Modern historical study challenges much in the Buddhist tradition, but understanding Buddhist history can enrich dharma practice by demonstrating how Buddhist teachings and institutions are themselves impermanent and contingently arisen. This examination of Buddhist history may lead to a less sectarian appreciation of dharma, help us see our biases and presuppositions more clearly, and open up Buddhism to a richer dialogue with the contemporary world.
Throughout the month of August, Rita Gross will lead us through a comprehensive examination of Buddhist History, with an emphasis on how and why an academic approach to dharma may be of benefit to everyday practitioners. Highly adept and bridging the academic and the spiritual realms, Gross is both an accomplished scholar, renowned for her innovative work on gender and religion, and is also an experienced dharma teacher, trained by Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche.