Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy: Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosophy of Mind In this seminar we will survey the basic ideas of Yogacara Buddhism (4-6th c. CE), one of two major schools of Indian Buddhism, in relation to cognitive science and philosophy of mind. We will examine these ideas historically, philosophically and comparatively. We focus on the Yogacara analyses of the largely unconscious ‘construction of reality’ and its systematic deconstruction through forms of analytic meditation. We will read primary and secondary texts on Indian Buddhism and texts espousing similar ideas in modern philosophy and the social and cognitive sciences.

Buddhism in the Modern World In this course we will survey and analyze Buddhist traditions around the world, from the mid-19th century to the present. We will begin by examining traditional Buddhist cultures in Asia—their teachings, practices, and social and political organizations—and then analyze how they have variously responded to the challenges of colonialism, nationalism, science, individualism, and democracy. We will examine how these led to the assumptions underlying ‘Buddhist Modernism’ both in Asia and the West. Materials will include texts and films on traditional Buddhism, historical, social, and intellectual analyses of its transformations, as well as narratives of individuals’ lives.

Mindfulness and the Mind: Buddhist and Western Perspectives In this team-taught class we will examine the theory and practice of mindfulness from traditional Buddhist and contemporary philosophical perspectives, and consider its implications for our understanding of the mind. We will outline the origins of mindfulness in Asian Buddhism, and its development in the modern West. We then examine philosophical questions raised by studying meditation scientifically: does a 1st person perspective validate the content of our experience? Or must it also by verified by objective, 3rd person perspectives? What does meditation reveal about the nature of consciousness?  If consciousness is reflexive, aware of itself, does this self-awareness undermine the Buddhist doctrine of non-self?  Students will get first-hand experience practicing mindfulness two hours a week, led by a local meditation teacher.  Readings will be from Buddhist and Western philosophical texts and articles.

Buddhist Traditions in India An introduction to the development of Indian Buddhist thought, practice, and institutions. The course will begin with an examination of the life of the Buddha and the formation of the early tradition. It will then explore developments from early Nikaya Buddhism, through the rise of the Mahayana, and culminating in Tantric Buddhism. Attention will be given throughout to parallel evolutions of doctrine, practice, and the path to Nirvana.

Mindfulness: Buddhism and Science In this course we will be examining the practice of mindfulness. Students will learn about traditional Buddhist meditation, how to analyze original sources in translation, and to assess ways that religious traditions are transformed in the modern era. We will look at the origins and aims of mindfulness in traditional Asian Buddhism, see how it came to the West, and examine the processes of secularization and psychologization that led to its popularization. We will read Buddhist primary sources in translation, trace its history from colonial Myanmar through India to the contemporary West, examine its development in the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program, and its proliferation in various institutions within the United States. We will read scientific studies examining its psychological benefits and watch some films about it.

Methods in the Study of Religion How do we think about religion? Is there a common way to talk about religion across cultural divides or should we simply concur that religion is like art, where “We can’t define it, but we know it when we see it? This course will take us through the basic twentieth and twenty-first century theories in the study of religion as “ways of perceiving” this most elusive of phenomena: anthropology, psychology, history, text, politics, philosophy, theology, experience. All of these ways of perceiving religion play a crucial role in the history of the field. We will end by thinking through recent issues in the study of religion–religion and politics, gender and sexuality, comparative and interfaith studies, and the authority of religious identity. Students will be asked to outline a single, compelling case study in religion, and each week they will apply the theorists we read to the details of their case.  In applying theories about religion to real-life situations, students will become skillful practitioners of the art of interpreting religion. They will also develop their own approaches to the study of religion and be able to articulate that approach to a wider audience.

Rites of Passage: Buddhism In this course we will explore the topics of symbolic death and rebirth as expressed in rites of passage and initiation, especially in Buddhism and the Blues. We will draw upon sources from religions and cultures around the world, examining them from multiple perspectives: mythology, psychology, anthropology, religion, literature, and popular music. Since the transition from childhood to adulthood is one of the most celebrated and challenging rites of passage, students will make connections with their own lives. We will also consider larger, macro-level processes, such as the transition from traditional worldviews to modernism and postmodern worldviews.

Religion and Science: Mindfulness and Modern Psychology Mindfulness meditation is now widely embraced as a way to enhance personal wellbeing. To better understand this ancient practice, we will explore its traditional Buddhist background alongside its application and study in modern psychology and neuroscience. We will first study mindfulness in its historical context and examine how a traditionally religious practice was adapted for modern individualistic and therapeutic purposes. We will learn basic neural and psychological foundations of emotion, cognition, social behavior, and psychological disorders and raise theoretical and methodological issues in the scientific study of mindfulness. As an experiential component, students will also receive meditation training throughout the semester.

William Waldron

Reviews and ratings for William Waldron at Middlebury College.William Waldron teaches Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy, Buddhism in the Modern World, Mindfulness and Mind and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is William Waldron good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I would not recommend this class AT ALL. I am currently taking it, and I had to just tell everyone how horrible it is now that I'm in it. You can feel how lost everyone is in this course. We're going to take our second exam next week, and he still hasn't given us back our first one from weeks ago. He acts as if everyone comes to this class with an understanding of Buddhism, how Asian countries operate, and their history, when this is a beginner course. He has in-class exams when it's so obvious that this is supposed to be a class with papers instead. He seems to just do whatever he feels like instead of caring about what the students would benefit from. 

I enjoyed taking this class with Professor Waldron. He was clearly very enthusiastic about what he was teaching, which made the material more engaging. The tests were pretty easy, and he would pretty much tell you what was going to be on it, other than vocab, which caught a lot of people off guard on the first exam. The prompt for the in-class essay is fully given. One issue I had for the course is that there isn't much transparency on your grade since he doesn't post anything on canvas.

Professor Waldron's lectures are dry at some points but he is very knowledgable and interested in the subject matter. There was no regular assignments, but instead your grade is made up of participation and four in class writing assignments. You will be given the prompt beforehand, and the writings are from memory, no notes allowed. There is a meditation component every Friday to have an opprotunity to see mindfulness for yourself. This is taught by a local teacher, and is a very relaxed experience. You will need to keep a journal for each of these meditations though. 