Explore the foundations of Buddhism through primary sources — the Pali Canon, Heart Sutra, and living traditions. From the Four Noble Truths to meditation practice, learn how the Buddha's teachings address suffering and cultivate wisdom and compassion.
Explore the life of Siddhartha Gautama — from his sheltered youth as a prince to his awakening under the Bodhi tree. Understand the historical and spiritual context of the Buddha's journey. Resources: Bhikkhu Nanamoli, The Life of the Buddha; Karen Armstrong, Buddha.
Explore the Buddha's foundational teaching — the diagnosis of suffering (dukkha), its origin in craving (tanha), the possibility of its cessation (nirodha), and the path leading to that cessation. Resources: Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught; Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Noble Eightfold Path.
Study the Buddha's practical prescription for ending suffering — the eight interconnected practices of wisdom (panna), ethical conduct (sila), and mental discipline (samadhi). Resources: Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Noble Eightfold Path; Henepola Gunaratana, Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness.
Explore the major Buddhist meditation practices — from Theravada vipassana and samatha to Zen zazen and Tibetan visualization. Understand how different traditions approach the same goal. Resources: Joseph Goldstein, Mindfulness; Shunryu Suzuki, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.
Explore the major Buddhist scriptures — from the Pali Canon (Tipitaka) to the Heart Sutra and Lotus Sutra. Understand how different textual traditions support different schools of practice. Resources: Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha's Words; Red Pine, The Heart Sutra.
Explore the ethical dimension of Buddhism — from the Five Precepts and karma to compassion (karuna), loving-kindness (metta), and the bodhisattva ideal. Understand how Buddhist ethics differs from Western moral frameworks. Resources: Peter Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics; Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching.
Synthesize your learning across all modules, reflect on key Buddhist concepts, and consider how the study of Buddhism enriches your understanding of suffering, compassion, and the human condition.