Courses Offered Now
Tibetan Buddhism
Rel 41.05 / ASCL 51.04
This course is an introductory survey of Buddhism in Tibet from its establishment in the 8th century until the present day. Emphasis is given to the central doctrines, practices, and institutions characteristic of Tibetan Buddhism, its development of various popular and elite religious ideals (householder, nun, monk, scholar, solitary hermit, crazy yogi, and female dakini), and its evolving identity in the West.
See Syllabus here.
Buddhist Meditation Theory
Rel 41.04 / ASCL 70.20
This course offers a survey of three Buddhist frameworks for meditation practice, and differentiates them from the secularized applications of mindfulness techniques in modern society. The course primarily concerns theoretical questions and controversies surrounding Buddhist meditation, but interested students have the chance to experiment with secular mindfulness techniques outside of class in optional sessions on MWF at 8:30am where meditation instructions are given and practiced as a group.
See Syllabus here.
Some guided meditations from the course can be found here.
Buddhist Philosophy
REL 41.08/ PHIL 1.20/ ASCL 51.08
Buddhists see philosophy not just as a study of reality or the meaning of life, but as a useful step in overcoming all forms of suffering and realizing the existential happiness of a buddha. This course will provide an introductory survey of the four main Indian Buddhist philosophical schools; highlight the differences in their phenomenology, onto-epistemology, and ethics; and explore their views on the nature of consciousness, identity, perception, wisdom, and happiness. It will also touch upon Buddhist dialectical reasoning and analytical meditations aimed at developing insight into the nature of mind and its lifeworld..
Course not offered this term
See Syllabus here