Week 1 Sept 30, Week 2 Oct 7, Week 3 Oct. 14, Week 4 Oct. 21, Week 5 Oct. 28, Week 6 Nov. 4, Week 7 Nov. 11, Week 8 Nov.18, Week 9 Nov. 25 -- End of Quarter Dec. 2
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Buddha Dharma University is a unique institution of higher learning that focuses on continually forging opportunities to experience a contemporary, in-depth and non-sectarian study of Buddhism, while also promoting the knowledge and understanding of the various traditions, schools, and cultures of Buddhism.
Programs are taught and mentored by scholars and masters from a variety of traditions, which takes advantage of America’s unique diversity of Buddhist practice and presentation. We are both a seminary and a general Buddhist teaching center.
Buddha Dharma University provides the opportunity to experience a profound, meaningful, and rewarding path towards Buddhist scholarship and awakening.
We are staffed by Buddhists (including monastics as well as married, ordained clergy) from many diverse walks of life, each willing, qualified, and happily able to guide students along the Buddhist scholastic path. Our mentors are all volunteers, they dedicate their time to helping others in accord with the Bodhisattva Vow in order to keep our tuition to a minimum. Many ordained Buddhist monastics from each of the three major schools of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana and Vajrayana) are involved in guiding the continual process of the refinement, development, and formation of our programs. We seek to build a bridge between the isolated silos of Buddhism which have evolved since our original Asian founders have passed on.
If you believe Buddha Dharma University is right for you, we encourage you to apply. If you are accepted, and become one of our students, please come with a Beginner’s Mind: willing to learn…and dedicated to seeing the Dharma unfold in your own life.
LIT507 - Buddhist Precepts (3 Units) Prerequisites: NoneTextbook: Buddhist Precepts - a Guide for Western Buddhist Lay Practitioners by Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma9 week course In this 21st Century Quantum Physical World why observe Buddhist Precepts? Taking refuge in the 3 Jewels is the initial step in becoming a Buddhist and following the precepts forms the foundation of the path. Buddhists practitioners observe various levels of precepts, depending upon each individual’s level of commitment to the path. The initial refuge in the 3 Jewels signifies the starting point on the path of the eradication of suffering and the awakening of not just one’s self but all sentient beings. Taking precepts can be compared to military personnel adhering to the rules of military law or citizens of a particular country abiding by the common law of their society. The difference between the first two approaches and the Buddhist approach is that the military rules or the common laws are external restrictions whereas the Buddhist precepts spring forth from a practice of self–discipline which eventually can become self regulated.
LIT501 - Chanting Practicum One (3 Units)Prerequisites: NoneTextbook: Reading materials will be provided.Course Length: 9 week courseAdditional Course Expenses: A moktak and bell (small inkin, handbell, and/or singing bowl); they are useful to have, but not required for the practicum.This course offers audio recordings for each chant and some interactive videos that will guide the student each step of the way. Chanting practice is an extremely important aspect of the Zen student’s daily liturgy. Newer students sometimes have great difficulty understanding the efficacy of chanting practice. Usually, these doubts and questions subside after chanting for a regular period of time, and most of these students eventually arrive upon a similar understanding of this chanting practice, which is something like, ‘oh! When I completely focus on my voice and the voices around me during chanting I sometimes experience the stopping of all the mental chatter in my head!’
The earliest written teachings of the historical Buddha were written in the Pali language, a language similar to the one the Buddha spoke. Although the Mahayana sutras and texts often reference the Pali sutras (or suttas, in Pali), we are then hearing someone's interpretation of the Buddha's words. I find it instructive to go back to the originals to see the richness that sometimes gets lost when we summarize the teachings. There are thousands of Pali sutras, so this course will just be a beginning intro. I have chosen sutras that I feel are particularly interesting, useful, or foundational for the teachings and expressions of the Dharma that came later. Core reading materials are provided in-course.
The earliest written teachings of the historical Buddha were written in the Pali language, a language similar to the one the Buddha spoke. Although the Mahayana sutras and texts often reference the Pali sutras (or suttas, in Pali), we are then hearing someone's interpretation of the Buddha's words. I find it instructive to go back to the originals to see the richness that sometimes gets lost when we summarize the teachings. There are thousands of Pali sutras, so this course will just be a beginning intro. I have chosen sutras that I feel are particularly interesting, useful, or foundational for the teachings and expressions of the Dharma that came later.
DPS56A - The Way of Zhuangzi (3 Units)PrerequisitesTextbook: Chuang Tzu - The Inner Chapters translated by David Hinton 9 week course “Chuang Tzu is not concerned with words and formulas about reality, but with the direct existential grasp of reality in itself. Such a grasp is necessarily obscure and does not lend itself to abstract analysis. It can be presented in a parable, a fable, or a funny story about a conversation between two philosophers. … In any event, the “way” of Chuang Tzu is mysterious because it is so simple that it can get along without being a way at all.” - Thomas Merton, The Way of Chuang Tzu Get into the Daoist flavor of Chuang Tzu (Zhuangzi). It was the seed of Buddhism from India planted in Taoist soil in China that grew into the garden of Zen. Not only does Chuang Tzu set an expanded, humorous tone for personal existential realization, but often his anecdotal, rascal-sage approach can return us to the Dao more quickly and effortlessly than some of the other Daoist texts such as the Yijing (I Ching), Daodejing (Tao Te Ching) or The Secret of the Golden Flower. But--can we ever really depart from the Dao? Let's ask Chuang Tzu and see what he tells us.
