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Stephen F. Teiser is the D.T. Suzuki Professor in Buddhist Studies and Professor of Religion at Princeton University. He holds the Old Dominion Research Professor title in the Humanities Council (2022-2023). His work focuses on Buddhist rituals, Chinese religious history, and the intersection of Indian and Chinese religious traditions. Teiser delivered lectures at Fudan University, shaping his research into broader scholarly discourse. His book Ritual and the Study of Buddhism (2022) explores Buddhist rituals in Chinese contexts, emphasizing cross-cultural and methodological insights. His research bridges medieval Chinese religious practices with modern academic frameworks, addressing topics like funerary rituals, lay communities, and textual interpretation. His academic contributions span Buddhist historiography, ritual studies, and East Asian religious history. Notable works include analyses of the Ghost Festival, Dunhuang liturgies, and comparative religious texts. Teiser’s interdisciplinary approach highlights the adaptation of Buddhism in Chinese culture and its global scholarly relevance. Awards: Old Dominion Research Professor (2022-2023) Teiser’s research also engages with collaborative international projects, such as co-editing volumes on divination and East Asian manuscripts. His work emphasizes the importance of language and cultural context in interpreting religious practices, making his scholarship foundational for understanding Buddhism’s evolution in China.

• Buddhist Studies
• Chinese Religion
• Medieval Chinese History
• +3 more

John D. Dunne is a Professor and Distinguished Chair in Contemplative Humanities at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, holding an endowed position through the Center for Healthy Minds. He is affiliated with the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures and has served as its department chair. Dunne's research bridges Buddhist philosophy, contemplative practices, and cognitive science, focusing on mindfulness and compassionate training. He is a Fellow of the Mind and Life Institute and advises the Ranjung Yeshe Institute. His work includes translating Buddhist texts and collaborating on interdisciplinary projects. Education: PhD in Buddhist Studies from Harvard University (1999). Research emphasizes dialogues between Buddhist thought and modern science, with public engagement through organizations like the Upaya Zen Center and Gomde centers. Dunne teaches courses on flourishing, Buddhist philosophy, and contemplative practices, including ASIAN/PSYCH 120. His publications span academic journals (e.g., Mindfulness , Frontiers in Psychology ) and books like Foundations of Dharmakīrti’s Philosophy and translations of Nagarjuna’s Ratnāvalī . Scientific contributions include studies on meditation’s neurological effects, compassion cultivation, and mindfulness-based interventions. Awards include his Mind and Life Fellowship. He collaborates with institutions like the Center for Healthy Minds, exploring human flourishing and mental health. Recent work addresses psychedelic research and postmortem meditation states in Tibetan practitioners.

• Buddhist Philosophy
• Contemplative Practice
• Cognitive Science
• +4 more

Donald S. Lopez Jr. is the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Arthur E. Link Distinguished University Professor of Buddhist & Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. He holds a PhD from the University of Virginia (1982). His research focuses on Indian Mahayana Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism, and the European intellectual encounter with Buddhism. He is affiliated with multiple centers, including the Center for Chinese Studies, Center for South Asian Studies, and the Nam Center for Korean Studies. His work bridges historical scholarship and contemporary debates, such as the compatibility of Buddhism with modern science. Recent projects include translations of Tibetan and Jesuit texts, studies of the Lotus Sutra's influence, and collaborative research on medieval Christian-Buddhist narratives like Barlaam and Josaphat . Recipient of distinguished professorships, Lopez advises graduate students in Tibetan Buddhist studies and has authored seminal works such as The Tibetan Book of the Dead: A Biography (2011) and Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed (2008). His interdisciplinary approach reflects engagement with global religious history and textual analysis.

• Buddhism
• Tibetan Buddhism
• Indian Mahayana Buddhism
• +4 more

Eric Greene is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University, specializing in medieval Chinese Buddhism. He has held academic positions since 2015, including Director of Graduate Studies at the Council on East Asian Studies. His research focuses on the transmission of Indian Buddhism to China, Chan/Zen Buddhism, and Buddhist meditation practices. He earned his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from UC Berkeley in 2012, with additional research at Kyoto University. Greene's work bridges historical analysis and textual criticism, particularly in early Chinese Buddhist texts such as the Vimalakīrti Sutra commentaries and meditation manuals. His publications include Chan Before Chan (2021) and The Secrets of Buddhist Meditation (2021), exploring meditation’s role in Chinese Buddhist identity and ritual. He has delivered invited lectures globally, addressing topics like Buddhist image worship, repentance practices, and comparative visions of meditation in medieval China and 19th-century psychology. Greene’s current research examines early Chinese Buddhist translation and commentary practices (150–350 CE), emphasizing how textual interpretation shaped Buddhist sinicization. His affiliations include the Yale Buddhist Studies Initiative and the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

