On April 23, 2025, in celebration of World Book and Copyright Day, Duke Kunshan University (DKU) Library and DKU Division of Arts and Humanities co-hosted a DKU Library Author Talk as part of the 2025 DKU Library Book Fair. The event featured Dr. Ben Van Overmeire, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at DKU, presenting his newly published book, American Koan: Imagining Zen and Self in Autobiographical Literature. Dr. James Miller, Professor of Humanities and Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Initiatives at DKU, moderated this event. A total of 34 participants attended the event.
The event began with a warm welcome from Dr. Andrew Lee, Research and Instruction Librarian, who introduced the speakers. During the talk, Dr. Ben Van Overmeire shared insights from his research on the mutual transformation of Eastern Zen Buddhism and the Western tradition of autobiography. The term “koan” refers to a spiritual practice in Zen Buddhism characterized by paradoxical riddles or questions/dialogues, which practitioners apply to transcend conventional thinking and provoke a sudden awakening or enlightenment. Dr. Van Overmeire explored how American Zen Buddhist writers use the practice of “koan” within their autobiographic narratives to delve into self-awakening.
In an interview with the book’s publisher, University of Virginia Press (2025), Dr. Van Overmeire reflected on his long-term fascination with Zen Buddhism and its literature, which began in his twenties. He observed that most existing studies on Zen Buddhism focus on Zen tradition in East-Asia, but the whole vibrant Zen literature in America was overlooked. This gap inspired him to investigate how American Zen Buddhists express their personal experiences and practices, especially in their autobiographies.
Author: Ben Van Overmeire
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Year of Publication: 2024
Location: 1st Floor Faculty Work
Call number: BQ9289.5 .V366 2024
Click to view online (NetID Required): https://find.library.duke.edu/catalog/DUKE99119632775708501
American Koan is the result of his long exploration and examination of the rich American Zen literature in the autobiographies of modern American writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Peter Matthiessen, Philip Kapleau, Ruth Ozeki, and others. The book also highlights how American Buddhists incorporate Zen insights into their understanding of such issues as compassion, success and failure, gender roles, and more.
The author talk was very well received, with participants showing great interest and curiosity in the subject presented by Dr. Van Overmeire. They also actively engaged in the Q&A and discussion session that followed.
References
University of Virginia Press. (2025). Author’s Corner with Ben Van Overmeire, Author of American Koan. https://www.upress.virginia.edu/author-corner/authors-corner-with-ben-van-overmeire-author-of-american-koan/
About the Speakers
Dr. Ben Van Overmeire
Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Duke Kunshan University
His research focuses on the study of Zen Buddhist texts. His teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include ethics and leadership, global China studies, religion and literature.
Dr. James Miller
Professor of Humanities, Associate Dean for Interdisciplinary Initiatives, Duke Kunshan University
His research focuses on the intersection of religion and ecology in China. He has published six books including “China’s Green Religion: Daoism and the Quest for a Sustainable Future” (Columbia, 2017). He is noted worldwide as an expert in Daoism, China’s indigenous religion. His teaching interests at Duke Kunshan include ethics and leadership, global China studies, environmental science, U.S. studies, religious studies and philosophy.