LIT502 - Chanting Practicum Two (3 Units) Professor: Ven. Do'an PrajnaPrequisites: LIT501Textbook: NoneCourse Length: 9 weeks This is a second level practicum in which chants from the Korean and Vietnamese lineages common to special occasions and ceremonies. Most of the chants covered in this course are chanted in foreign languages, primarily Sino-Korea, but also Vietnamese, Pali and Sanskrit. At most temples and practice centers ceremonies will be performed in the traditional style, so it is important to become familiar with them. As an American or Western Buddhist tradition comes into its own, these ceremonial and special occasion chants will likely be chanted in English. But until that day, much of our chanting will likely move back and forth between English and foreign languages. A practicum implies "practice", which means that this course is a hands-on and participatory. The student is required to actively engage with the chants in order to benefit from this course. As the student practices the chants in this course, a personal style of chanting is encouraged. Students will be given license to express themselves more freely during their daily liturgy practice.
LIT503 - Meditation Practicum One (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: None9 week course We are thrilled that you have taken the opportunity to use this service to strengthen your connection to your inner strength and spirituality! Each week you will be given meditations to accomplish. We encourage you to dive in wholeheartedly -- with great courage -- so that, gradually, some of these activities will develop into your all important Daily Routine. The daily routines are the fundamental practices that will become your individual daily practice long after you finish your program of study with us. If you’d like to share the experience with a friend, why not send them a link to the site and they can sign-up too? It can be very helpful when developing a routine to receive support from those around you.
LIT504 - Meditation Practicum Two (3 Units)Prerequisite: LIT021Textbook: On Line Resources9 week course Each week you will be given meditations to accomplish and gradually some of these activities will develop into your all important Daily Routine.The daily routines are the fundamental practices that when combined become your individual daily practice long after you finish your program. We are thrilled that you have taken the opportunity to use this service to strengthen your connection to your inner strength and spirituality. Oh, and if you’d like to share the experience with a friend why not send them a link to the site and they can sign-up too. It can be very helpful when developing a routine to receive support from those around you.
LIT505 - Buddhist Ceremonies (3 Units)No Prerequisites: Chanting Practicum I and IITextbook: Zen Liturgy - Korean Zen Practice Forms9 week course
LIT506 - BuddhistHomiletics (3 Units) No Prerequisites Textbook: Buddhist Homiletics 9 week course Homiletics is the study of the composition and delivery of a sermon or other religious discourse. It includes all forms of preaching, viz., the sermon, homily and catechetical instruction.It may be further defined as the study of the analysis, classification, preparation, composition and delivery of sermons.The "Standard Dictionary" defines Homiletics as "that branch of rhetoric that treats of the composition and delivery of sermons or homilies". This definition was particularly influential in the 19th century among such thinkers as John Broadus. Thinkers such as Karl Barth have resisted this definition, maintaining that homiletics should retain a critical distance from rhetoric. The homiletics/rhetoric relationship has been a major issue in homiletic theory since the mid-20th century.On occasion there is a formal Dharma Talk at each of our Zen Centers. A student who has taken the Five Precepts, has been practicing steadily for some time, and is familiar with our particular style of teaching usually gives the talk. The talk should last about twenty minutes, after which there is a period for questions. When the Guiding Teacher is at the Zen Center, the Guiding Teacher will answer them. When the Guiding Teacher is not, a Senior Dharma Teacher answers them. Questions are directed to the Dharma Teacher but may also be asked of the student who gave the talk, so there are always two people involved in the presentation.\ Text: Buddhist Homiletics - Discourse Beyond Religion PDF provided in-course Link to purchase: https://www.lulu.com/shop/ven-dr-wonji-dharma-and-rev-dr-cheolsoeng-prajna/buddhist-homiletics-discourse-beyond-religion-writing-delivering-dharma-talks/paperback/product-23907635.html?fbclid=IwAR0Hs5GyWry63vQC_vJuxdEb_VCDCbePWDJQs4T52EinK1oBKPHnlKjhWUg&page=1&pageSize=4
The practice of Buddhism requires meditation. We all learn how to do it, usually fairly early on. Many of us go on to start meditation groups. But the practice of teaching meditation is a bit of a different matter. How do we learn to guide others into their own meditative practice, especially in a group setting? This nine-week course explores teaching various forms of meditation, with an emphasis on teaching mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness, when learned properly, is an excellent gateway to self-awareness and the ability to experience discomfort without an accompanying existential crisis. Our main course book focuses on mindfulness as a road to exploration, with individual lessons throughout the course touching other practices. Books required: A Clinician's Guide to Mindfulness (Christiane Wolf, MD. PhD and J Greg Serpa, PhDISBN: 978-1-62625-139-7 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Clinicians-Teaching-Mindfulness-Session-Session/dp/1626251398/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2QVIBLAMZDNHP&keywords=a+clinicians+guide+to+teaching+mindfulness&qid=1703296273&sprefix=a+clinician%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1
This course, designed for introductory, general interest study and is specifically designed for Community Colleges.