• Asian Religions
• Medieval Chinese Buddhism
• Buddhist Meditation
• +3 more

Christian K. Wedemeyer is an Associate Professor of the History of Religions at the University of Chicago Divinity School, with affiliations in South Asian Languages and Civilizations and the College. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Southern Asian Studies and Assistant Marshal of the University. Education: MA, MPhil, PhD from Columbia University His research spans Buddhist traditions, focusing on Tantric (esoteric) Buddhism in India and Tibet, with interests in theory and method in the human sciences, textual criticism, and ritual studies. He has written extensively on antinomianism, canonicity, and the semiology of esoteric rituals. His publications highlight trends in Buddhist historiography, cross-cultural comparative analysis, and the intersection of philosophy, philology, and religious practice. Key works include studies on Vajrayāna Buddhism, Tibetan scholasticism, and edited volumes on Buddhist literature and hermeneutics. Scientific Awards: 2013 AAR Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion (Historical Studies) Wedemeyer teaches courses on Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, Mahayana sutras, Buddhist auto/biography, and ritual in South Asian traditions. He contributes to the University’s academic governance and community engagement through roles like Director of Doctoral Studies.

• Buddhist Studies
• History of Religions
• Comparative Religion
• +17 more

Lars Fogelin is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Arizona, specializing in the archaeology of Buddhism in South Asia. His work bridges archaeology, religious studies, and the philosophy of science, with a focus on early Buddhist architecture, ritual practices, and theoretical frameworks. His research interests include the archaeology of religion, South Asian Buddhism, and methodological debates in archaeological theory. Fogelin has conducted extensive fieldwork in India, particularly in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, examining Buddhist monastic sites like Thotlakonda and investigating the material manifestations of religious practices. Key contributions include studies on Buddhist stupas' architectural evolution, ritual practices in mortuary contexts, and the application of philosophical principles to archaeological reasoning. He has authored influential books such as An Archaeological History of Indian Buddhism (2015) and edited volumes exploring the intersection of archaeology and religion. Fogelin's work emphasizes methodological rigor and interdisciplinary approaches, addressing how material culture reflects social, religious, and ideological dynamics. His research also critiques essentialist interpretations in archaeological studies, advocating for context-sensitive analyses of ritual and religious practices.

• Archaeology
• South Asia
• Buddhism
• +4 more

Tao Jiang is a Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Rutgers University. He serves as Director of the Rutgers Center for Chinese Studies and co-chairs the Neo-Confucian Studies Seminar at Columbia University. His academic work bridges classical Chinese philosophy, Mahāyāna Buddhist thought, and cross-cultural analysis. Education: Ph.D. from Temple University Service: Former chair of the Religion Department (2010-2016, 2020-2023); co-founder of the Rutgers Workshop on Chinese Philosophy Research spans comparative philosophy , Buddhist psychology , and political thought . He explores intersections between Chinese and Western philosophy, focusing on concepts like subliminal mind and virtue ethics. His 15 most recent articles reflect trends in cross-cultural dialogue, particularly between Buddhist/Yogācāra traditions and Western philosophy (2012-2025). Topics range from Zhuangzi's freedom theories to Linji's Chan Buddhism and Nagārjuna's metaphysics. Awards include: Honorable Mention, Joseph Levenson Prize (2023) Active in academic leadership, Jiang serves on editorial boards of Dao , Journal of Buddhist Philosophy , and Neo-Confucian Studies . Contact: tjiang@rutgers.edu

• Classical Chinese Philosophy
• Mahāyāna Buddhist Philosophy
• Cross-Cultural Philosophy
• +3 more

Dr. Alexander von Rospatt is a Professor of Buddhist and South Asian Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and serves as the Program Director for the Group in Buddhist Studies . His research focuses on the doctrinal history of Indian Buddhism and the living Newar Buddhist tradition in the Kathmandu Valley, the only Indic Mahayana tradition persisting in its original South Asian context. Specializes in Buddhist doctrinal history, Newar Mahayana traditions, and ritual studies Author of two major works: a foundational book on Buddhist momentariness and The Svayambhu Caitya and its Renovations Current projects include visual analysis of Svayambhupurana murals, Newar life-cycle rituals, and Nepalese manuscript colophons He has held teaching positions at the Universities of Leipzig, Oxford, Vienna, and Munich, and at the International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies in Tokyo. His work integrates manuscript analysis with extensive fieldwork in Nepal.

