Discover the theory and practice of the different styles of meditation as taught in India and Tibet with acclaimed scholar John Dunne.
What You’ll Learn
- Theories about the nature of the mind, cognition, and emotions
- What role meditation plays in unobstructing our realization of the ultimate nature of reality
- A history of meditation styles from early mindfulness techniques to the development of Mahāmudrā in Tibet
- The role Buddhist meditation has in cultivating deep compassion
- How meditation can culminate in the integration of wisdom and compassion
- And much more!
About this Course
Contemplative practice plays a central role in all Buddhist traditions, and this course offers an accessible account of the varieties of core practices and their underlying theories. We begin by exploring the styles of practice prominent in early Buddhism, and then examine the new versions of practice, including tantric approaches, that arose with the Mahāyāna, or “Great Vehicle,” in India. We then turn to the contemplative styles that these Indian approaches inspire in the traditions of Tibet, such as the nondual practice of Mahāmudrā.
Throughout the course, we will seek to understand the underlying ideas and terminology that explain and inform these practices. We’ll explore how meditation styles can be contradictory—effortful or free of effort, discerning or nonjudgmental. Along the way, we will also see how contemporary scientific research on contemplation can help us to understand some aspects of Buddhist meditation.
With the aid of acclaimed scholar John Dunne you’ll come away with a clearer understanding and appreciation—both theoretically and experientially—of the variety of Buddhist practices.
Lessons
Lesson 1: An Introduction to Buddhist Contemplative Practice
In our first lesson, John Dunne introduces us to what we mean by “contemplative practice” in the Buddhist tradition, sharing key features of any meditation practice. He also outlines the goals for our course and details what motivation means in the Buddhist context—underscoring the meaning of duhkha, or suffering, and its role in our understanding of the four noble truths.
In our first lesson, John Dunne introduces us to what we mean by “contemplative practice” in the Buddhist tradition, sharing key features of any meditation practice. He also outlines the goals for our course and details what motivation means in the Buddhist context—underscoring the meaning of duhkha, or suffering, and its role in our understanding of the four noble truths.
Lesson 2: Suffering and Its Antidotes
John Dunne illuminates further the meaning of suffering as being mistaken about our core identity, and then underscores how contemplative practices can serve as antidotes to this fundamental misunderstanding. In this discussion we learn about the five skandhas, or aggregates, that constitute the mind-body system, explore the meaning of karma, and identify an important triad of contemplative practice: understanding, experience, and realization.
John Dunne illuminates further the meaning of suffering as being mistaken about our core identity, and then underscores how contemplative practices can serve as antidotes to this fundamental misunderstanding. In this discussion we learn about the five skandhas, or aggregates, that constitute the mind-body system, explore the meaning of karma, and identify an important triad of contemplative practice: understanding, experience, and realization.
Lesson 3: Understanding Śamatha and Vipaśyanā and the Five Omnipresent Mental Factors
We begin this lesson with a discussion on how to understand “path” in the Mahayana tradition, before being introduced to the three trainings in ethics, concentration, and wisdom. John Dunne then explores the distinction between śamatha and vipaśyanā styles of contemplative practice and illuminates what happens with the five omnipresent mental factors —as described in Asaṅga’s Abhidharma system—during practice.
We begin this lesson with a discussion on how to understand “path” in the Mahayana tradition, before being introduced to the three trainings in ethics, concentration, and wisdom. John Dunne then explores the distinction between śamatha and vipaśyanā styles of contemplative practice and illuminates what happens with the five omnipresent mental factors —as described in Asaṅga’s Abhidharma system—during practice.
Lesson 4: Stabilizing the Mind
In this lesson, we explore in depth the theory and practice of stabilizing the mind through object-oriented meditation, or śamatha. We learn the features of śamatha and its main problems—agitation and laxity—as well how traditional textual instructions on the practice and the oral transmission of how to practice sometimes differ.
In this lesson, we explore in depth the theory and practice of stabilizing the mind through object-oriented meditation, or śamatha. We learn the features of śamatha and its main problems—agitation and laxity—as well how traditional textual instructions on the practice and the oral transmission of how to practice sometimes differ.