BST511 – The Life of the Buddha (3 Units)PrerequisitesTextbook: The Life of the Buddha by Karen Armstrong9 week course With such bestsellers as A History of God and Islam, Karen Armstrong has consistently delivered "penetrating, readable, and prescient" (The New York Times) works that have lucidly engaged a wide range of religions and religious issues. In Buddha she turns to a figure whose thought is still reverberating throughout the world 2,500 years after his death.Many know the Buddha only from seeing countless serene, iconic images. But what of the man himself and the world he lived in? What did he actually do in his roughly eighty years on earth that spawned one of the greatest religions in world history? Armstrong tackles these questions and more by examining the life and times of the Buddha in this engrossing philosophical biography. Against the tumultuous cultural background of his world, she blends history, philosophy, mythology, and biography to create a compelling and illuminating portrait of a man whose awakening continues to inspire millions.
BST519 - Foundational Buddhism (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching - Thich Nhat Hanh9 week course In The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hanh introduces us to the core teachings of Buddhism and shows us that the Buddha's teachings are accessible and applicable to our daily lives. With poetry and clarity, Nhat Hanh imparts comforting wisdom about the nature of suffering and its role in creating compassion, love, and joy--all qualities of enlightenment. Covering such significant teachings as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, the Three Doors of Liberation, the Three Dharma Seals, and the Seven Factors of Awakening, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is a radiant beacon on Buddhist thought for the initiated and uninitiated alike.
BST518 - Compass of Zen (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: The Compass of Zen Teaching by Zen Master Seung Sahn9 week course This Course Contains original Video of the last time Zen Master Seung Sahn taught the Compass to the public in 2004. There are 9 plus hours of video lectures delivered by the Great Master himself. This course begins examinations of the specific style of Ancestral Zen promulgated within the Five Mountain Zen Order. Through the words of Zen Master Seung Sahn (78th Ancestor of the FMZO lineage) as presented in his seminal text "The Compass of Zen", this course further expands upon the material presented in BPH 101, 102, and 103. The Compass of Zen is a simple, exhaustive—and often hilarious—presentation of the essence of Zen by a modern Zen Master of considerable renown. In his many years of teaching throughout the world, the Korean-born Zen Master Seung Sahn has become known for his ability to cut to the heart of Buddhist teaching in a way that is strikingly clear, yet free of esoteric and academic language. In this book, based largely on his talks, he presents the basic teachings of Buddhism and Zen in a way that is wonderfully accessible for beginners—yet so rich with stories, insights, and personal experiences that long-time meditation students will also find it a source of inspiration and a resource for study.
BST516 - The Mirror of Zen (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: The Mirror of Zen by Beop Joeng9 week course From the preface: "If you were to comb the mountains and valleys of Korea, polling every meditating monk and nun and hermit and ascetic as to the most necessary, essential, inseparable compendium of teachings apart from the Buddha's sutras themselves, chances are that most of them would choose The Mirror of Zen. It is by far the most quoted, most cited, most referred-to text in the tea rooms and teaching halls of the Zen temples in Korea." Its author was Zen Master So Sahn who was born in 1520 in what is now North Korea. He became a monk at 21 and during his lifetime he assumed leadership positions at both the Zen and Sutra schools of Korean Buddhism. For this book, he chose 86 teachings from the Buddhist canon as the essence of of Zen. He also added commentaries, gathas, and capping words for our benefit. In this course we will study this great book. The class will consist of reading assignments, video lectures, forum activities and quizzes. The professor will be also be available. The goals for this class are to introduce us to this great book and ultimately to learn from a great Zen Master in the Korean tradition.
BST512 – Buddhism Beyond Religion (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor 9 week course Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background. Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
BST517 - Dropping Ashes on the Buddha (3 Units) No PrerequisitesTextbook: Dropping Ashes on the Buddha 9 week course “Somebody comes into the Zen center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha statue, blows smoke in its face, and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?” This is a problem that Zen Master Seung Sahn is fond of posing to his American students who attend his Zen centers. Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a delightful, irreverent, and often hilariously funny living record of the dialogue between Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn and his American students. Consisting of dialogues, stories, formal Zen interviews, Dharma speeches, and letters using the Zen Master’s actual words in spontaneous, living interaction with his students, this book is a fresh presentation of the Zen teaching method of “instant dialogue” between Master and student which, through the use of astonishment and paradox, leads to an understanding of ultimate reality. Zen Master Seung Sahn taught Zen in the United States for over 30 years after receiving Dharma transmission in Korea. This collection of Dharma talks, letters, and interchanges with his students is from his early years in the US, the mid-1970s. It is a wonderful record of how a true master worked with his students to help them wake up. In this course, we will study Zen Master Seung Sahn's teachings/teaching style as presented in this great book. The class will consist of reading assignments, lectures, forum discussions, quizzes and a final paper. The goals of this class are to study the words of Zen Master Seung Sahn, to see how he taught his students, and to apply these teachings in our own lives.
The Sangha was originally established by Gautama Buddha in the fifth century BCE in order to provide a means for those who wish to practice full-time in a direct and highly disciplined way, free from the restrictions and responsibilities of the household life. (Source) Today, the word Sangha has evolved to include any group of people who practice the teachings of The Buddha. The Sangha is one of The Three Refuges--The Buddha, The Dharma, & The Sangha. Or, the historical teacher, Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha), the teachings of The Buddha, and the community of people practicing together. This nine week course involves visiting by Zoom various different Sanghas. (A Sangha may or may not be associated with a physical temple.) We will then explore our reaction to each of those temple's traditions, as they will all be different, and they all will have the same heart--the alleviation of suffering, or dissatisfactoriness.
