Buddhism for Beginners

Name: Buddhism for Beginners
Rating: 4.4 (115 reviews)

Understanding the History, Teachings, and Application of the Dharma

Created byMatthew Sockolov

Last updated 6/2019

English

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What you'll learn

Learn about the basic history of the Buddha and Buddhism
Understand the basic principles and teachings known as dharma
Investigate different schools and traditions of Buddhism
Dive into mindfulness, compassion, concentration, and more
Gain knowledge of Buddhist ethics and guidelines

Course content

5 sections • 50 lectures • 7h 48m total length

Introduction3:12
Explore the basics of Buddhism, from the life of the Buddha and its history to core teachings, meditation, mindfulness, compassion, and integration into daily life.
Questions, Help, Support0:23
A Brief Self-Introduction5:51
Meet the founder of One Mind Dharma as he shares his buddhist path, meditation practice, and how dharma-centered teaching connects students across online and in-person communities.
Why Learn About Buddhism?5:25

Introduction to the Section3:18
Siddhartha Gautama9:37
Trace the life of Siddhartha Gautama from a privileged upbringing in a warrior clan to his awakening after encountering suffering, discovering the middle path.
The Buddha14:56
The Buddha sits under the tree seeking awakening, facing Mara, and after nirvana teaches the four noble truths and the noble eightfold path at deer park near Varanasi.
Sangha: The Community of the Time19:53
Explore Sangha as the monastic community in early Buddhism, with rules to support awakening, the roles of lay practitioners, and key figures like Ananda, Sariputta, Mahapajapati, and the Buddha.
History Quizlet 1
The Spread of Buddhism17:38
Explore how Buddhism spread from India to Asia and beyond, transforming into Chan in China, Zen in Japan, Tibetan and Seon forms, aided by Ashoka's empire and the Silk Road.
The Buddhist Councils11:38
Explore the Buddhist councils as pivotal moments in the evolution and spread of the dharma, preserving the Buddha's teachings in the Pali Canon and three baskets.
Schools of Buddhism22:34
Explore the history and major Buddhist schools—Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana—contrast languages (Pali vs Sanskrit), monastic rules, and meditation approaches across traditions, with insights from the Insight Meditation tradition.
History Quizlet 2
Buddhism in the West9:56
Trace Buddhism’s western arrival from Ashoka’s outreach and 19th-century interest to modern adoption through Nietzsche and Suzuki, then the birth of mindfulness programs and western Buddhist centers.
Women in Buddhism5:51
Matthew Sokolov introduces his background in Buddhism and teaching, detailing his path from meditation to founding One Mind Dharma and Mindful Petaluma, and inviting engagement with the dharma community.
History Test

Introduction to the Section6:26
Samsara and the Realms11:17
Karma11:17
The Suttas8:59
Explore the sutras as Buddhism’s core teachings, organized in the three baskets of the Pali Canon, featuring long and short discourses and the monastic rules.
Getting Started with the Suttas1:15
The Four Noble Truths13:35
The Noble Eightfold Path (Wisdom)13:35
Explore the noble eightfold path's wisdom section with wise view and wise intention, showing how renunciation, goodwill, and homelessness guide ethical living and mindful practice.
The Noble Eightfold Path (Ethics)8:35
The Noble Eightfold Path (Tranquility)5:54
Teachings Quiz
The Three Jewels6:41
Explore the three refuges—the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha—as sources of refuge and inspiration on the path to liberation, including the seed of awakening within us and community support.
The Precepts20:05
Explore the five lay precepts and three novice precepts as ethics guiding training. Apply them to avoid harming living beings, not taking freely offered items, lying, intoxicants, and harmful sex.
The Four Brahma-Viharas12:22
The Three Poisons12:54
Explore the three poisons: craving, aversion, and delusion, and how they root suffering. Learn to uproot them through mindful awareness, wise view, and non-attachment practice.
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness13:00
Teachings Test
Resources1:05

Introduction to the Section5:51
Introduce the founder of One Mind Dharma, outlining his meditation background, teaching journey, and the center’s mission to make dharma and guided meditation accessible.
The Role of Meditation on the Path1:36
Types of Meditation5:06
Meditation Notes and Instructions1:09
Introduction to Samatha0:29
Concentration Meditation 114:10
This is a traditional concentration meditation. We use a counting exercise to help encourage the mind to stay on track, giving it a bit of extra stimulus to stay attentive.
Concentration Meditation 211:58
Kindness is an important part of concentration practice. We can easily begin straining or stressing during practice. In this meditation, we make a little effort to bring kindness to the forefront of the mind.
Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation2:52
Body Scan Meditation18:40
This is a body scan meditation. In a body scan, we move through the body slowly in order to observe our experience in different parts. There's nothing to do here but observe!
Vedana Meditation20:58
Vedana is a Pali word that means "feeling tones." This is the Second Foundation of Mindfulness, and is the practice of noting whether an experience is pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral. It's a practice that is often left behind in secular mindfulness practices, but an important part of the path of mindfulness.
Vipassana Meditation25:01
Finally, we have a traditional vipassana practice. This meditation actually goes through the instructions how I personally meditate. It's based off a practice from the Burmese teacher Mahasi Sayadaw. In this practice, we begin by bringing our attention to the breath. Then, we open up to our other senses to see what else is present. Vipassana means insight, and often involves a mental noting.
Introduction to the Heart Practices0:58
Metta Meditation24:31
Practice metta meditation to cultivate loving-kindness from self to others, with phrases like may I be happy and may I be at ease toward friends, neutral people, and difficult persons.
Compassion Meditation13:52
This is a guided compassion meditation. Just as we did with the previous metta meditation, we will use phrases to tap into the intention of compassion.
The Five Hindrances8:06
Walking Meditation14:22
Walking meditation is a piece of the path that is often left behind. The Buddha himself recommended walking meditation many times. Although we think of meditation as a sitting practice, it's just as important to practice while up and moving. For this practice, you'll need just 10-15 feet of space in which you can walk back and forth.
If you are unable to walk or would prefer not to, you may try this practice moving other limbs or body parts.
Common Questions about Meditation8:21
Resources1:07

Requirements

An open mind and willingness to investigate new ideas, practices, and methods of relieving stress and anxiety.
The time to dedicate a few minutes to meditation practice and personal examination of the principles offered.
Technical Requirements: You will need a computer or smartphone able to play audio (meditations) and video lessons. You also will need the basic understanding to play videos and audio. We have designed this course to require the absolute minimum of technical knowledge.

Description

Learn the basics of Buddhism. This course is ideal for those who wish to practice Buddhism or are simply interested in the history and teachings of the Buddha.

With over 50 lessons, this course goes through the foundational pieces of Buddhism. We cover:

The life and times of the Buddha
The evolution and spread of Buddhism across millenia
An overview of the Buddha's teachings
Introductions to mindfulness, loving-kindness, and more
Guided meditations for beginners
Tips for bringing the path into your life

Who this course is for:

Anyone is welcome to take this course. It has been designed with love, care, and expertise to make the basics of Buddhism accessible.
Beginners or newcomers may benefit most from this course, although those experienced with meditation can always benefit from a reminder of the foundational teachings.
Anybody interested in Buddhism or meditation. Understanding the foundation and history of the path can be of great use in personal practice.

Buddhism for Beginners

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction4 lectures • 15min

The History of Buddhism9 lectures • 1hr 55min

Foundational Teachings15 lectures • 2hr 27min

Buddhist Meditation Practices18 lectures • 2hr 59min

Bringing it All Together4 lectures • 13min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: