Compassionate Canopy: Practical Buddhist Studies in Canada
This program is an innovative continuing education initiative that aims to bring the wisdom of Buddhism to Canadian lives within their contemporary, multicultural contexts. It will cover the foundational teachings of Buddhism and enhance participants' religious understanding, offering fresh insights to help tackle complex issues and navigate life's challenges. This fosters a more serene, positive demeanour and behaviour in our daily lives.
2024 Course schedules and fees
Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28
10 a.m.–noon Buddhist Mindfulness and Secular Mindfulness
1–3 p.m. Chinese Buddhist Liturgy
Oct. 5, 12, 19 and 26
10 a.m.–noon Buddhism and Psychotherapy
1–3 p.m. Buddhist Ritual Music
Nov. 2, 9, 16 and 23
10 a.m.–noon Buddhist Approach to Death and Dying in Canada
1–3 p.m. Certificate Ceremony
Tuition fees: $2,500 (for five courses)
Inquiries
Email: admissions@buddhistcollegeofcanada.com
Phone: 647-812-3878 ext. 200/647-394-6763
Course descriptions
Buddhism and Psychotherapy
This course is an in-depth examination of the intersection between Buddhist principles and contemporary psychotherapeutic practices. Through a blend of theoretical study, scientific research and empirical data analysis, the course critically evaluates the effectiveness and adaptability of Buddhist practices in addressing mental health issues. Students engage in experiential exercises that integrate Buddhist practices with psychotherapy, enabling them to gain a practical understanding of spiritual approaches to mental health treatment.
Buddhist Approach to Death and Dying in Canada
This course provides a comprehensive exploration of the unique perspectives and practices surrounding death and dying within the Buddhist tradition, as contextualized in the Canadian multicultural milieu. It delves into teachings and rituals related to end-of-life care, examining how these ancient practices are adapted and applied in the Canadian medical and social context. The course also focuses on practical aspects such as the role of Buddhist chaplaincy in end-of-life care, bereavement practices and ethical considerations in palliative care settings. Students will gain an understanding of the cultural, spiritual, and psychological dimensions of death and dying, providing deeper insights into this stage of the life cycle.
Buddhist Mindfulness and Secular Mindfulness
The course examines the philosophical and practical aspects of mindfulness in Buddhism, delving into its historical development, ethical foundations and meditative practices. Simultaneously, it investigates the adaptation and transformation of these principles into secular mindfulness, as seen in modern therapeutic settings and socially engaged contexts in addressing racial, gender and environmental justice. Students will analyze the similarities and differences in the objectives, methodologies and outcomes of both approaches. This comparative study is designed to facilitate a thoughtful dialogue between traditional spiritual practices and contemporary secular applications, offering valuable insights for both personal development and professional practice.
Tibetan Buddhist Art
This course delves into the art of the Buddhist religion of Tibet, tracing early art from the time of Buddhism's introduction in the early seventh century to the modern period and the Diaspora. The arts of Tibet will be studied in four modules:
- The thangka painting tradition
- The arts of the monasteries, Stupas and landscape art
- Tibetan ritual dance
- Meditation ritual objects and musical instruments
This broad perspective will allow a glimpse into the rich artistic forms of Tibetan Buddhist art and the important role Tibet played in Inner and East Asian history and the history of art. Students will learn about the relationship between Tibetan Tantric Buddhism and its artistic expressions in visual imagery, music and dance.
Chinese Buddhist Liturgy
This course offers an exploration of the historical development and spiritual significance of the liturgical practices in Chinese Buddhist temples. A comprehensive study of the intricate world of Buddhist chanting, mantras and ceremonial rituals as they have evolved within China, students will explore how these liturgical elements are rooted in Buddhist scriptures and shape its comprehension and practices. The course will also examine the meanings behind the chants and mantras, their linguistic and philosophical origins and their role in the daily life of Buddhist communities.
Instructors
Jennifer Bright, PhD
Jennifer Bright joined the faculty at Emmanuel College in 2023, having previously taught in the Department for the Study of Religion and the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health minor program at the University of Toronto. Before her appointment, Jennifer worked as a Spiritual Care Practitioner in the Intensive Care Unit at Mount Sinai Hospital. Her major research and teachings have centred on Buddhism, medicine and healing in contemporary Asian communities. Bright’s current research and teaching focus on Buddhist practical theology and spiritual care, and pedological practices in chaplaincy, spiritual care and spiritually integrated psychotherapy in the Canadian context. She is also exploring spiritually integrated psychotherapy for moral distress/injury for hospital staff and other front-line workers and responders. Bright is also a practicing registered psychotherapist.
Barbara Hazelton, PhD Candidate
Barbara Hazelton is a PhD candidate in the Department for the Study of Religion at the University of Toronto. She has a BA in Fine Art History and Buddhist Studies, and an MA in Buddhist Studies. Her MA focused on Tibetan medical tradition: Yuthok Nyingtik empowerment. Her PhD research focuses on Tibetan epic literature and performance, particularly the epic tradition of King Gesar of Ling episode "Defeating the Lord of Death in Ü," by Kalu Rinpoche. She has lived for many years within Tibetan communities in Asia and Canada and is a practicing artist studying with a Tibetan Thanka painter in Toronto. She completed the first traditional three-year three-month meditation retreat in North America in the Kagyu tradition, becoming a trained Tibetan Buddhist teacher (Lama Rinchen Zangmo). She has a background in Tibetan visual imagery and ritual through studies with Tibetan scholars and ritual specialists, and through the practices performed in the traditional three-year retreat program.
Eleanor Pontoriero, PhD
Eleanor Pontoriero has been a practising Buddhist since 1985. She took formal refuge lay precepts in the Mahayana and Theravada traditions. She continues daily and formal dhamma practice, including retreats with both monastic and lay teachers, and continues to engage in dhamma, sutta and Pali study with Theravada monastic and lay teachers. Teaching at the University of Toronto since 2002, she has taught courses on religious ethics, women's rights, human rights and peace-building in the comparative context, as well as on socially engaged Buddhism and Buddhist and secular mindfulness. She mentors youth, women and marginalized communities engaged in grassroots projects for peace, equity and development locally and globally. Currently, she is the president of the Buddhist Council of Canada and a member of Buddhist Christian Studies, Sakyadhita International and Sakyadhita Canada. She also offers devotional, meditative, and contemplative practices in Buddhist and interfaith contexts in the community as a not-for-profit endeavour.
Henry Shiu, PhD
Henry Shiu is the Shi Wu De Professor in Chinese Buddhist Studies at Emmanuel College. Shiu has a keen interest in the study of Mahayana Buddhism in India, China, and Tibet, particularly in the historical and doctrinal studies of the Madhyamaka and Yogacara traditions. His research specialization is in the theory of the Tathāgatagarbh, or Buddha nature. He also has research interest in contemporary Buddhist movements, Buddhist Chaplaincy and the development of Buddhism in Canada. Besides Buddhist studies, Shiu has also published three books on Western classical music. He is equally enthusiastic about the study of Daoist texts, such as the Laozi and the Zhuangzi, and other Chinese classics like the Yijing (Book of Changes).
Contact information
Buddhist College of Canada, Wutai Shan Buddhist Garden
708 Ski Hill Road, Bethany, ON, L0A 1A0
Contact: 647-394-6763
The Buddhist College of Canada (BCC) is the first Buddhist institution established between a Buddhist organization and a higher education institution. Jointly offered by the Buddhist Association of Canada and the Centre for Religion and Its Contexts at Emmanuel College of Victoria University in the University of Toronto, BCC represents a milestone in collaborative education.
Upcoming Events
Stay tuned!