BST513 - Spiritual Materialism (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbook: Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche 9 week course In this modern spiritual classic, the Tibetan meditation master Chgyam Trungpa highlights a common pitfall to which every aspirant on the spiritual path falls prey: what he calls spiritual materialism. The universal human tendency, he shows, is to see spirituality as a process of self-improvementthe impulse to develop and refine the ego when the ego is, by nature, essentially empty. The problem, Trungpa says, is that ego can convert anything to its own use, even spirituality. His incisive, compassionate teachings serve to wake us up from this trick we all play on ourselves, and to offer us a far brighter reality: the true and joyous liberation that inevitably involves letting go of the self rather than working to improve it. It is a message that has resonated with students for over thirty years and remains fresh as ever today. This edition includes a foreward by Chgyam Trungpas son and lineage holder Sakyong Mipham.
BST515 - Intro to Zen Buddhism (3 Units) Prerequisites: Textbook: Zen Philosophy, Zen Practice by Thich Thien-An 9 week course This text explores the way of Zen and its inner truth. Each chapter includes a meditation practice. A little known gem in a sea of literature referring to Zen Buddhism. A book I find myself referring back to more often than any other I own. The first time I read it I gained more insight into the history of zen, where it was coming from, and the people it arrived through. Most importantly at the end of every chapter is a method of practicing zen. This, along with the stress on practicing Zen principles in daily life is why I would highly recommend this book to the beginning Zen practitioner.
LIT504A - Zhàn Zhuāng Qigōng Meditation (3 Units)Prerequisite: NoneTextbook: On Line Resources10 week courseÉméi Zhàn Zhuāng Qigōng (峨眉站桩氣內功)During the early Qing era, many monks had traveled to Éméi (峨眉山) mountain and learned the Martial Arts and Nèigōngs (內功) taught there. Neigong practice is normally associated with the so-called “soft style”, “internal” or Nèijiā (內家) Chinese martial arts They eventually reached the Fujian temples and brought this internal martial arts influence there. The tiger based Nèigōngs from Éméi were said to have been brought to Fújiàn Shěng (福建省) by Báiméi (白眉). Today the Báiméi style is a dragon and tiger based martial art.In 1050 ACE, a monk traveled to the top of Mt Éméi, one of China’s Four Holy Mountains. This monk trained and meditated on Éméi and, when he realized liberation, took the name Báiyún (White Cloud). Chàn Master Báiyún Shŏuduān (白雲守) wrote all his sacred knowledge, including his system designed to cultivate health and treat illness while striving to attain enlightenment, in a book called “The Éméi Treasured Lotus Cannon” which is currently being held in a Beijing Museum. Báiyún’s art consists of The Twelve Ways, The Six Tiger Steps (or Tiger Walking), Meditations, Healing Sounds, Medicine, Weapons, etc. Éméi neigong emphasizes healing, internal self-cultivation of Qi ((氣) energy), and the cleansing of one's heart so that one's true nature and latent abilities can emerge. In the Éméi system, the 12 Zhuang - Ways (or Paths), commonly known as 12 posts, are the Body Cultivation. These are specific short sets designed to un-lock and holistically link the body while keeping it healthy and strong. They are like India’s Yogic practices but of Chinese origin. In the Éméi system it is the Snake that binds the 12 Zhuāng and Éméi Art together. Per the 12th generation Grandmaster Fu Wei Zhong, the Mother of the 12 Ways is the Zhàn zhuāng (Heaven Post). According to Fu Wei Zhong: “Zhàn Za Zhuāng is to Éméi just as San Ti Shi is to Xing Yi”. The last Zhuāng in the Éméi art, Mei Za Zhuāng, is based on Meditation practice, one of four different types of meditations that the Éméi practitioner studies at that level. The Éméi 6 sets of Tiger Walking exercises are the 12 Ways for the Lower Half and uniting the Upper and Lower Half. Éméi Weaponry comes in three forms: Sword, Short Blade (Dagger) and Hand Spike, with the long weapons not being practical in the Éméi dense and mountainous terrain.
BGI522 - Zen Poetry (3 Units) Prerequisites: None Textbook: 9 week course From what I have surmised over the past twenty years of introspective practice, Zen has everything to do with learning to live inside of questions and not so much living inside of the answers to those questions. It is so simple, that I have often been accused of being a buffoon or at other times a pompous jerk. Anymore, I try not to talk about Zen; I would rather discuss how someone is feeling or maybe muse on what a beautiful sunset can do to the psyche. Nonetheless, I am titling this collection of poetry a Zen Poetry book and I therefore feel obligated to speak briefly about Zen and poetry. This leads me then, to a question and not an answer that I find such a wonderful and refreshing treat. What is Zen poetry? We all may have various ideas about what poetry is or what it should be. This question about Zen poetry has been pondered since Bodhidharma first expounded the Blood Sermon in the Sixth Century of the Common Era. So, like the scholar that I am I followed back the origin of the word “poetry” in Chinese written language, and I found that the logograph or written character for poetry is an ideogram pronounced (shih); and this character is the combination of the individual logographs for “word” and “temple.” I have discovered that Chinese language, due to the structure and imagery evoked within the logographs themselves, is much more visual and poetic than the derived Greek languages we use in the West. This is an inseparable part of the imagery that is manifest within each of the symbolic ideograms. Compared to Chinese our alphabet is a cryptic type of binary computer code, which can convey a lot of information but contains no imagery other than the meaning implied directly; however, the images that spring forth in written Chinese for the word poetry for example is that of “a temple or shrine for words.”
