William S. Waldron
Professor of Religion
Email: wwaldron@middlebury.edu
Phone: work802.443.2040
Office Hours: Winter Term: By Appointment
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Professor Waldron teaches courses on the South Asian religious traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, Tibetan religion and history, comparative psychologies and philosophies of mind, and theory and method in the study of religion. His publications focus on the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism and its dialogue with modern thought. Professor Waldron has been at Middlebury College since 1996. His monograph, The Buddhist Unconscious: The Ālaya-vijñāna in the Context of Indian Buddhist Thought, was published by RoutledgeCurzon in 2003.
Courses
▲ indicates offered in the current term
▹ indicates offered in the upcoming term[s]
NSCI 0700 - Senior Research
Senior Research
This course is for senior NSCI majors who plan to conduct one or more semesters of independent research, or who plan to complete preparatory work toward a senior thesis, such as researching and writing a thesis proposal as well as, if appropriate, collecting data that will form the basis for a senior thesis. Senior NSCI majors who plan to complete a senior thesis should register initially for NSCI 0700. Additional requirements may include participation in weekly meetings with advisors and/or lab groups and attending neuroscience seminars. (Approval required, open to seniors only)
Spring 2014, Fall 2014
PHIL 1025 / RELI 1025 - Buddhist/Western Phil of Mind
Buddhist and Western Philosophies of Mind
In this course we will examine traditional and contemporary Buddhist and Western philosophies of mind, comparing Cartesian mind-body dualism and contemporary materialism with Buddhist conceptions of mind, which seek a middle path between the two. Other topics include Buddhist and contemporary Western views of self; notions of the unconscious construction of reality; and recent scientific studies on meditation. We will read works by traditional authors such as Descartes and Vasubandhu, recent authors (e.g., the Dalai Lama and Owen Flanagan) who combine Buddhist and Western views, and articles on contemporary philosophy of mind, neuroscience, and phenomenology. The course will also include a practicum on meditation as a method for investigating consciousness directly. This course counts as elective credit towards the Religion major or as elective credit towards the Philosophy major.
Winter 2012
PSYC 0209 - Mindfulness and Psychology ▹
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. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.
Spring 2015
RELI 0120 - Asian Religious Classics
Asian Religious Classics AT
An introduction to the classics of the major religious traditions of Asia: Taoism, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Hinduism. Central themes from these traditions will be studied through the selected scriptures and texts of each tradition. 3 hrs. lect., 1 hr. disc.
Fall 2014
RELI 0121 - Buddhist Traditions in India
Buddhist Traditions in India AT
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. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Spring 2014
RELI 0209 - Mindfulness and Psychology ▹
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. 3 hrs. lect./1 hr. disc.
Spring 2012, Spring 2015
RELI 0220 - Buddhist Tradition in India
Buddhist Traditions in India AT
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. 3 hrs. lect./disc.
Fall 2011
RELI 0320 / PHIL 0320 - Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy ▹
Seminar in Buddhist Philosophy: Yogacara Depth Psychology and Philosophy of Mind AT
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. (one course on philosophy or RELI 0120, RELI 0220, RELI 0223, RELI 0224, RELI 0225, RELI 0226, RELI 0227or RELI 0228.) 3 hrs. sem.
Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2015
RELI 0400 - Seminar: Study of Religion
Seminar on the Study of Religion
This seminar for advanced religion majors examines important and influential theories and methods in the study of religion. (Open to junior and senior religion majors or by waiver.) 3 hrs. sem.
Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Fall 2014
RELI 0500 - Independent Research ▹
Independent Research
(Approval Required)
Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016
RELI 0601 - Senior Project in Religion
Senior Project
(Approval Required)
Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012
RELI 0700 - Senior Project in Religion ▹
Senior Project
(Approval Required)
Winter 2011, Spring 2011, Fall 2011, Winter 2012, Spring 2012, Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016
RELI 0701 - Senior Thesis in Religion ▹
Senior Research for Honors Candidates
Approval required
Spring 2014, Fall 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016
RELI 1022 / PSYC 1022 - Buddhism and Psychology
Buddhism and Modern Psychology
Ernest Becker famously characterized human character as a “vital lie,” a futile attempt to forestall dissatisfaction and mortality. How might this be so and what, if anything, can be done about it? We will discuss such challenging questions by examining traditional Buddhist theories of mind and meditation in dialogue with modern neuroscience, psychology, and psychotherapy. We will investigate early Buddhist practices of mindfulness and their modern medical applications, neuroscience and meditative practice, depth psychology in Buddhism and Freud, and current attempts to integrate all of these theoretically and therapeutically.
Winter 2011
Publications
On Selves and Selfless Discourse 2006. Buddhism and Psychotherapy Across Cultures: Essays on Theories and Practices, ed. Mark Unno. Boston: Wisdom Pub. pp. 87-104.