• Buddhist Doctrinal History
• Indian Buddhism
• Newar Buddhism
• +4 more

Zhiru Ng is a Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Pomona College, where she has been a faculty member since 2000. Her research and teaching focus on Chinese Buddhist history, art, and religious practices, particularly the cult of Dizang (Jizo) Bodhisattva and the interplay between texts and images in Buddhist traditions. Her academic background includes a Ph.D. from the University of Arizona, an M.A. from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and a B.A. from the National University of Singapore. Ph.D., University of Arizona M.A., University of Michigan, Ann Arbor B.A., National University of Singapore Dr. Ng's research interests span Chinese Buddhist history, Buddhist art, Dizang Bodhisattva, cross-cultural Buddhist interactions, and modern Taiwanese Buddhism. She explores how Buddhist doctrines are materialized in art and ritual, and how religious diversity is navigated in Chinese intellectual history. Her work bridges textual analysis with visual and material culture, offering deep insights into the lived dimensions of East Asian Buddhism. The trend in her scholarly publications reflects a sustained engagement with medieval Chinese Buddhist cults, scriptural authority, healing practices, and the visual representation of doctrine. Her articles and book chapters examine the evolution of savior bodhisattvas, the integration of Indian Buddhist traditions in China, and the dynamics of religious diversity. She frequently contributes to major academic presses and journals in Buddhist and Asian studies. Her scientific awards and honors include: Outstanding Global Bhikṣunī Award, Taiwan (2016) Outstanding Women in Buddhism Award, Bangkok (2010) Visiting Research Fellow, University of Heidelberg (2012) Senior Fellow, Harvard University Center for the Study of World Religions (2003–04) Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation Scholar Grant (2008–09) Graves Award for Excellence in Teaching (2004–05) Dr. Ng has advised various academic projects and secured research grants from foundations such as the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation and Harvard’s Center for the Study of World Religions. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, her collaborative work with institutions like the Kuroda Institute and participation in international research projects indicate active scholarly networks. She teaches courses on East Asian religions, the Lotus Sutra, death and afterlife, and the life of the Buddha through art and text.

• Chinese Buddhist History
• Buddhist Art
• Dizang (Jizo) Bodhisattva
• +11 more

Daniel Boucher is an Associate Professor of Asian Studies at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, specializing in Buddhist studies with a focus on the early development of Mahayana Buddhist movements in India and their transmission to China during the first few centuries CE. Ph.D. in East Asian Literature, University of Pennsylvania (1996) MA in Religious Studies, Indiana University (1989) BA in Religious Studies and Philosophy, Indiana University (1986) His research encompasses Buddhist Middle Indo-Aryan languages, particularly Gandhari Prakrit's role in early Buddhist transmission, and explores translation as a religious genre. He also investigates art historical, epigraphical, and archaeological sources for studying religion, alongside methodological and theoretical frameworks in religious studies. Boucher's publications reflect a multidisciplinary approach to early Mahayana Buddhism, analyzing textual transmission, cultural exchange along Silk Road, and the interplay between language and religious practice. Key themes include manuscript preservation, linguistic adaptation, and the evolution of Buddhist rituals. Selden Memorial Translation Prize He teaches courses on Asian religions and Mahayana Buddhism at Cornell, contributing to academic programs in Asian Studies and Religious Studies.

• Buddhist Studies
• Mahayana Buddhism
• Translation Studies
• +6 more

Deven M. Patel serves as Associate Professor in the Department of South Asia Studies and Director of Undergraduate Studies for Comparative Literature at the University of Pennsylvania's School of Arts & Sciences. His academic work bridges Sanskrit literary traditions, Indian philosophical systems, and contemporary translation theory within South Asian cultural contexts. Patel's educational foundation includes: Ph.D. from the University of California at Berkeley B.A. from Columbia University His research explores classical Indian literature and aesthetics with emphasis on Sanskrit poetry, regional South Asian cultures, and the intersections of myth, philosophy, and critical theory. Patel investigates how literary traditions evolve through commentary practices, multilingual interactions, and cross-cultural translation, particularly examining the transmission of Sanskrit texts across linguistic boundaries and historical periods. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a trajectory from foundational work on classical Sanskrit poetics toward innovative explorations of translingualism and cross-cultural translation. Recent scholarship increasingly engages with contemporary art translation (notably Warhol), Buddhist philosophical concepts, and the metalinguistic dimensions of commentary traditions, demonstrating sustained evolution from textual scholarship to broader theoretical frameworks in comparative literature. As Director of Undergraduate Studies for Comparative Literature, Patel shapes academic programming while teaching diverse courses spanning Sanskrit epics, Indian philosophy, medieval poetics, and South Asian literary traditions. His instructional portfolio reflects deep integration of language pedagogy with theoretical literary analysis across multiple South Asian linguistic traditions.