BGI521 - Zen and Modern Film (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: Multimedia Course with On-Line Videos9 week course To view popular movies on the subject of Zen and explore their entertainment value as well as their social merit. 1.Temptation of a Monk 2.Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring 3.Zen – Dogen 4.Amongst White Clouds 5.Zen Noir 6.Why Has Bodhidharma Left for the East? 7.Asoka
MTH591 -BDU Course Development (9 Units) Teachers Approved for ParticipationTextbook: Research on Independent Approved topics 9 Week Course Planning and designing an online course takes considerable time and thought, whether it begins as a face-to-face class or it is constructed from scratch. To create the most engaging and effective courses in the most efficient (and even enjoyable!) way possible, BDU faculty partner with one of the University's instructional designers.
BGI521 - Eastern Spirituality and Modern Film (3 Units)No PrerequisitesTextbook: Multimedia Course with On-Line Videos9 week course To view popular movies on the subject of Eastern Spiritual Values and explore their entertainment value as well as their social merit. The Razor's Edge (Original) The Razor's Edge (Bill Murray Remake) Groundhog Day Kumaré Dogma One Track Heart Fierce Grace The Matrix Revolver
In this course we explore the stories of historic and modern Zen Teachers through 100 historic kong-ans and commentary by modern teachers - women, all of them. Women have always brought a different flavor to Zen, both in practice and teaching, and it's all-too-often been overlooked. Here is your chance to dive into kong-an practice and look at it from a new perspective.Books required:The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Zen WomenEdited by Florence CaplowISBN: 978-0-86171-659-3Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Lamp-Twenty-Five-Centuries-Awakened/dp/0861716590/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NLC72NENVBMG&keywords=The+hidden+lamp&qid=1699815934&sprefix=the+hidden+lamp%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1
SUT532 - Heart Sūtra (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: The Heart of the Universe: Exploring the Heart Sutra by Mu Soeng The Heart Sūtra (Red Pine edition, Amazon paperback) Though The Heart Sutra is an ancient Buddhist scripture, scholars are now discovering how it offers insight into the nature of an ultimate reality perceived through intuitive wisdom. Fascinatingly, quantum physicists are increasingly discovering interesting parallels between science and the basic insights of The Heart Sutra. In this important offering, Mu Soeng shows how the intellectual and the intuitive can begin to meet. In offering a commentary on this important piece of the world’s great religious literature, The Heart of the Universe establishes a broad context to encounter The Heart Sutra on many levels — historical, spiritual, and empirical — each serving to interdependently illuminate the other.
SUT534 - Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (3 Units) Prerequisites: Must have received Zen Priest Precepts Textbook: Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra 9 week course beginning the week of The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra (Sanskrit: लंकावतारसूत्र Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra; traditional Chinese:楞伽經; pinyin: léngqié jīng) is a sutra of Mahāyāna Buddhism. The sūtra recounts a teaching primarily between the Buddha and a bodhisattva named Mahāmati ("Great Wisdom"). The sūtra is set in Laṅkā, the island fortress capital of Rāvaṇa, the king ofrākṣasas. The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra figured prominently in the development of Chinese, Tibetan andJapanese Buddhism. It is notably an important sūtra in Chinese Chán and its Japanese version, Zen.
SUT531 - Platform Sūtra (3 Units)Prerequisites: None Textbook: The Platform Sutra of Huineng by Mong Mou-Lam 9 week course Textbook: The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng by A. F. Price, Wong Mou-lam, W. Y. Evans-Wentz and Christmas Humphreys 9 week course beginning the week of The Sutra of Hui-neng, also known as the Platform Sutra, contains the autobiography of a pivotal figure in Zen history and some of the most profound passages of Zen literature. Hui-neng (638–713) was the sixth patriarch of Zen in China, but is often regarded as the true father of the Zen tradition. He was a poor, illiterate woodcutter who is said to have attained enlightenment upon hearing a recitation of the Diamond Sutra. Together, these two scriptures present the central teaching of the Zen Buddhist tradition and are essential reading for all students of Buddhism.
The Sutra of the Lotus of the Wonderful Dharma Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra (Sanskrit) Sanskrit: सद्धर्मपुण्डरीकसूत्र Saddharma Puṇḍarīka Sūtra Chinese: 妙法蓮華經 Miàofǎ Liánhuá Jīng, shortened to 法華經 Fǎhuá Jīng Japanese: 妙法蓮華経 Myōhō-Renge-Kyō, shortened to 法華経 Hokke-Kyō, Hoke-Kyō Korean: 묘법연화경 Myobeop Yeonhwa Gyeong, shortened to 법화경 Beophwa Gyeong Vietnamese Diệu Pháp Liên Hoa Kinh, shortened to Pháp Hoa Kinh This course includes weekly meditation topics concerning the contents of the Lotus Sutra. Apply the Vipassana or Insight Meditation technique. Sit quietly and reflect on the topic assigned each week. It is recommended that you sit for twenty minutes, using a timer. Link to purchase text: https://www.amazon.com/Threefold-Lotus-Sutra-Bunno-Kato/dp/4333002087
SUT535 - Perfect Enlightenment Sūtra (3 Units) Textbook: The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (PDF) by A. Charles Muller 9 week course The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, used in monastic education for more than a millennium (probably composed in the eighth century), is a concise guide to the key paradigms of the practice systems of the East Asian meditation schools (Ch'an, Son, and Zen). It has been most popular in the Chinese and Korean schools. As Zen students, there is value to studying this Mahayana teaching as it employs many different ways to try to get people of different aptitudes to wake up. We will also see how it also helps the reader to understand the process of Sutra development.In this course we will study this great teaching. The class will consist of reading assignments, video lectures, forum activities, quizzes and of course, a professor will be available. The ultimate goals of this class are to study this book, to see what we can glean from it as far as how to practice and how to teach others to practice. We will also focus on the development of the Sutra as it works to to help different audiences.
