Lesson 1: An Introduction to Buddhist Contemplative Practice
from Varieties of Buddhist Meditation
In the first lesson of his Wisdom Academy online course, Varieties of Buddhist Mediation, 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 dukkha, or suffering, and its role in our understanding of the four noble truths.
About Your Instructor
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.
