Buddhism ((3))

Catalog description

An introduction to the historical and thematic expression of Buddhist beliefs and practices from the time of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, to the present. Through the study of primary and secondary sources, we will explore the rich history of Buddhism as it has shaped, and been shaped by, its spread from India throughout Asia and the West. We will explore the Three Jewels (the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha) and how they each provide refuge for those suffering in samsara (endless rebirth). We will engage in close readings of the literary and philosophical texts central to Buddhism. In addition, a central means of our access into this tradition is writings by several contemporary Buddhists who bring to our study an additional level of immediacy and concreteness.