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at the University of Toronto

Engaging Education in Buddhist Studies

Founded in 2019, the Engaging Education in Buddhist Studies (EEBS) initiative supports post-secondary mental health and well-being through evidence-based course design, and it catalyzes relationships through teaching, research, and public communication. Using curricular and co-curricular strategies shaped by principles of collaboration, empowerment, social justice, ethical action, and community connection, EEBS provides deep experiences with scholastic, contemplative, ritual, and therapeutic dimensions of Buddhist cultures. With four domains of activity (teaching, communication, connection, research), EEBS enriches student engagement and public knowledge with an academic framework sensitive to Buddhist communities, cultures, ideas, and histories.

  • TEACHING: To support experiential and community-engaged learning opportunities that foster well-being;
  • COMMUNICATION: To communicate techniques and lessons learned via academic vehicles, multimedia platforms, and outreach to local and international communities;
  • CONNECTION: To catalyze university-community relationships, and to encourage networks focused on peer-supported mental health, well-being, and contemplative science research and practice;
  • RESEARCH: To support original research and to study and share the impact of our work.

Primary funding for the EEBS initiative comes from The Khyentse Foundation. Supplemental support has been received from the Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Centre for Buddhist Studies, Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai Canada, New College Initiatives Fund, the Buddhism, Psychology, and Mental Health Program, Department for the Study of Religion, School of the Environment, Trinity Sustainability Initiative, eCampusOntario, and others.

Public performance of “Healing Songs,” an immersive evening of Buddhist and Indigenous music, mindfulness, drum, and dance. With Joe Reilly, the Community Gardeners, & The All Nation Dancers. Photo by Rob Walsh.

Websites featuring EEBS work

Podcasts supported by EEBS

  • “The Circled Square: Teaching Buddhism in Higher Education,” hosted by Sarah Richardson (reaching over 7,000 listeners as of today)
  • “Buddhist Studies Footnotes,” hosted by Frances Garrett & Tony Scott (reaching over 6,500 listeners)
  • “The Contemplative Science Podcast,” hosted by Mark Miller (reaching over 50,000 listeners)

Open-access articles, essays & news features related to EEBS work

Faculty awards and award nominations for EEBS participants

Campus performance by hip hop artist “Born I” or Ofosu Jones-Quartey, a meditation teacher, author, and musician, 2024. Photo by Rob Walsh.

Research, Events, Community Engagement

  • PATH (Peers Are There to Help) student mentorship program, supporting students yearly to run weekly programming across campus
  • EASE Lab, contemplative science research hub that connects students and faculty across the University, with student fellowships and monthly meetings
  • Fellowships for student participation at international conferences
  • Teaching Buddhist Studies Fellowships for graduate students
  • Community-engaged public events, selected examples:
    • Healing Songs Evening of Music, Mediation & Poetry
    • Applied Mindfulness Research public forum
    • Lecture with Dr Yuria Celidwen, Indigenous Contemplative Science public forum

EEBS-sponsored in-class workshops with guest speakers

  • Ryan Genereaux (on movement medicine)
  • Reverend Tenku Ruff (on hara breathing)
  • Bhante Saranapala (on mindfulness of breath)
  • Alice Millington (on inner/outer pollution)
  • Geshe Sonam Ngodrup and Venerable Khedrub Tasker (on Indian Buddhist cosmography)
  • Reverend Tenku Ruff (on Zen perspectives on nature)
  • Bhante Saranapala (on mindful walking and mindfulness meditation)
  • Brother Phap Linh
  • Brother Phap Luu (on mindfulness in public health)
  • Marisela Gomez (on Black Buddhist teachings)
  • Kaira Jewel (on Black Buddhist teachings)
  • Rory Tasker and Geshe Sonam Ngodrup (on monastic training)
  • Master Dao (on Qigong breathing practices)
  • Sister Chân Lăng Nghiêm
  • Ofosu Jones-Quartey
  • Larry Ward and Peggy Ward
  • Nho (on race and queer Buddhist practice)
  • Melina Bondy (on queer Buddhist practice)
  • Sara Ahola Kohut (on critical evaluation of mindfulness research)
  • Mark Miller (on predictive processing models, depersonalization, self and non-self)
Charya dance workshop student performance, April 2025.

Teaching modules created for use in different courses

  • Torma-making Workshop
  • Sand mandala workshop
  • Iconometry of the Buddha workshop
  • Five-week breath practice series
  • Phenomenological writing reflection module
  • “Speaking Out and ListeningIn” module
  • Buddhist dance, movement and mudras modules
  • Reflections on reciprocity through making treasure vases
  • Contemplative photography workshop
  • Pottery workshop

Print books or websites to celebrate student work

Courses receiving EEBS support

  • RLG206 Buddhism
  • RLG372 Engaging Tibet
  • RLG375 Biohacking Breath
  • RLG376 Touching the Earth
  • RLG3419 Teaching Buddhism
  • RLG2005 Religion & Posthumanism
  • JNR301 Histories of Meditation
  • BPM214 Socially Engaged Buddhism
  • BPM336 Art & Science of Well-being
  • BPM338 Exploring Mindful Awareness
  • BPM381 Buddhist Perspectives on Current Social Issues
  • BPM433 Advanced Exploration of Buddhist Psychology and Practice
  • BPM438 Mindfulness Meditation Science & Research
  • RLG206 (UTM) Introduction to Buddhism
  • RLG373 (UTM) Visuality and Materiality in Buddhism
  • RLG201 (UTM) Introduction to Religion in the Visual, Literary and Performing Arts
  • RLG370 (UTM) Meditation and Mindfulness
  • FAH394 (UTM) Sand, Stone, Gold and Crystal: Materials and Materiality in Asian Art
close-up photo of hands and tools constructing a sand mandala
In-class sand mandala workshop
students working together to construct a sand mandala
hand-made torma and pencil drawing of the buddha on a table
Student field trip to Toronto’s Fo Guang Shan temple
EASE Lab meeting featuring Dr. Kenneth Fung, Professor of Global Mental Health with the Department of Psychiatry
In-class retreat with Brother Phap Linh
“Miksang contemplative seeing” photography workshop
“Body mapping” art project presentations
Frances Garrett and Amber Moore, creating an online video for Buddhist Charya dance workshop
Pottery workshop in Touching the Earth course
EASE Lab Undergraduate Fellow presents her research at monthly meeting
logo for U of T Robert H.N Ho family foundation center for buddhist studies
The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation

The University of Toronto operates on land that for thousands of years it has been the traditional land of the Huron-Wendat, the Seneca, and  the Mississaugas of the Credit. Today, this meeting place is still the home to many Indigenous people from across Turtle Island and we are grateful to have the opportunity to work on this land. Learn more about this history.