Buddhist Studies

Spring 2026:

The seminar will focus on the surge of interest in forms of Buddhist meditation other than those associated to the Chan school in modern China—mainly during the Republican era and its legacy in contemporary times. Particular attention will be paid to early forms of meditation, believed to have been taught by the Buddha during his lifetime, revealing a quest for “authenticity,” as well as a turn toward gradual teachings, in opposition to or as a complement of the sudden approach of Chan. The primary sources will range from select articles published in Buddhist periodicals since the 1930s to modern meditation manuals and accounts. Some of these will be read and translated in class, while others will be assigned as readings and discussed together.