This talk further develops understanding of how the primary Buddhist schools of the present–Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Chan, Seon and Zen– originated over the millennia since the time of the Buddha. This dynamic process was a manifestation of sociological and religious tensions between the schools and the also emerging Hindu religious traditions, along with the integration of indigenous tribal beliefs that historically preceded the introduction of the concepts and practices by various important teachers who traveled from India to Southeast and Far-Eastern Asia.
The intention of the talk is to foster an understanding of how Buddhism inevitably affects and is affected by the cultures into which it is introduced, to prompt contemplation of how this dynamic process applies currently and in the future of Buddhism in the U.S.
Here are the notes prepared for this talk: Development of Buddhist Schools
The focus of next week’s talk will be on the dynamic interactions between the various Buddhist schools and the onset of European colonization.
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