1. The Life of the Buddha: From Prince to Enlightened Teacher

Key Points:

  • Siddhartha’s renunciation, Four Sights, Middle Way.

2. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path

Key Points:

  • Dukkha, tanha (craving), Nirvana as cessation.

3. Mahayana vs. Theravada: Major Schools of Buddhist Thought

Key Points:

  • Bodhisattva ideal, emptiness (Madhyamaka), Zen koans.

4. Buddhist Meditation and Mindfulness in the Modern World

Key Points:

  • Vipassana, Tibetan visualization, secular mindfulness.

5. Buddhism and Science: Compatibility and Challenges

Key Points:

  • Dalai Lama’s dialogue with neuroscience, rebirth debates