EdX

Buddhism Through Its Scriptures (edX)

Offered by HarvardX, Harvard University,
Buddhism Through Its Scriptures (edX)

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 you with the opportunity to become acquainted with a variety of Buddhist teachings while guiding you to think about them, and yourself, in new ways.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see EdX's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Through a combination of carefully selected readings, both scriptural and informational, as well as exposure to various forms of Buddhist practice such as art, devotional acts, and literary works, you will learn how to interpret, reflect upon, and apply the teachings of the Buddha to your own life and deepen your understanding of Buddhism.

This course is part of the World Religions Through Their Scriptures XSeries.

What you'll learn:

  • Religious/philosophical insights conveyed in Buddhist texts
  • How scriptures are interpreted to diverse ends in different historical contexts
  • Sensitive appreciation of world religions
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment (Coursera) Coursera
Indian School of Business - ISB

A Life of Happiness and Fulfillment (Coursera)

Health & Society Social Sciences

What are the determinants of a happy and fulfilling life? This is surely one of life’s biggest questions, and a question that has interested many of our ancestors. Buddha famously gave up his kingdom in search of happiness. Several Greek philosophers (from Aristotle to Epicurus and Plato to Socrates) had their own views on what it takes to be happy. And of course, we all have our own theories about happiness too.

Oct 12th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Health Psychology Plato
Details
Tangible Things: Discovering History Through Artworks, Artifacts, Scientific Specimens, and the Stuff Around You (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Tangible Things: Discovering History Through Artworks, Artifacts, Scientific Specimens, and the Stuff Around You (edX)

Humanities Art and Culture

Gain an understanding of history, museum studies, and curation by looking at, organizing, and interpreting art, artifacts, scientific curiosities, and the stuff of everyday life. Have you ever wondered about how museum, library, and other kinds of historical or scientific collections all come together? Or how and why curators, historians, archivists, and preservationists do what they do?

Self Paced
Self-Paced
History Artifacts Artwork
Details
Oriental Beliefs: Between Reason and Traditions (edX) EdX
LouvainX,Université Catholique de Louvain - UCL

Oriental Beliefs: Between Reason and Traditions (edX)

Humanities Art and Culture

Explore the spiritual and magical beliefs of cultures, from ancient Egypt to modern Japan, as we discuss gods, the universe, cosmos, dreams and so much more! This course takes a journey through the world of beliefs as they have developed in a great variety of cultures, ranging from Ancient Egypt, the Near East to Central Asia, India, China, and the Far East.

No sessions available
5-12 Weeks
China Ancient Egypt India
Details
Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science (Coursera)

Humanities

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Oct 6th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Science Evolution Universe
Details
Religions From The Inside: Improving Interreligious Dialogue (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Università della Svizzera italiana

Religions From The Inside: Improving Interreligious Dialogue (FutureLearn)

Humanities History

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 knowledge of what interfaith dialogue means from a philosophical and epistemological point of view, and teach how to enjoy productive interfaith dialogue.

Oct 4th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Islam Christianity Judaism
Details
English Grammar and Style (edX) EdX
University of Queensland,UQx

English Grammar and Style (edX)

Humanities Languages & Literature

Learn key concepts and strategies in grammar and style to help enhance your writing and confidently respond to the demand of high levels of literacy in the 21st century. With the rise of social media and the Internet, many people are writing more today for different mediums than ever before. We’ll present materials that cover grammatical principles, word usage, writing style, sentence and paragraph structure, and punctuation.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
English Languages Writing
Details
Cosmopolitan Tang: Aristocratic Culture in China (edX) EdX
HarvardX,Harvard University

Cosmopolitan Tang: Aristocratic Culture in China (edX)

Humanities History

Explore the reunification of China under the Tang with a focus on aristocratic culture — from poetry to calligraphy to literature. By the Tang period, China was divided into northern and southern dynasties with different rulers and political systems. The north was conquered by relatively unsophisticated barbarians, but in the south, the aristocratic families established a refined appreciation of writing and literature.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
History Philosophy Culture
Details
The Civil War and Reconstruction - 1850-1861: A House Divided (edX) EdX
Columbia University,ColumbiaX

The Civil War and Reconstruction - 1850-1861: A House Divided (edX)

Humanities History

Discover how the issue of slavery came to dominate American politics, and how political leaders struggled and failed to resolve the growing crisis in the nation. A House Divided: The Road to Civil War, 1850-1861 begins by examining how generations of historians have explained the crisis of the Union. After discussing the institution of slavery and its central role in the southern and national economies, it turns to an account of the political and social history of the 1850s.

Self Paced
Self-Paced
History War Civil War
Details
Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Leiden University

Demystifying Mindfulness (FutureLearn)

Health & Society Personal and Professional Development

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 psychologically valid forms of therapy.

Jul 5th 2021
5-12 Weeks
Philosophy Psychology Ethics
Details