Dr. Kate Hartmann discusses how academic study and practice complement each other through "slow reading" of Buddhist texts and accessible online education.
In the latest episode of "84000 In Conversation," host Joy Chen sits down with Dr. Kate Hartman, an assistant professor at the University of Wyoming and the Director of Buddhist Studies Online (BSO). Their discussion explores the vibrant intersection of academic research and personal practice, a space Dr. Hartman describes as "where the cushion meets the academy".
For many years, the academic study of Buddhism and the devotional path of the practitioner were viewed as being in tension. However, Dr. Hartman suggests that these two worlds are actually complementary parts of a spectrum. While scholars help practitioners by providing historical context and linguistic precision, practitioners remind scholars that these ancient texts were originally written to be transformative. By engaging in "slow reading"—a core tenet of Dr. Hartman’s pedagogy—we can avoid projecting our own modern desires onto the text and instead allow the original words of the Buddha to challenge our assumptions.
Through her work with BSO, Dr. Hartman is making high-level Buddhist education accessible and affordable for those who may not have the time or resources to pursue a formal degree at elite institutions. Whether you are a long-time practitioner or simply curious about the "big questions" of life and death, the academic study of Buddhism offers a profound framework for navigating the human experience.
This conversation is for anyone who aspires to dedicate time to learning more about Buddhism but doesn’t know where to start or for those looking for more structure in their engagement with Buddhist study. Kate and Joie – together with our active audience – suggest a range of resources to get one started that include:
For more resources, particularly those for translators, please visit our website’s resources page: https://84000.co/resources/translator...
Key Moments
[3:20] How did you end up studying Buddhism and deciding that this would be your career path?
[06:21] On the importance of translated resources and their accessibility
[08:35] How do you define the academic study of Buddhism? What can the academic study of Buddhism offer to Buddhist practitioners, and vice versa?
[14:51] Reading one page a day
[17:20] What is Buddhist Studies Online?
[26:06] Why is it important to teach Buddhism at the university level and what can studying Buddhism offer to the Humanities at large?
[31:45] What type of courses have you taught and what courses are you looking forward to teaching?
[37:02] What do you ask students to read, what types of textbooks do you use? What would you recommend to our audience that is academic but accessible?
[37:52] Working largely and directly with primary sources
[43:05] What online resources are available?
[48:37] Resources for kids
Dr. Kate Hartmann is a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism whose research explores pilgrimage, sacred mountains, and the transformation of perception through spiritual practice.