BET542 - Ahimsa (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbook: 9-week course beginning the week of
BET541 - Buddhist Ethics (3 Units)Prerequisites: Textbook: 9 week course In The Mind of Clover he addresses the world beyond the zazen cushions, illuminating issues of appropriate personal and social action through an exploration of the philosophical complexities of Zen ethics.Aitken's approach is clear and sure as he shows how our minds can be as nurturing as clover, which enriches the soil and benefits the environment as it grows. The opening chapters discuss the Ten Grave Precepts of Zen, which, Aitken points out, are "not commandments etched in stone but expressions of inspiration written in something more fluid than water." Aitken approaches these precepts, the core of Zen ethics, from several perspectives, offering many layers of interpretation. Like ripples in a pond, the circles of his interpretation increasingly widen, and he expands his focus to confront corporate theft and oppression, the role of women in Zen and society, abortion, nuclear war, pollution of the environment, and other concerns.The Mind of Cloverchampions the cause of personal responsibility in modern society, encouraging nonviolent activism based on clear convictions. It is a guide that engages, that invites us to realize our own potential for confident and responsible action.
Whether you're leading a meditation group, a Refuge Recovery group or any other position of leadership within a Buddhist-based community, there's a need for a clear understanding of what we can teach, when we teach, and perhaps most importantly, what we should leave alone.Leading the Way: How to Teach What You Practice is specifically designed to help us understand how to effectively offer the fruits of our own practice to others in a way that is helpful, kind, and above all, does no harm to others. This course is a prerequesite for anyone on the Masters program or working through the path to Ordination via our affiliated sanghas. No additional textbooks are required for this class.
BET543 - Huayan Buddhism (3 Units) Prerequisites: Completion of basic Buddhist Classes Textbook: Francis Cook's "The Jewel Net of Indra" Hua-yen is regarded as the highest form of Buddhism by most modern Japanese and Chinese scholars. This book is a description and analysis of the Chinese form of Buddhism called Hua-yen (or Hwa-yea), Flower Ornament, based largely on one of the more systematic treatises of its third patriarch. Hua-yen Buddhism strongly resembles Whitehead's process philosophy, and has strong implications for modern philosophy and religion.Hua-yen Buddhism explores the philosophical system of Hua-yen in greater detail than does Garma C.C. Chang's The Buddhist Teaching of Totality (Penn State, 1971). An additional value is the development of the questions of ethics and history. Thus, Professor Cook presents a valuable sequel to Professor Changs pioneering work.The Flower Ornament School was developed in China in the late 7th and early 8th centuries as an innovative interpretation of Indian Buddhist doctrines in the light of indigenous Chinese presuppositions, chiefly taoist. Hua-yen is a cosmic ecology, which views all existence as an organic unity, so it has an obvious appeal to the modern individual, both students and layman. 9 week course
BET545 - Buddhist Monastic Code (3 Units)PrerequisitesTextbook: Origins of the Buddhist Monastic Code by Venerable Yifa9 week course beginning the week of This book is a study and an annotated translation of the earliest Chan monastic code in existence. This new research reflects Buddhologists' growing interests in Buddhist monastic life. Its author, Dr. Yifa, has faithfully translated this monastic code and provides an insightful introduction to Chinese monastic tradition. The subject of the book, the Chanyuan qinggui (Rules of purity for the Chan monastery, 1103), is an edition of Chan monastic codes compiled by Zongze (d. 1107?) during the Northern Song dynasty. Immediately after its compilation, this text became extremely influential, to which Japanese pilgrims such as Eisai and Dogen attested. After the Song dynasty, although several other editions of monastic codes were compiled in order to accommodate the variety of existing practices, the influence of Chanyuan qinggui was still visible in new monastic codes such as Chixiu Baizhang qinggui, an imperial edition compiled in 1338. Yifa's work is divided into two parts: a detailed introduction to Chinese monastic rules and to the origin of the Chanyuan qinggui and an annotated translation of the text. In the first part, Yifa successfully situates Chanyuan qinggui in the Chinese monastic tradition and delineates a clear picture of the evolution of monastic regulations in China since the translation of Mahasanghika Vinaya texts by Dharmakala in the third century. According to Yifa's study, Chanyuan qinggui is a rich collection of monastic rules and a textual reflection of monastic life. The original text of Chanyuan qinggui includes a preface and ten fascicles. Yifa chose to translate the preface and the first seven fascicles because the rest of the texts are appendices. The preface is a statement of Zongze's purpose for compiling such a text. Fascicle 1, which is the longest of the ten, stipulates the ritual protocols of everyday monastic life, such as taking precepts and attending meals and tea ceremonies. Fascicle 2 details proper procedures for offering sermons and chanting sessions and for organizing summer retreats. Fascicles 3 and 4 discuss the roles of monastic officials in detail. Fascicle 5 contains a lengthy description of how tea ceremonies are to be performed. Fascicle 6 details ritual procedures for burning incense, reading sutras, and delivering letters. Fascicle 7 sets forth