In its 2,500-year history, Buddhism has expanded from a tiny religious community in northern India into a movement that now spans the globe. Buddhism is your opportunity to trace the history, principles, and evolution of a theology that is both familiar and foreign. In 24 revealing lectures, you survey the faith from its origins in the 6th century B.C.E. to its present status as a major world religion. Award-winning Professor Malcolm David Eckel of Boston University introduces you to the astonishing vitality and adaptability of a tradition that has transformed Eastern civilizations and has now become a lively component in the cultures of the West.
Buddhism
Explore new spiritual paths in this introduction to the precepts of Buddhism-an intriguing world religion that is utterly unlike any other.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
eldereric from
The course should be called A History of Buddhism
I very much enjoyed the course. I found Professor Eckel engaging and quite knowledgeable. He accomplishes a Herculean task in his presentation of such a complex history that spans millenia. Unfortunately, twenty-four half-hour lectures don't allow enough time to trace the development of even key concepts in detail, but series provides an excellent starting point for exploring specific points, schools, or events one finds especially intriguing.
Date published: 2024-07-05
Rated 2 out of
5
by
Jbsteven from
extremely academic
Although highly informative, this is a very in depth course provided by an academic presenter, with an extraordinarily dry style. I found the course difficult to complete.
Date published: 2024-03-19
Rated 3 out of
5
by
JSteven from
incrediably informative
The lecturer provides an in-depth review of Buddhism. The challenge I had with the course is, what I would describe as a very heavy academic delivery. This is certainly not a criticism of the lecturer, more of an observation. This is definitely not a high-level or casual overview on the subject.
Date published: 2023-10-29
Rated 4 out of
5
by
kgeb from
Enjoyed but want to hear Buddha's teachings
I enjoyed the introduction to Mahayanna Buddhism but would have liked more time devoted to the early Buddha's discourses. There are some amazing teachings that people need to hear. I thought Dr. Eckels presented a wide array of topics and it would be great to have both schools of Buddhism discussed together, the traditional school and the Mahayanna school since they both have interesting perspectives based on the Buddha. Maybe Wondrium could get us other instructors, perhaps some traditional Buddhist scholars. Thanks for the series.
Date published: 2023-05-31
Rated 3 out of
5
by
DLyon from
Have Dramamine handy
I have the dvd format. The lectures are ok, though unextraordinary, but my complaint is that this lecturer constantly rocks back and forth - so the camera does, too, attempting to folliw him - and we're getting seasick watching him. Get this man a chair! STOP MOVING!!
Date published: 2023-05-28
Rated 1 out of
5
by
JudithH from
The course is good and I will recommend it.
I liked the classes. I like Dr DAVID ECKEL the way he teaches and expose to us the ideas behind Buddhism.
Date published: 2022-12-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Boom boom from
Excellent Course!
I'm a total novice regarding the subject matter, so all of the information presented to me seems extremely fascinating, yet tedious at the same time. However, Prof. Eckel is an excellent communicator and I find him very easy to follow. And I don’t find his mannerisms annoying or particularly different from any other lecturer who must stand for any length of time, trying to impart information about a subject as intricate as Buddhism. I would highly recommend this series to anyone with an interest in learning more about this subject.
Date published: 2022-10-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BobInSF from
One of the best courses
I've watched several courses, but few if any are as good as this one. Prof. Eckel takes on a very complex and difficult subject and explains it well with humor and scholarship. As a museum docent I have had instruction in Buddhism over the years, but nothing as fulfilling as this course. I learned a lot!
Date published: 2022-10-03
Overview
About
Dr. Malcolm David Eckel is Professor of Religion and Director of the Core Curriculum at Boston University. He holds two bachelor's degrees, one in English from Harvard University and a second in Theology from Oxford University. Professor Eckel earned his master's degree in theology at Oxford University and his Ph.D. in the Study of Comparative Religion at Harvard University. He held teaching positions at Ohio Wesleyan University, Middlebury College in Vermont, and the Harvard Divinity School, where he served as acting director of the Center for the Study of World Religions. At Boston University, Professor Eckel teaches courses on Buddhism, comparative religion, and the religions of Asia. In 1998, Professor Eckel received the Metcalf Award for Teaching Excellence, the university's highest award for teaching. In addition to writing many articles, Professor Eckel has published two books on Buddhist philosophy: To See the Buddha: A Philosopher's Quest for the Meaning of Emptiness and Buddhism: Origins, Beliefs, Practices, Holy Texts, Sacred Places.
Trailer
01: What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is best understood as the unfolding of the story of the Buddha himself, and of the many generations of followers who have contributed to Buddhism's influence and diversity in India, the rest of Asia, and the world.
32 min
02: India at the Time of the Buddha
Buddhism began when Siddhartha Gautama, the man who would come to be known as the Buddha, "awoke" to the truth. This awakening was rooted in the tradition of the Vedas, Hindu scriptures that describe the lives of Indian sages and the Indian quest for wisdom about the nature of the world and the self....
31 min
03: The Doctrine of Reincarnation
Along with the quest for wisdom, Buddhism inherited the Indian notion of reincarnation. Humans and all other living beings live not one but many lives in a continuous process of death and rebirth. This process is known as samsara or wandering from one life to the next. While we might view reincarnation as an opportunity to enjoy life repeatedly, those in ancient India considered it to be a burden....
31 min
04: The Story of the Buddha
The Buddha was a real person who was born into a royal family, had a spiritual awakening and lived to be about 80. But the actual facts of Siddhartha Gautama's life cannot explain his impact on his followers. We must examine the stories that Buddhists tell about the Buddha, including those of his previous lives.
