REL 356 : World Religions

Topics:

• Buddha’s biography: legend or history, human or deity?
• Buddhist meditation or mindfulness
• The life and beliefs of the Dalai Lama: Religion or Philosophy?
• Explore a concept like emptiness, no-self, or compassion
• Introduction to Zen: the nature of a koan
• Buddhist/Zen humour
• The traditions around the Laughing Buddha: who is he?
• Fundamentalism and violence: in Buddhism? Really?
• Summary and critique of Thich Nhat Hanh, D. T. Suzuki or Alan Watts