Buddhist studies

In contrast to the study of Judaism or Christianity, the field of Buddhist studies has been dominated by "outsiders" to Buddhist cultures and traditions, hence it is not a direct subfield of Indology or Asian studies. However, Chinese, Japanese and Korean universities have also made major contributions, as have Asian immigrants to Western countries, and Western converts to Buddhism.

University programs and institutes

Asia

In Asia, University of Tokyo and Rissho University have long been major centers for Buddhist research, and Nalanda University launched a master program at 2016 Delhi university has a Buddhist studies department since 1957 .

Japan

Most major universities in Japan have departments of Eastern philosophy, including Buddhist studies or Indian philosophy.

University of Tokyo (Dpt. of Indian Philosophy and Buddhist Studies) and Kyoto University (Dpt. of Buddhist Studies) are public universities which have specialized Buddhist studies departments.

Toyo University (non-sect, but associated with the Honganji) a private university founded by Inoue Enryo, is also renowned for its Buddhist studies.

Buddhist studies is also studied in universities run by various religious denominations.

• Intersect: Taisho (Tendai, Singon-Chizan, Jōdo, Shingon-Buzan, Jishū)
• Esoteric sects: Koyasan (Shingon), Shuchiin (Singon-Chizan, Shingon-Buzan, Shingi-Shingon)
• Lotus Sutra sects: Rissho (Nichiren), Minobsan (Nichiren)
• Pure Land sects: Bukkyo (Jōdo), Ryukoku (Honganji), Musashino (Honganji), Otani (Ōtani), Doho (Ōtani)
• Zen sects: Komazawa (Sōtō), Hanazono (Rinzai)

America

The first graduate program in Buddhist studies in North America started in 1961 at the University of Wisconsin–Madision. According to Prebish, Buddhist studies in the United States prior to 1975 was dominated by the University of Wisconsin, Harvard University and the University of Chicago. Prebish cites two surveys by Hart in which the following university programs were found to have produced the most scholars with U.S. university posts: Chicago, Wisconsin, Harvard, Columbia, Yale, Virginia, Stanford, Berkeley, Princeton, Temple, Northwestern, Michigan, Washington, and Tokyo.

Other regionally-accredited U.S. institutions with programs in Buddhism include the University of the West, Institute of Buddhist Studies, Naropa University, Dharma Realm Buddhist University and the California Institute of Integral Studies.

A number of dharma centers offer semi-academic, unaccredited study, notably the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies and the Sati Center for Buddhist Studies.

Europe

Prominent European programs include the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, School of Oriental and African Studies, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Hamburg, LMU Munich, Heidelberg University, University of Bonn, University of Vienna, Ghent University, and the Sorbonne.