The Faculty of Buddhist Studies is Arunachal University of Studies' first of a kind establishment with a noble objective of conducting academic classes in various aspects related to Buddhist Studies. The holistic approach to Buddhism has earned AUS an establishment for guiding the Buddhist principles in the Northeast and for every human society. Respecting and honouring the great thought process of the Great Teacher - Buddha, The Faculty of Buddhist Studies offers a glimpse of divinity and righteous path in its academic pedagogy associated with the subject.
Why choose Buddhist Studies?
Buddhist Studies is not just about the academics, it a path to witnessing a rich culture exploring Buddhism practices through different approaches as it impacts many individuals around the world. Buddhism promotes global harmony and social engagements to teach every human to be a sharp orator and question everything that goes around society. Buddhist Studies as disciplines makes humanity richer with knowledge, value, empathy, love, self-discipline, and compassion.
Over the last few decades, Buddhist Studies has witnessed a rise of theoretical literature to promote social and rhetorical practices of global unity. As the emergence of Buddhism with time, the approaches to studying this course has taken a paradigm for equating studies specifically for research keeping the South Asian, Tibetan, and Buddhist culture. In addition, Buddhist studies also teach about the language and the historic value of Buddhist civilization dominant in the local culture.
Few Key Buddhist Concepts
Buddhism does not concern itself for satisfying human curiosity; conversations about neither godly existence, the afterlife, nor creationism are favored. As the time passed about the principles of Buddhism may have been branched out into diverse systems such as metaphysics, astrology, deities and others the Four Noble Truths of Lord Buddha himself, teach the most important Buddhist teaching.
There is Suffering - this is the first truth and the lesson that is made to understand any individual practicing Buddhism. Death, illness, poverty, sadness, abuse, trauma, etc. are real and that sufferings arise from the good things. The principle also tells us that nothing in this world is permanent and nothing lasts forever.
The Origin of Suffering - desires are the root cause of suffering. Referred to as "thirst" or "greed", one always ends up unsatisfied and unhappy when desiring of things that exceed the needed resources. This selfish practice leads to generating a lot of suffering. The teaching also says that not all desires are bad and that good one never leads to sufferings.
The Cessation of Suffering - if one stops the process of desire, the suffer stop automatically. The whole principle is to not be attached to any materialistic goods, place, idea, things, emotions, or even people. With no attachments and feelings to anything permanent, a man can detach himself suffering. At the end of the day, every human soul gets old, die, and decay as a part of the natural cycle. This alone is the ultimate truth.
The Path to Cessation of suffering - the last Noble Truth is Buddha's prescription to end sufferings of an individual by setting Eightfold Paths called the Middle Way. It is to avoid both the critical asceticism and indulgence to follow the path of enlightenment for wisdom, ethical conduct, and meditation.
The eight divisions are as follows
Samma ditthi - Right understanding
Samma sankappa - Right Intention
Samma vaca - Right Speech
Samma Kammanta - Right Action
Samma ajiva - Right Livelihood
Samma vayama - Right Effort
Samma sati - Right Mindfulness
Samma samadhi - Right Concentration
Apart from the classroom curriculum The Faculty of Buddhist Studies, ensures that every student students a practical exposure thus frequent Field Trips to Buddhist sites are organized to add in a holistic combination of traditional classroom methodology with an experiential understanding of Buddhism. It also offers every student an opportunity to map, site, and research Buddhist history, culture, art, heritage and architecture.
Having a degree in Buddhist Studies imparts a lot of transferable qualities and skills that enable every student in multiple directions about their career such as:
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Archivist
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Librarian
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Scholar
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Researcher
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Preacher
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Teacher
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Peace Activist
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Religious Commentator
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Cultural Administrator
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News Analyst
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Journalist
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NGOs employee
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Historian
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Lecturer
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University Professor
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Theologist
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Buddhist Archaeologist
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Philosophy experts
Students can always opt to take specializations that enhance their career well such as anthropology, history and philosophy. Working as a secondary school teacher and a Buddhist expert in art, archaeology, Sanskrit, architecture, and Tibetan Buddhism can be a good career opportunity.
