Containing and Dissolving Ontological Violence: A Christian–Buddhist Joint Reflection for Attaining De-colonial Epistemic Freedom in Asia

Abstract In view of the intensifying efforts of Asian universities to compete for global rankings, this paper aims to reflect upon this ongoing trend. Through a Christian and Buddhist dialogue, this paper first identifies the culture of academic realism, which we consider increasingly prevalent. Second, in response to such culture, it aims to explore an academic spiritual practice to contain and overcome a post-Christian academic cultural predicament that was originally found in Western modernity and has been present in Asia: ontological violence. Such an attempt is also considered relevant for attaining de-colonial epistemic freedom in Asia.