Buddhist Studies

Spring 2025:

​This semester the seminar will focus on the early development of the Chinese Chan tradition. Topics covered will include: antecedents of Chan in early Prajñāpāramitā literature; the influence of Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and Tantra; the evidence of the Dunhuang Chan manuscripts (including the Platform Scripture); the writings of medieval Tang exegetes (esp. Zongmi 宗密, 780-841); and the emergence of gong'an 公案 literature.