Over the course of its long history, Buddhism has been the most influential and widely practiced religion in Asia. Beginning in India 2500 years ago, it eventually spread to China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Mongolia, and to Sri Lanka and throughout Southeast Asia. More recently, it has spread to Europe, the Americas, and Australia. This course is an introduction to the major themes in Buddhist thought and practice. Beginning with the early teachings associated with the historical Buddha, the course will go on to consider the development of the tradition over its long history in India. The readings for the course will consist entirely of Buddhist texts in translation.

Course Requirements:

Lecture attendance, participation in discussion section, two midterms, one short paper

Intended Audience:

All students interested in Buddhism, Asian philosophy, and Asian religions. No background in Buddhism or Asian Studies is required.

Class Format:

The lecture portion of this course will be fully online and asynchronous. Discussion sections will require fully online and synchronous participation.