31 min
05: All Is Suffering
After the Buddha's death, attention turned to his Dharma, or teaching. A fundamental claim was that "All is suffering." This may seem pessimistic, but Buddhists find it a realistic, and even liberating, view of life. This perspective derives from the concept of "no self."...
31 min
06: The Path to Nirvana
After describing the truth of suffering, the Buddha went on to describe the origin of suffering, the cessation of suffering, and the path that leads to the cessation of suffering. The cessation of suffering is also called nirvana, the "blowing out" of desire....
31 min
07: The Buddhist Monastic Community
The Buddha's first converts formed the early Buddhist Samgha, or "community." After his death, attention shifted to his teachings, or Dharma. Disputes over doctrine and discipline eventually led to many different traditions of Buddhist practice....
31 min
08: Buddhist Art and Architecture
Buddhists developed distinctive artistic and architectural styles to express their understanding of the Buddha's teaching and to serve as the focus of worship and veneration. A blend of Indian and Hellenistic influences created the classic Gupta style that inspired Buddhist art throughout the rest of Asia.
31 min
09: Theravada Buddhism in Southeast Asia
The arrival of the first Buddhist missionaries in Sri Lanka led to the Theravada Buddhism that now predominates in Southeast Asia. Part of this tradition is the concept of the "righteous King," which continues to link Buddhist practice with political involvement.
31 min
10: Mahayana Buddhism and the Bodhisattva Ideal
The Mahayana tradition, or "Great Vehicle," emerged in India near the beginning of the Common Era. It introduced the ideal of the bodhisattva, or "future Buddha," who, rather than seeking nirvana, returns again and again in the cycle of samsara to seek the welfare of others....
31 min
11: Celestial Buddhas and Bodhisattvas
Another aspect of the Mahayana tradition is "celestial" Buddhas and bodhisattvas, heavenly beings who can save earthly beings who ask for their help. Among the most important are Avalokiteshvara, "The Lord Who Looks Down," and Amitabha, "the Buddha of Infinite Light," who is worshipped widely in Japan.
31 min
12: Emptiness
At the heart of Mahayana practice lies the paradoxical and elusive concept of Emptiness. This concept challenged and undermined many of the rigid categories of traditional Buddhism, but it also introduced a new spirit of affirmation and possibility.
31 min
13: Buddhist Philosophy
The Mahayana tradition developed a sophisticated philosophy to deal with Emptiness. Two major schools of thinking appeared-the Madhyamaka and the Yogachara-that took very different approaches toward understanding the "reality" of Emptiness.
31 min
14: Buddhist Tantra
The Buddhist movement known as Tantra emerged in the 6th century. This tradition took a radical stance toward the concept of Emptiness that produced strikingly new forms of ritual and meditation.
31 min
15: The Theory and Practice of the Mandala
Practitioners of Buddhist Tantra use a mandala, or ritual circle, to explore connections between the self, Buddhist deities and the universe. A mandala can be a two dimensional representation or a three-dimensional object, ranging from a small implement to an enormous temple or even an entire city or nation....
31 min
16: The "First Diffusion of the Dharma" in Tibet
The "First Diffusion" or arrival, of Buddhism in Tibet occurred in the 7th century under the Tibetan King Songsten Gampo. Over time, Tibetan Buddhism took on the complex institutional characteristics of Indian Buddhism, and also had strong influence on a native Tibetan tradition known as Bon.
32 min
17: The Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
Buddhism had to be reintroduced from India to Tibet in the 10th century. This "Later Diffusion of the Dharma" led to four schools of Tibetan Buddhism...
31 min
18: The Dalai Lama
Tibetan Buddhism is personified for many people by the figure of the Dalai Lama. The present Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, is the fourteenth in a line of incarnations that began in the 15th century.
31 min
19: The Origins of Chinese Buddhism
Buddhism entered China at a time when the Chinese were disillusioned with traditional Chinese values. Through a long process of interaction with Taoism, Confucianism, and Chinese popular religion, Buddhism took on a distinctively Chinese character.
31 min
20: The Classical Period of Chinese Buddhism
During the Tang Dynasty, a series of indigenous Chinese schools gave brilliant expression to the values of the Mahayana tradition. In return, Buddhist values had important influence on Chinese literature and the arts.
32 min
21: The Origins of Japanese Buddhism
Buddhism entered Japan as early as the year 535 from Korea. The indigenous Japanese tradition of Shinto, or "the way of the Gods," came to be seen as harmonious with "the way of the Buddha."
31 min
22: Honen, Shinran and Nichiren
During the Kamakura Period (1192-1333) political unrest in Japan led some to doubt whether Buddhism could be practiced in such a "degenerate age." Three Buddhist thinkers-Honen, Shinran and Nichiren-set new traditions in motion that have had enormous influence wherever Japanese Buddhism has traveled in the world.
31 min
23: Zen
The Kamakura period also saw the appearance of Zen, now one of the most popular Buddhist Movements in the West. The goal of this process is to achieve awakening in the Mahayana sense-that is, to achieve an awareness of Emptiness.
31 min
24: Buddhism in America
The American Theosophist, Colonel Olcott, traveled to Ceylon in the 1880s, converted to Buddhism, and helped formulate a modern view of the Buddhist tradition. Today, Buddhism is represented in Asian immigrant communities, and has influenced American visual arts, literature, film, and music.
32 min
