ABSTRACT
Part of the AAR series on Teaching Religion, this book connects the imagined community of college instructors of Buddhism with the work of leading scholars who are updating, revising, and correcting earlier understandings of Buddhist traditions on a variety of scholarly horizons. Chapters present new content on Buddhism and reflect on how courses can be enhanced with new insights. Part I “Updating Perennial Course Subjects” focuses on central figures and traditions in undergraduate courses on Buddhism: the role of philosophy in the tradition, understanding the philosopher Nāgārjuna, presenting Yogācāra Buddhism using recent insights of the cognitive sciences, and insights on teaching tantric traditions and Zen in light of scholarship on them. Part II “Reimagining the Content of ‘Buddhism’ ” shows how political engagement has been an aspect of this tradition throughout its history and that ritual practices have defined the practice of Buddhism. Part III approaches issues facing instructors in teaching Buddhism: dilemmas for the scholar-practitioner in the academic and monastic classrooms, the tradition’s possible roles in teaching feminism and diversity, and how to present the tradition in the context of a world religions course. In Part IV, contributors summarize content and share experiences in teaching in the American context, regarding the development of courses on American Buddhism, on including course content on family and children, and in incorporating content on “Engaged Buddhism.” The chapters in the final section chart the history and future of Buddhist–Christian dialogue; others discuss the teaching of Buddhist bioethics, environmentalism, economic development, and social justice.
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