Lilián GARCÍA, PhD student (2023-2027)

Supervisors: Dr. Bárbara Fernández Melleda and Dr. Georgios Halkias

Why HKU?

The interdisciplinary nature of this research project makes HKU a propitious place for its elaboration, as this institution presents a wide and innovative disciplinary offer and promotes interaction between different fields of knowledge and research clusters. Likewise, the multilingual character of this study, as well as its focus on the relationships between language and culture dynamics, makes the SMLC the perfect place for its realization.

Title of research project/thesis:

Latin American Buddhism in the Neoliberal Age: An Emancipatory Alternative

This interdisciplinary research project aims to examine the presence of a Buddhist approach in contemporary Latin American literature in the context of neoliberalism and the emergence of new spiritualities. Based on textual analysis of 4 novels, this study argues the preliminary hypothesis that the adoption of the Buddhist approach is a mechanism to resist the pathologies of modernity, and transcend individualization, exacerbated by the neoliberalist “common sense”.

Short bio

Lilian García holds a master’s degree in Buddhist Studies (HKU) and in Buddhist Counselling (HKU); a PGDip in Asian Studies (UNAM) and in University Teaching (UNAM). She obtained the degree of BA in Psychology at UNAM and did advanced Chinese language studies at BLCU. She has completed multiple courses on Literature and Art History (UNAM), has participated in various research projects at UNAM and HKU, and has also worked as a Chinese language instructor (UNAM), research assistant (HKU), and freelance Chinese-Spanish translator.

List or Awards and Publications

2023-2027. Postgraduate Scholarship, HKU.
2021. Wong Shek-Yung Memorial Fund Scholarship.
2021. MaMa Charitable Foundation Postgraduate Scholarship
2020. Tung Lin Kok Yuen Postgraduate Scholarship in Buddhist Studies.
2016-2017. Scholarship from the Research Project PAPIIT - IT300116. Faculty of Psychology, UNAM.
2011. Third place nationwide in the "Chinese Bridge" contest. Confucius Institute Headquarters (HANBAN).
2011. Confucius Institute scholarship for Chinese language studies at The Beijing Language and Culture University.

García Escalona, Áurea Lilián. 2020. “Diferencias Culturales y Métodos de Enseñanza de Lenguas [Cultural Differences and Language Teaching Methods].” Edähi Boletín Científico de Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades del ICSHu 9, no. 17: 43-53. https://doi.org/10.29057/icshu.v9i17.6268.