Imagery in the Early Buddhist Texts @ The Open Buddhist University

What is Imagery in the Early Buddhist Texts?

The Imagery in the Early Buddhist Texts is the way that the Buddha used suggestive language to convey his teachings.

All language is (of course) in some way referential: words are merely pointers. But more so than many works of literature, the Early Buddhist Texts are so tightly interwoven that it’s almost cliche to call the dhamma “a net.” As we pick up any of the words, images, or strands of the teachings, its associations, connections and references seem inevitably to take the whole of the Canon with it!

Because of this, coming to understand the words and images of the Canon can be both incredibly challenging and rewarding: a powerful “Dharma Gate” that has inspired (and awakened!) a hundred generations of Buddhists — from the first “turning of the wheel” up to the present day.

In this course you will...

Learn

The many ways that the Buddha used material examples in the world around him
How to interpret similes in ways that are authentic and meaningful
How to use the suttas to deepen your understanding of the spiritual path

Build

An anthology of suttas you find personally meaningful
A broad knowledge of the teachings in the Pali Canon
Your own connection with the Buddha’s words

Master

One of the Buddha’s main rhethorical tools
A broad range of dhamma topics
An authentic, close reading of the Pali Canon

Prerequisites

This course assumes some prior familiarity with the Early Buddhist Texts.

Course Outline

This course has 26 modules, which will proceed as follows:

Imagery in the Early Buddhist Texts

An Online Course

Table of Contents