What happens when ancient Buddhist teachings meet modern life? How do religious traditions adapt in the face of migration, secularization, and global change? This course explores these questions through the lens of one of the world?s most influential yet often overlooked Buddhist traditions: Mahayana Buddhism as practiced in China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and increasingly around the globe, including, as we will discover, right here in Amsterdam.

While rooted in the historical development of Buddhism in East Asia, the course places strong emphasis on how this tradition is lived today?in temples, homes, online spaces, and multicultural societies. Using a multidisciplinary approach that draws on history, anthropology, and sociology, students will explore themes such as the role of monastics and laypeople, ritual practices, gender and sexuality, ethical eating, and the entanglement of Buddhism with politics and social movements.

Far from being a static tradition, contemporary Chinese Buddhism offers a fascinating case study of how religions transform in response to modernity, migration, and globalization. Students will have the opportunity to engage directly with local practice through a fieldwork component at a Buddhist temple in the Netherlands, gaining firsthand insight into how global Buddhism is reimagined in European contexts.

This course is perfect for students eager to explore not only Buddhism but also the dynamic relationship between religion and society in the context of modernity and globalization. It?s an exciting opportunity to dive into the complexities of religious life in today?s rapidly changing world?no background in Chinese studies required!