Research interests
Nonduality in Buddhist and Hindu Thought
Mindfulness and Buddhist Philosophy
Zen Buddhism in the West
Philosophy as practice
My research explores practitioner engagement with religious traditions and the changes and challenges in worldviews that this engagement can bring about. I am interested in the “how” of spiritual practices, their philosophical underpinnings and the cross-cultural implications of contemporary Westerners engaging with eastern religious practices. As such, I work with both philosophical and social science methodologies and, although primarily philosophical, my research is inter-disciplinary in scope touching on history, psychology and religious studies. My research interests and areas of specialization are Buddhist and Hindu philosophy, philosophy of religion, cross-cultural philosophy, and phenomenology of religion.
Affiliations
Vice President Australasian Association of Buddhist Studies (AABS)
Australasian Association of Philosophy (AAP)
Australasian Philosophy of Religion Association (APRH)
Australasian Society of Asian and Comparative Philosophy (ASACP)
International Association of Buddhist Studies
Teaching interests
Buddhist Philosophy
Hindu Philosophy
Philosophy of Religion
Cross-cultural Philosophy
World Religions in Practice
Units taught
ASR100 World Religions
ASR205 Mindfulness, Meditation, and Buddhism
ASP227 Philosophies of Religion
ASP263 Buddhist Studies in India (Study Tour)
Knowledge areas
Buddhist Philosophy (especially Zen)
Hindu Philosophy (especially Advaita Vedanta)
Philosophy of Religion
Cross-cultural Philosophy
Philosophy as a Way of Life
Conferences
International Conferences organized at Deakin:
2018: Australiasian Association of Buddhist Studies
2017: Australiasian Association of Asian and Comparative Philosophy
Inter-disciplinary Workshops organized at Deakin:
2014: East/West Dialogues
2016: Buddhism and Interdisciplinary Intersections
2016: Buddhism(s): Traditions, Philosophies, Practices
2018: Buddhism and Philosophy: A workshop with Professor Jay Garfield
2019 (Forthcoming): Mindfulness: Therapy, Philosophy and Buddhist Practice
Research groups
Philosophy and the History of Ideas (PHI) Research Network
Awards
2011: Pro Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching
2016: Faculty of Arts and Education Award for Excellence in Teaching
Publications
Buddhist philosophy in Australian universities
John Powers, Leesa Davis
(2019), Vol. 18, pp. 3-8, APA newsletters, Newark, Del., C1
Women living Buddhism in the West: spiritual practice and daily life
L Davis
(2017), pp. 185-201, Women and Asian religions, Santa Barbara, Calif., B1
Enacting the violent imaginary : reflections on the dynamics of nonviolence and violence in Buddhism
L Davis
(2016), Vol. 55, pp. 15-30, Sophia, Berlin, Germany, C1
Contemplation as philosophical practice : "reason in the sphere of understanding"
L Davis
(2016), pp. 39-51, Poetica, Tokyo, Japan, C1
Mindfulness, non-attachment and other Buddhist virtues
L Davis
(2013), pp. 306-317, The handbook of virtue ethics, Durham, England, B1
Soto Zen in Australia : tradition, challenges and innovations
L Davis
(2011), pp. 36-48, Buddhism in Australia : traditions in change, Oxon, U. K., B1
Advaita Vedãnta and Zen Buddhism : deconstructive modes of spiritual inquiry
L Davis
(2010), London, England, A1
The view from the cushion : zen challenges to duality in the contemporary practice situation
L Davis
(2009), Vol. 10, pp. 260-272, Contemporary Buddhism, London, England, C1
Funded Projects at Deakin
No Funded Projects at Deakin found
Supervisions
Deborah Kathleen Humphreys
Thesis entitled: Bushfire Safety: Examining The Space Between Theory and Practice
Master of Arts, School of Humanities and Social Sciences