. The NSW Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Act requires inmates seeking parole or who are under the supervision of the Serious Offenders Review Council to demonstrate a willingness to have participated in rehabilitation or developmental programs. This paper will explore the “compulsory” requirement for inmates to address offending behaviour whilst incarcerated in NSW. It will also examine efforts to improve education quality for inmates, to provide education guarantees and access rights for inmates through legislation or other instruments in NSW. The paper will also examine whether progress has been made towards reaching benchmarks established by policy frameworks, including the Australian Senate Inquiry, Council of Europe, etc.
Conference Presentations by Peter de Graaff
International Conference on Humanistic Budhism and Chinese literature, 2019
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Papers by Peter de Graaff
Research questions highlighted in this project, include: is there a fifth mindfulness, towards what is it directed, and if there is, is it realisable in practice; what are various Buddhist theories of the person, and is this useful; what are the implications for heuristics concerning a person, emptiness, and dependent origination; do Buddhist methods of inquiry and philosophical proof constitute a form of mindfulness in contemplative practice, including as a search for truth to overcome doubt.
Conference Presentations by Peter de Graaff
Research questions highlighted in this project, include: is there a fifth mindfulness, towards what is it directed, and if there is, is it realisable in practice; what are various Buddhist theories of the person, and is this useful; what are the implications for heuristics concerning a person, emptiness, and dependent origination; do Buddhist methods of inquiry and philosophical proof constitute a form of mindfulness in contemplative practice, including as a search for truth to overcome doubt.