Religion 263 - Introduction to Buddhism

Some scholars have argued that there is no such thing as 'Buddhism' in the singular, but only 'Buddhisms' in the plural. This course introduces students to the historically and culturally diverse expressions of Buddhism. We will ask ourselves what Buddhism has meant to different people in different times and places, with particular attention to changing conceptions of belief and practice. Among the traditions we will study are Theravada, Zen, Pure Land, and Tantra.