The Buddhist Studies Podcast

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Karin Meyers about her path to Buddhist Studies, her experiences teaching Buddhist Studies in the US and Nepal, how she relates the study of Buddhist philosophy to contemporary engagement with social issues, and how she stays motivated to tackle the ecological crisis. We also  preview her upcoming online course, BSO 103 | Indian Buddhist Philosophy.Speaker BioDr. Karin Meyers received a PhD with distinction from The University of Chicago Divinity School in 2010, and is currently Academic Director at Mangalam Research Center in Berkeley, CA. She has taught Buddhist Studies at several colleges and universities in the US and abroad, including Kathmandu University and Rangjung Yeshe Institute’s Centre for Buddhist Studies in Nepal, where she directed the Masters program in Buddhist Studies until returning to the US in 2017. Karin’s scholarly work focuses on bringing Buddhist perspectives to bear on cross-cultural and interdisciplinary inquiry into fundamental metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions. Karin has practiced Buddhism in Tibetan and Theravāda traditions and took a year in 2019 to serve as Retreat Support Fellow at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, MA. Before attending graduate school she worked at the Buddhist Peace Fellowship in the Bay Area and has recently returned to these socially engaged roots, promoting Buddhist activism in regard to the accelerating climate and ecological crisis.As Academic Director at Mangalam Research Center, Karin teaches Buddhist Studies and language courses in Mangalam’s residential and public programs; host public talks, conversations, and conferences with scholars of Buddhist studies and related fields. Her mission is to help make scholarly research and classical Buddhist traditions accessible to Dharma practitioners, and to draw on these resources to support and inspire socially and ecologically engaged Buddhist thought and practice. Karin is also host of Buddhist Currents, conversations on current social, political, and ecological issues in light of Buddhist thought, history and practice. More information on the series and Karin's other projects can be found here: https://www.buddhistcurrents.blog.LinksBSO 103 | Indian Buddhist PhilosopyFaculty Page 

Join Dr. Daniel M. Stuart, an Associate Professor specializing in Buddhist Studies, as he shares his fascinating journey from personal struggles to becoming a scholar of Buddhist meditation. He discusses how historical interpretations of meditation practices have transformed over time and the impact of societal influences on these practices. Delve into the nuanced distinctions between enlightenment and awakening, and explore the evolution of Buddhist thought from India to its global presence today. Dr. Stuart also highlights the importance of ethical scholarship in understanding diverse cultures.

Welcome to The Buddhist Studies Podcast, a new channel dedicated to exploring the depths of Buddhist Studies. This Podcast will feature candid conversations and interviews with scholars of Buddhism across the disciplines of Religious Studies, Indology, Art History, South Asian Studies, Anthropology, and more. Hosted by Dr. Kate Hartmann.