Lesson 5: Emptiness in the Second and Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma
John Dunne introduces us to the philosophy of the second turning of the wheel of Dharma through Nāgārjuna’s teachings on emptiness. Underscoring the context of the development of Buddhism around the time of the common era, we learn about Nāgārjuna’s views on the emptiness of phenomena before turning to key features of the Yogācāra school of the third turning, and what these teachings on emptiness mean for our understanding of the mind.
John Dunne introduces us to the philosophy of the second turning of the wheel of Dharma through Nāgārjuna’s teachings on emptiness. Underscoring the context of the development of Buddhism around the time of the common era, we learn about Nāgārjuna’s views on the emptiness of phenomena before turning to key features of the Yogācāra school of the third turning, and what these teachings on emptiness mean for our understanding of the mind.
Lesson 6: The Emptiness of the Mind
In this lesson, we continue our discussion of emptiness but in the context of understanding the nature of the mind. John Dunne focuses his explanation on the philosophy of Dharmakīrti and the Yogācāra school and explains what we mean by saying consciousness is “luminous” and free of subject-object duality.
In this lesson, we continue our discussion of emptiness but in the context of understanding the nature of the mind. John Dunne focuses his explanation on the philosophy of Dharmakīrti and the Yogācāra school and explains what we mean by saying consciousness is “luminous” and free of subject-object duality.
Lesson 7: Nondual Awareness
In this lesson, John Dunne discusses nondual styles of meditation, including some key features and how we might understand nondual awareness itself. We learn what happens on and off the cushion in nondual and classical styles and why devotion is an important aspect to nondual practices like Mahāmudrā.
In this lesson, John Dunne discusses nondual styles of meditation, including some key features and how we might understand nondual awareness itself. We learn what happens on and off the cushion in nondual and classical styles and why devotion is an important aspect to nondual practices like Mahāmudrā.
Lesson 8: Emptiness and Appearances
John Dunne further explores how emptiness is understood in nondual meditative traditions, especially how it relates to appearances. We learn how philosophies from Indian masters Kamalaśīla, Śantarakśita, and Maitripa influenced Mahāmudrā in Tibet, and what the various avenues are—both philosophical and physiological—for realizing the nondual mind.
John Dunne further explores how emptiness is understood in nondual meditative traditions, especially how it relates to appearances. We learn how philosophies from Indian masters Kamalaśīla, Śantarakśita, and Maitripa influenced Mahāmudrā in Tibet, and what the various avenues are—both philosophical and physiological—for realizing the nondual mind.
Lesson 9: Tantra Mahāmudrā, Sūtra Mahāmudrā, and Context for Practice
In this lesson, John Dunne explores the various pathways to Mahāmudrā, through both philosophical and physiological methods. We also learn context necessary for the practice, including the importance of preliminaries.
In this lesson, John Dunne explores the various pathways to Mahāmudrā, through both philosophical and physiological methods. We also learn context necessary for the practice, including the importance of preliminaries.
Lesson 10: Cultivating Compassion
In our final lesson, John Dunne reflects on the importance of cultivating compassion as well as wisdom. We learn how vital bodhicitta is for a Mahayana practitioner and the practices of equalizing and exchanging oneself and other that lead to its development, as well as modern theories that support an understanding of our innate capacity for connecting with others—and what this implies for Buddhist practice.
In our final lesson, John Dunne reflects on the importance of cultivating compassion as well as wisdom. We learn how vital bodhicitta is for a Mahayana practitioner and the practices of equalizing and exchanging oneself and other that lead to its development, as well as modern theories that support an understanding of our innate capacity for connecting with others—and what this implies for Buddhist practice.
About the Teacher
John D. Dunne serves on the faculty of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he holds the Distinguished Chair in Contemplative Humanities at the Center for Healthy Minds. He is also chair of the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures. His work focuses on Buddhist philosophy and contemplative practice, especially in dialog with Cognitive Science and Psychology. His more than fifty publications appear in venues ranging across both the Humanities and the Sciences, including Foundations of Dharmakīrti’s Philosophy (2004) and Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics: The Mind (2020). John Dunne speaks in both academic and public contexts, and he occasionally teaches for Buddhist communities. His broader engagements include being a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute, where he was previously a member of the board of directors, and serving as an academic advisor to the Rangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal.$247.00Enroll