COURSE OUTLINE:

This Term 4 course in our World Religions series provides a general overview to the Buddhist Tradition(s).

• Week 1: Course Introduction; Buddhism: Overview & Historical Context
• Week 2: The Life of the Historical Buddha
• Week 3: Buddhist Sacred Texts and Teachings: Tripiṭaka, the Sutras, Dharmapāda
• Week 4: Buddhist Development and Spread: Sangha, Early Buddhist Schools of Thought, Emperor Ashoka, Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna (Tibetan) traditions
• Week 5: Core Concepts in Buddhism: Saṃsāra, karma, rebirth & reincarnation, anātman, Nirvāṇa, emptiness
• Week 6: Buddhist Philosophy: Mādhyamikā, dependent co-origination
• Week 7: The Buddhist Path-Precepts & Practice: The Three Jewels, the Four Noble Truths, the Eight-Fold Path, The Four Immeasurables
• Week 8: Historic Decline of Buddhism in India, Global Growth and Expansion; Buddhist Denominations and Sects today

COURSE DATES AND TIMES:

This course meets on Thursdays from 6:30-9:00pm. Our first class begins on Thursday 22 October 2020 and runs for 8 consecutive weeks, ending on Thursday 10 December 2020.

COST for all 8 sessions: Waged: $107; Unwaged: $86. Registering for one class registers you for all eight sessions.

COURSE LECTURER:

Our Buddhism course is taught by Todd Nachowitz, PhD. Todd has been a part-time lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Waikato where he taught introductory courses on Comparative Religion; Religious Fundamentalism, Extremism and Terrorism; Religion in Secular Society; and Islam. Todd has a Masters Degree in Development Anthropology from Syracuse University in upstate New York (1991) and a PhD from the University of Waikato (2015) in Political Science and Public Policy where he completed his thesis on diversity governance and the Indian diaspora in New Zealand. Prior to settling in New Zealand in 1995, Todd lived and worked in the United States, India, Pakistan and Nepal. He spent 11 years in South Asia as the Academic Director for university study-abroad programmes in Varanasi, India (for the University of Wisconsin-Madison); Lahore, Pakistan (for the University of California-Berkeley); and Kathmandu, Nepal (for School for International Training, based in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA) that focused on language, culture and religion. Todd speaks Hindu and Urdu, and is a specialist in comparative world religions and the history, religions, languages and cultures of South Asia. Todd’s most recent research and publications involve religious diversity, the Indian diaspora, and the history and development of multiculturalism in New Zealand. He was a founding Trustee and former Centre Coordinator of the Religious Diversity Centre, based in Auckland, and a member of the Executive Committee of the Waikato Interfaith Council. Todd is also the Founder and Executive Director of EarthDiverse.

COURSE LOCATION(S): Both in-person classes in Hamilton and on-line distance-learning options available for this course, allowing anyone in New Zealand to register. If the time doesn't suit, you also have the option to watch the video recorded sessions to learn at a more convenient time or study at your own pace.

NOTES ON OUR RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY COURSE OFFERINGS:

• All classes are taught from an objective point of view. These are classes about religion and religious behavior, taught from an anthropological point of view, and are designed for participants to get a greater understanding of the depth and scope of the diversity that exists within the world’s various faith and belief traditions.
• Detailed Syllabi are available at the start of each Term.
• Any Term can be taken independently of the others, and there are no prerequisites for any of the Term courses.
• All classes encourage questions and group discussion. There are no assignments, required readings, quizzes, tests or exams.
• PDF copies of each class presentation are emailed to all participants the next day so that you are free to focus on class content rather than taking notes. You are most welcome to come, sit back, relax, take part in and enjoy the discussions!
• Course fees include a short tea/coffee/snack break in the middle of each session.
• There are no refunds for missed classes.
• Guests of registered participants are welcome to attend a single class at no charge.
• Certificates of Completion for any particular Term Course or Series are available for Professional Development purposes upon request at the end of each Term or Series.

FOR MORE INFO on this and our othe courses, visit our website at <http://www.earthdiverse.org.nz/classes/>