Buddhism

Discover the secrets of the Diamond Sutra and learn how its Buddhist teachings promote living in serenity and ease. Explore the meaning of ‘prajñā-pāramitā’ in relation to attaining buddhahood. How can we resolve afflictions? The Diamond Sutra is one of the most historically important texts in Buddhism. On this [...]

Explore the diverse and complex roles that religions play in both promoting and mitigating violence. In this course, we will explore a series of contemporary conflicts in different regions of the world with a special focus on identifying and analyzing the diverse and complex roles that religions play in [...]

Learn about the rich and diverse beliefs and practices of Buddhists across time and place. Experience Buddhism through its scriptures, both relationally as well as academically. Whether you are new to the study of Buddhism or have been studying it or practicing it for years, this course will provide [...]

Learn about humanity’s rich architectural history on this journey around the globe – from 100,000 BCE to ca. 1,600 CE. How do we understand architecture? One way of answering this question is by looking through the lens of history, beginning with First Societies and extending to the 16th century. [...]

The Dalai Lama has said that Buddhism and science are deeply compatible and has encouraged Western scholars to critically examine both the meditative practice and Buddhist ideas about the human mind. A number of scientists and philosophers have taken up this challenge. There have been brain scans of meditators [...]

This course provides an introduction to the study of the history, major teachings, and practices of the major Chinese religions and spiritual practices and is deigned to give conceptual tools to appreciate diverse religious practice in East. It covers the development of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and wide range of [...]

Explore the value of cooperation between faiths and learn how the five main world religions’ core beliefs relate to each other. Learn how to encourage and benefit from respectful interfaith dialogue. This short course, led by the Faculty of Theology of Lugano in collaboration with USI, will develop your [...]

Discover the science of mindfulness, learn how it works and why, from a political, psychological, and philosophical perspective. Experience mindfulness for yourself, and learn whether it really works. Interest in meditation, mindfulness, and contemplation has grown rapidly in recent years. These practises are increasingly being seen as scientifically and [...]

Discover why religion is important for understanding and engaging with global challenges. Consider the ways religion affects personal and political decision-making. Religion not only influences personal behaviours and ethics, but it’s also relevant to international conflicts and domestic policy decisions. On this course, you will gain a broader understanding [...]