Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy with Bee Scherer Introducing the key concepts of Indian Buddhist thought

This course introduces key concepts of Indian Buddhist thought. Over 5 lectures Bee explains the fundamental themes and problems of Buddhist Philosophy; from the early Buddhist teachings on ‘suffering’, ‘karma’ and ‘No-Self’, to the later scholasticism and the famous schools of thought around ‘emptiness’ and ‘mind-only’. Each chapter introduces another layer of Buddhist philosophical development and depth. The course forms a very clear and intriguing introduction to the wealth of Buddhist thought. Session One: Introduction – Buddhism as religion, philosophy or psychology? Modernism and Buddhist thought; the Buddha and the Four Noble Truths Session Two: Understanding the Four Noble Truths – unsatisfactoriness, afflicting emotions, nirvana and the eightfold Path Session Three: Buddhist psychology of no-self – heaps of grasping, dependent arising and cause & effect (karma) Session Four: Buddhist ontology. Scholasticism and reality (Abhidharma); perfection of wisdom and emptiness (Madhyamaka) Session Five: Buddhist metaphysics. Mind and Buddha-Nature. is buddhism a religion or a philosophy of life what is buddhism religion or philosophy what is buddhism religion all about philosophy of buddha buddhist philosophy religion psychology ethics buddhist ontology metaphysics psychology no self four noble truths eightfold path karma abhidharma