This course introduces Buddhist thought and practice, from its roots in ancient India to its efflorescence in Asia and elsewhere. Analysis of central Buddhist narratives and tenets are balanced with a study of the ‘lived religion’ in several diverse cultural contexts. Shared and distinctive commitments and practices of the three major living traditions, Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, will receive close attention. Sources include classical texts, memoirs, scholarly essays, and documentary and feature films.
Hours credit: 4. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission of the instructor.
- Teacher: Suzanne Bessenger