Essentials of Buddhism

Essentials of Buddhism Norton Bridge Campus 2015

I love studying other religions and look deep into their inner worlds. Much work and research I have done concern Buddhism and major religions. When time permits I travel and teach others how to see and understand other perspectives.

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to Buddhist doctrines, practices and institutions. An important focus of the class will be on the spread and development of Buddhism across Asia and beyond, with an eye toward examining how foundational Buddhist ideas and practices have taken shape in specific places and in particular historical contexts. This course will selectively survey the foundational teachings, history and diversity of Buddhism, from the lifetime of the Buddha in fifth century BCE India to contemporary Buddhist communities in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and North America. Along the way, we will consider some important questions raised and addressed in the critical study of religion.