The Buddhist tradition begins in India round about the 5th to 4th century BCE, and continues with various degrees of vibrancy until around the 13th century CE. We know something about the circumstances of the arisal of this tradition, and something about its end, but details of both remain shrouded in uncertainty. Likewise, we know something of the literature produced over the centuries by Indian Buddhists, something of the architecture and art, but it is very difficult to piece together an overall picture. Despite this challenge, the lecture will attempt an overall sketch of Indian Buddhist traditions, what we can know, and what we are less sure about.

The speaker
Jonathan Silk, Professor of Buddhist Studies, Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS), Leiden University