Buddhism is not a single thing.

It is a vast group of traditions, beliefs, and practices.


It is spread over many geographies,

cultures, personal experiences and a vast period of time.

– Dhammadīpā



Introduction to Buddhism:
A Global History of Buddhist Traditions, Beliefs, and Practices

In this five-week online course we will survey all three branches of Buddhism: early Buddhism, Mahayana, and Vajrayana, with an emphasis on key people in Buddhist history. We will also explore what Buddhist art can teach us about expression of the Path.
Each week, lectures and article links will be sent to you, offering an opportunity to dive deeper into the recommended readings for the five main areas presented in the course (see curriculum below).
Join Ayya Dhammadīpā, hosted by San Francisco Zen Center, for this whirlwind tour of the Buddhist world.

Each class will consist of a pre-recorded lecture with a weekly live discussion on Zoom. For the first session, our readings include excerpts—chapters 9, 10, and 13—from A Meditator's Life of the Buddha by Bhikkhu Analayo, available for purchase through the SFZC Online Store.

Week 1 — The Buddha
Week 2 — Early Buddhism and the Theravada
Week 3 — Early Mahayana
Week 4 — Ch’an and Zen and further geographic and thought expansion
Week 5 — Vajrayana


The Life of the Buddha


Trace the beginnings of Buddhism to its deepest roots in India. Discover how the Buddha's birth, life, and death shaped the early discourses. Understand the qualities that the Buddha valued in a practitioner.




The Three Vehicles


Learn about the foundational texts and practices of Therevada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism. Explore the role women had in shaping these traditions by embracing monasticism and lay Buddhism.



Buddhist Art


What does Buddhist art have to tell us about Buddhist ideals and values? Special supplemental lectures reveal the teachings that statues and other art forms communicate over centuries.



Dhammadīpā


Dhammadīpā, the founder of Dassanāya Buddhist Community, has been practicing Buddhism since 1987. She is a Dharma Transmitted Teacher in the Suzuki Roshi lineage of Soto Zen and was previously ordained in the Theravada tradition for 5 years. In addition to English, Dhammadīpā teaches in Spanish, an expression of her Latin heritage. She is an author whose work has appeared in the Buddhist publications “Lion’s Roar” and the “Buddhadharma” magazine. Dhammadīpā is the mother of a lovely adult daughter, and she enjoys sewing and watercolor painting.



Curriculum

  Welcome to Introduction to Buddhism with Weekly Live Discussions
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  Week 1 - The Buddha in India
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  Week 2 - Early Buddhism and the Theravada
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  Week 3 - Early Mahayana
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  Week 4 - Ch’an and Zen
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  Week 5 - Vajrayana
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