Richard Jaffe

Richard Jaffe is a Professor of Religious Studies and Bass Fellow at Duke University, specializing in modern Japanese Buddhism and the global influence of figures like D.T. Suzuki. He holds a Ph.D. from Yale University (1995) and has authored foundational works on Buddhist transformation in the 19th-20th centuries.

His research focuses on Pan-Asianism, material culture, and the transnational dissemination of Japanese Buddhist thought. Notable projects include analyzing D.T. Suzuki’s role in globalizing Zen Buddhism and exploring 'Indianism' in pre-war Japanese religious movements. Jaffe has been awarded prestigious fellowships including the National Humanities Center (2023) and Kanazawa University International Award (2023).

• Education:
  • Ph.D., Yale University, 1995
  • M.Phil., Yale University, 1993
  • M.A., Yale University, 1986
  • B.A., San Francisco State University, 1979
• Awards:
  • NHC Fellow (2023)
  • Kanazawa University International Award (2023)
  • National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowships (2004, 1999)
• Grants: Buddhist Meditation Community at Duke (2020-2022)

His teaching spans courses on Pan-Asian religious dynamics, Buddhist meditation practices, and ethical philosophy. Jaffe’s work bridges historical analysis with contemporary debates, emphasizing Buddhism’s evolving role in modernity.