• Sanskrit Literature
• Indian Aesthetics
• South Asian Cultures
• +6 more

Eric M Greene is a faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies at Yale University, specializing in Chinese Buddhist studies with a particular focus on meditation practices, textual history, and the cultural transmission of Buddhism from India to China during the early medieval period (200-600 CE). Dr. Greene's research reveals how early Chinese Buddhists approached meditation primarily as a means of gaining visionary experiences that were interpreted as indicators of spiritual purity and progress toward liberation. His work demonstrates that these early meditation practices were fundamentally integrated with repentance rituals (chanhui) and divination practices, forming a distinctive religious culture that differed significantly from later Chan (Zen) traditions. Through meticulous analysis of meditation manuals, including newly discovered Dunhuang manuscripts, he reconstructs how Buddhist contemplative practices were transmitted from India and Central Asia to China and adapted within the Chinese religious context. His scholarship spans multiple methodological approaches, combining textual criticism, historical analysis, and phenomenological examination of meditation experiences. A consistent theme in his work is the examination of how early Chinese Buddhists interpreted their visionary experiences and the authority they ascribed to these experiences within their religious framework. His research challenges established narratives about the development of Chinese Buddhism by utilizing newly discovered manuscript evidence that provides fresh perspectives on textual transmission, doctrinal development, and religious practice. Dr. Greene has made significant contributions through his two major monographs published by the University of Hawaii Press: The Secrets of Buddhist Meditation (2021) and Chan Before Chan (2021), which provide comprehensive studies of early Chinese meditation texts along with English translations. His publication record demonstrates consistent scholarly productivity across multiple prestigious journals in Buddhist studies, religious history, and Asian studies, establishing him as a leading scholar in the field of early Chinese Buddhist meditation history.

• Buddhist Studies
• Chinese Buddhism
• Buddhist Meditation
• +4 more

Richard S. Cohen is Associate Professor of South Asian Religious Literatures at the University of California San Diego , where he has been affiliated with the Department of Literature since completing his PhD in Buddhist Studies at the University of Michigan in 1995. His academic journey began with BA and MA in Religious Studies from Wesleyan University. His research focuses on: Buddhist Scriptural Analysis : Particularly examining authority articulations in 5th-century CE texts like The Splendid Vision in which One Observes Living Beings and Reveals Buddha Fields through the Empowerment of All Tathagatas Wisdom Theory : Developing frameworks for analyzing wisdom-claims through Buddhist concepts like the Four Immeasurables to create non-theological political wisdom models Religious Authority Critique : Challenging traditional power structures in South Asian religious contexts His publications reveal trends in: Buddhist textual evolution across South Asia Artistic-religious interplay at sites like Ajanta Dynastic religious community formation Modern reinterpretations of ancient religious concepts Scientific Recognition: Hellman Fellowship : UCSD's prestigious early-career award While currently without formal student advisors listed, his work bridges religious studies with critical theory, influencing both academic and public understandings of Buddhist modernity and institutionalization processes.

• Buddhism
• South Asian Religious Studies
• Religious Authority
• +2 more

Matthew Vale is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology at Boston College. His research bridges Buddhist-Christian comparative theology, Indian and Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and historical Hindu-Buddhist exchanges. He holds a B.A. from Rice University and M.T.S./Ph.D. degrees from the University of Notre Dame. His work explores intersections between Yogācāra philosophy and Christian theology, nondual cognition, and contemplative practices. Recent publications include analyses of medieval theologians like Meister Eckhart and Eriugena, alongside investigations into Dharmakīrti and Pratyabhijñā Śaivism. Presentations span topics such as Buddhist-Christian dialogue at the European Academy of Religion and Catholic Theological Society of America conferences. Dr. Vale’s scholarly trajectory emphasizes interdisciplinary engagement, with upcoming projects on Greco-Buddhist philosophical connections and the Duffy Lectures in Global Christianity. He teaches courses on Mahāyāna Buddhism and comparative contemplative traditions.

• Buddhist-Christian Comparative Theology
• Indian Buddhism (Yogācāra, Mahāmudrā, Dzogchen)
• Tibetan Buddhism
• +3 more

Joseph Walser is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religion at Tufts University, located in the School of Arts and Sciences. He holds a PhD from Northwestern University (1997), an MTS from Emory University (1991), and a BA from Carleton College (1989). His research focuses on Mahayana Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and religious traditions in early South Asia, with particular attention to Chinese religions and the anthropology, philosophy, and sociology of religion. Walser’s teaching portfolio includes courses on Buddhism, yoga history, Tibetan Buddhism, and independent studies. His publications span monographs, edited volumes, and peer-reviewed articles addressing topics like Mahayana origins, Nagarjuna’s philosophy, and the socio-cultural context of early Indian religions. Notable works include Genealogies of Mahāyāna Buddhism (2018) and Nagarjuna in Context (2005). His research methodologies emphasize textual analysis, comparative religious studies, and historical contextualization. Walser has contributed to debates on Buddhist anti-Brahmanical tendencies, the classification of religious traditions, and the interplay between scriptural authority and cultural practice. He maintains active engagement with academic discourse through conference presentations and peer-reviewed contributions.

• Mahayana Buddhism
• Hinduism
• Jainism
• +5 more