Daoist Thought and its Legacy in Chan Buddhism
May 4 & 11, 2025
Class Description
It has sometimes been said that Chan (Japanese: Zen) Buddhism was so heavily influenced by the Daoist tradition that it is really best understood as half Daoism, half Buddhism. While that claim may be a bit overstated, understanding Daoist thought is unquestionably essential for coming to grips with many of the most fundamental motivations for Chan Buddhism. In our sessions, we will take a historical and philosophical approach to our subject matter and pay particular attention to the teachings of Zhuangzi and Linji.
About Garrett Bredeson
Garrett Bredeson is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Philosophy Department at the University of Colorado Boulder. He holds a BA in Religious Studies from Lawrence University, an MA in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and a PhD in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University. He has been teaching a wide variety of courses at Boulder for about a decade and has broad interests in the history of philosophy and religion, including the ancient Indian and Chinese traditions, Enlightenment thought, and German philosophy in the wake of Kant.