Maria R. Heim

Maria R. Heim is an Associate Professor of Religion at Amherst College, specializing in the intellectual, philosophical, religious, and literary history of ancient India with a focus on Buddhism. She teaches courses in these areas and works in Sanskrit and Pali languages. Her research emphasizes emotions in classical Indian thought and Buddhist ethics, particularly through the lens of 5th-century Theravada thinker Buddhaghosa. She has held significant fellowships including the Guggenheim Fellowship (2005-2006) and a Fulbright Grant (1996-97). Her scholarly activities include editorial roles at the Journal of Religious Ethics and Journal of Buddhist Philosophy.

Heim earned her Ph.D. in Sanskrit and Indian Studies from Harvard University (1999) and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Philosophy and Religion from Reed College (1991). Her publications include translations of classical texts like The Questions of Milinda and How to Lose Yourself, as well as edited volumes on emotions and Buddhist philosophy. Her recent work explores themes such as moral agency, sacred symbolism, and comparative emotion theories across South Asian traditions.

Awards and honors highlight her contributions to Buddhist studies, including the American Institute for Sri Lankan Studies Fellowship (2000) and Newcombe Doctoral Fellowship (1997-98). Her interdisciplinary approach bridges philosophy, religious studies, and history, making her a leading voice in the analysis of classical Indian thought and its contemporary relevance.