rules and etiquette for abbots, who hold the most important official post in the monastery. There are six extant editions of Chanyuan qinggui, all of which are preserved in Japan. Yifa's translation is based on an annotated edition by Japanese scholars Kagamishima Genryu, Sato Tatsugen, and Kosaka Kiyu. After comparing Yifa's translation with the original text, I find that Yifa's translation is in general reliable and elegant. In particular, Yifa has done an excellent job of rendering Buddhist ritual terms, official titles, and obscure Chan phrases into English. Yifa's approach to Chanyuan qinggui is based on a methodology that stresses continuities rather than discontinuities within Chinese monastic tradition. This methodology has been well illustrated in her discussion of the authenticity of Baizhang's monastic codes, which has been disputed by scholars such as Griffith Foulk. Following the Japanese scholar Kondo Ryoichi, Foulk argued some years ago that Baizhang's monastic regulations (Baizhang qinggui) are a myth manufactured during the Song because no earlier sources mention the existence of such a code (see Foulk, "Myth, Ritual, and Monastic Practice in Sung Ch'an Buddhism," in Religion and Society in T'ang and Sung China, ed. by Patricia B. Ebrey and Peter N. Gregory [Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 1993]). According to Foulk, Chan monastic codes were compiled largely on the basis of the existing Buddhist monastic life because Chan Buddhism was superimposed upon the existing monastic structure as a result of the conversion of Vinaya monasteries into Chan monasteries by imperial order. Describing Kondo's and Foulk's method as argumentum ex silencio, Yifa asserts that this argument is deficient because the absence of textual references is not valid proof of the nonexistence of Baizhang's monastic code. For example, as Yifa points out, although Zongze compiled Chanyuan qinggui, no other sources about Zongze actually mention his compilation. Therefore, although she is in agreement with Foulk that Baizhang's code was not a complete departure from the existing Buddhist tradition, Yifa believes that "Baizhang could have had a monastic text written for his order, as did many monks before him; however, this text could not have been given the title Baizhang qinggui" (p. 34). Emphasis on continuities leads Yifa to rely heavily on the method of textual comparison between Chanyuan qinggui and other monastic codes. Through meticulous comparisons that are intended to identify textual parallels, Yifa has firmly established her thesis that "most of the elements of the work reach back much further in time than scholars have suspected" (p. 96). She demonstrates that, in addition to the Vinaya heritage, Chanyuan qinggui reflects indigenous Chinese influences, especially those from governmental regulation of monasteries and from Confucian ritual manuals.
HZM554 - Chán Master Mǎzŭ (3 Units)Prerequisites: None Textbook: Sun-Face Buddha: The Teachings of Ma-Tsu9 week course A translation of the primary materials on the life and teachings of Ma-Tsu (709-788), the successor to the great sixth patriarch and the greatest Ch'an master in history, Hui-Neng (638-713). The book should be invaluable to all who wish to study the development of the Zen thought and philosophy over the course of history.
HZM551 - Bodhidharma - the Man, the Myth, the Legend (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbook: The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma: A Bilingual Edition by Red Pine 9 week course There is a question as to whether there is conclusive evidence on the existence of Bodhidharma, the 28th Ancestor after the Buddha in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Though he is an icon in the Zen tradition, many scholars and researchers still insist that he is a myth. Credit is due to those Chinese authors of the 5th, 6th and 7thcenturies who wrote about Bodhidharma in China - in the days when there were no modern facilities to assist them in their writing. It is only due to their writings and references to Bodhidharma that we are able to establish his bonafide and do away with the “myth” theory that is still being propagated. Regardless of this fact, if Bodhidharma did not exist, some very wise person wrote the essays that bear his name in history. It is the heart of Bodhidharma that we follow and this class will explore the man, the myth and the legend. Separating the imaginative stories from facts has led to the creation of this course and Bodhidharma’s resilience and persistence in his endeavors set an example for us to pursue the practice of Zen ,though at times it becomes extremely difficult, as Bodhidharma is regarded as saying,“Fall down nine times, get up ten times.”
HZM552 - Chán Master Huangbo (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbook: The Zen Teaching of Huang-Po: On the Transmission of Mind by John Blofeld 9 week course This complete translation of the original collection of sermons, dialogues, and anecdotes of Huang Po, the illustrious Chinese master of the Tang Dynasty, allows the Western reader to gain an understanding of Zen from the original source, one of the key works in its teachings; it also offers deep and often startling insights into the rich treasures of Eastern thought. Nowhere is the use of paradox in Zen illustrated better than in the teaching of Huang Po, who shows how the experience of intuitive knowledge that reveals to a man what he is cannot be communicated by words. With the help of these paradoxes, beautifully and simply presented in this collection, Huang Po could set his disciples on the right path. It is in this fashion that the Zen master leads his listener into truth, often by a single phrase designed to destroy his particular demon of ignorance.
