معرفی
Erik Braun is an Associate Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia. His research focuses on Burmese Buddhism, particularly the historical and global transformations of meditative practices. He holds a BA from the University of Georgia and a PhD in Religious Studies from Harvard University's Committee for the Study of Religion.
His major publications include The Birth of Insight: Meditation, Modern Buddhism, and the Burmese Monk Ledi Sayadaw (2013), which won the Toshihide Numata Book Prize, and ongoing projects exploring globalized insight meditation and the mythic role of Buddhaghosa in Theravada Buddhism. He co-edited Buddhist Studies and the Scientific Study of Meditation (2017) and contributes to interdisciplinary discussions on mindfulness and modern spirituality.
- Teaching Focus: Early Buddhism, meditation traditions, Theravada Buddhism, Buddhism in America, and South/Southeast Asian Buddhist studies.
- Current Projects: A book on insight meditation's impact on American spirituality and analysis of Buddhaghosa's cultural significance.
Braun's work bridges historical analysis with contemporary global religious trends, examining how Buddhist practices adapt to modern contexts while maintaining traditional frameworks.
