The Buddha taught that there are 84,000 possible paths to enlightenment. Therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising that Buddhism has developed into a variety of traditions and schools of thought across Asia, each shaped by unique local cultural, social, and historical contexts. Over the course of a year, we examined ethnographic works across five Asian regions: Japan, Nepal, Tibet, Thailand and Myanmar. We explored how Buddhist teachings, practices, and institutions connect with a broad range of key anthropological concerns, including family and gender relations, artistic expressions, political engagements, and the significance of subcultural practices. 

 

Our goal as a reading research group is to create a diverse and dynamic forum for discussion among students and researchers interested in different Buddhist traditions. The readings were selected with suggestions from participants in the group.