Course Description In this course, we will explore the life and writings of the thirteenth-century Buddhist priest, poet, and Zen Master Eihei Dōgen. Dōgen is known as the founder of the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism in Japan. His major writings, collected into the Shōbōgenzō, also known as the “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye,” is considered a seminal work in Buddhist literature and philosophy. It covers topics from the mundane, including how monks are to care for their hygiene, to the esoteric, including the nature of time itself. The course will give the student a variety of resources both to study during the course, and to return to in order to delve more deeply into Dōgen’s philosophy, practice, and work. Objectives Demonstrate and explain how to do zazen meditation Describe Dōgen’s history and his influence on Buddhism List components of Dōgen’s instructions for monastics Compare and contrast different translations of Dōgen’s writings Describe how Dōgen used Kōans, and compare one of his kōans to a corresponding Dharma talk Describe how Dōgen’s writings can be used in your work as a priest, teacher, or chaplain Expectations Engaging in all components of each week comprised of videos, readings, reflection papers, and other exercises Regularly contributing to discussions and responding to peers: 30% A mid-term assessment assignment: 30% A final paper: 40%
KBS561: Korean Buddhism in the Era of Reform Course description: During the first half of the twentieth century, Korean Buddhists engaged in significant reform efforts, both to redress historical persecution and to respond to the political and social changes brought about by Japanese colonization. This course examines both the organizational and doctrinal impacts of those attempts at modernization. Texts: Trial and Error in Modernist Reforms: Korean Buddhism under Colonial Rule Pori Park Institute of East Asian Studies (2009) ISBN-10: 1557290946 ISBN-13: 978-1557290946 Makers of Modern Korean Buddhism, Jin Y. Park, (ed.) State University of New York Press (2010) ISBN-10: 1438429223 ISBN-13: 978-1438429229 Additional resources: www.koreanbuddhism.net www.taegozen.net www.wonbuddhism.org
KBS562 - Introduction to Korean Soen Course Description: Through the teachings of five ancient Masters, this course examines the roots of Korean Soen, with emphasis on its hallmark practice: contemplating the huàtóu. Texts: A Buddha from Korea: The Zen teachings of T’aego J.C. Cleary Shambhala (2001) ISBN-10: 1570626677 ISBN-13: 978-1570626678 Master Wonhyo: An Overview of his Life and Teachings Jeong, Byeong-Jo http://www.koreanhero.net/Wonhyo/MasterWonhyo_Booklet.pdf Swampland Flowers: The Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui J.C. Cleary Shambhala (2006) ISBN-10: 1590303180 The Mirror of Zen: The Classic Guide to Buddhist Practice by Zen Master So Sahn Boep Joeng Shambhala (2006) ISBN-10: 1590303849 ISBN-13: 978-1590303849 Tracing Back the Radiance: Chinul’s Way of Korean Zen Robert Buswell, Jr. Univ of Hawaii Press (1991) ISBN-10: 0824814274 ISBN-13: 978-0824814274 Additional Resource: The Collected Works of Korean Buddhism http://www.acmuller.net/kor-bud/collected_works.html
REL572 - Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth Prerequisites: None Textbook: The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Videos: The interviews in the first five episodes were filmed at George Lucas's Skywalker Ranch in California, with the sixth interview conducted at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, during the final two summers of Campbell's life. (The series was broadcast on television a year after his death.) In these discussions, Campbell presents his ideas about comparative mythology and the ongoing role of myth in human society. These talks include excerpts from Campbell's seminal work The Hero with a Thousand Faces.
BET544 - Buddhist Psychology (3 Units) Prerequisites: You must have taken Sramanera Precepts & Have Completed at least 54 units to take this course Textbook: 9 week course
MTH597 - Thesis I (Proposal)(3 units)Approved Masters Students OnlyTextbook: Research on Independent Approved topicsSelf Paced Course
MTH598- Thesis II (Material & Format)(9 units)Approved Masters Students OnlyTextbook: Research on Independent Approved topicsSelf Paced Course
MTH599 - Thesis III (Oral Defense)(3 units)Authorized Masters Students OnlyTextbook: Research on Independent Approved topicsSelf Paced Course
BST512 – Buddhism Beyond Religion (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor 9 week course Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background. Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
BST512 – Buddhism Beyond Religion (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor 9 week course Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background. Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
BST512 – Buddhism Beyond Religion (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor 9 week course Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background. Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.
BST512 – Buddhism Beyond Religion (3 Units) Prerequisites Textbooks: Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening by Stephen Batchelor and Confession of a Buddhist Atheist by Stephen Batchelor 9 week course Those with an interest in Buddhism will welcome this new book by Stephen Batchelor, former monk and author of Alone With Others and The Awakening of the West. But those who are just discovering this increasingly popular practice will have much to gain as well-for Buddhism Without Beliefs serves as a solid, straightforward introduction that demystifies Buddhism and explains simply and plainly how its practice can enrich our lives. Avoiding jargon and theory, Batchelor concentrates on the concrete, making Buddhism accessible and compelling and showing how anyone can embark on this path-regardless of their religious background. Does Buddhism require faith? Can an atheist or agnostic follow the Buddha’s teachings without believing in reincarnation or organized religion? This is one man’s confession. In his classic Buddhism Without Beliefs, Stephen Batchelor offered a profound, secular approach to the teachings of the Buddha that struck an emotional chord with Western readers. Now, with the same brilliance and boldness of thought, he paints a groundbreaking portrait of the historical Buddha—told from the author’s unique perspective as a former Buddhist monk and modern seeker. Drawing from the original Pali Canon, the seminal collection of Buddhist discourses compiled after the Buddha’s death by his followers, Batchelor shows us the Buddha as a flesh-and-blood man who looked at life in a radically new way. Batchelor also reveals the everyday challenges and doubts of his own devotional journey—from meeting the Dalai Lama in India, to training as a Zen monk in Korea, to finding his path as a lay teacher of Buddhism living in France. Both controversial and deeply personal, Stephen Batchelor’s refreshingly doctrine-free, life-informed account is essential reading for anyone interested in Buddhism.