March 13-27, 2010, with Stephen "Buzzy" Teiser, Professor of Religion. An optional pre-tour extension to the Taj Mahal will be available through our tour operator.

Embark on a passage to India and discover the mystical beauty of one of the world's great civilizations. The birthplace of Hinduism and Buddhism, its spiritual doctrines are prevalent throughout Asia, while its philosophical, architectural, and artistic achievements have influenced thinkers throughout the ages. Join your fellow Princetonians in traversing India from north to south, March 13-27, 2010, on this ambitious journey.

Your finger will be on India's spiritual pulse as you survey its most important temples, sacred places, and UNESCO World Heritage sites. Melding the spiritual with the artistic, Study Leader Stephen "Buzzy" Teiser, the D.T. Suzuki Professor in Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Princeton University, will lead the group through discussions and field visits to some of the most important temples and sites in the country. In Khajuraho, visit the magnificent temples of the city, best known for their representation of delicate sensuality and eroticism; they are the exquisite specimens of Hindu architecture.

Varanasi, said to have been founded by Shiva, Lord of the Universe and destroyer of Evil, is one of the oldest living cities in the world, and also one of the most important pilgrimage sites in India. During an extended stay here, participate in the daily ritual performed on the banks of the River Ganges, visit important pilgrimage sites, and meet with Princeton's Bridge Year participants to learn about the service projects they have been undertaking. Explore the World Heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora, whose exquisite wall and ceiling paintings, panels, and sculptures of Buddha's life are renowned worldwide for being the earliest and finest examples of Buddhist pictorial art.

Bookend these spiritual experiences with time spent in Delhi and Mumbai to see how the 21st century is shaping up in these modern metropolises.

About the Study Leader
Stephen F. “Buzzy” Teiser *86, the D.T. Suzuki Professor in Buddhist Studies in the Department of Religion at Princeton University, will serve as study leader for this Journey.

At the University, Professor Teiser teaches courses in the study of religion, Chinese religions, and Buddhist studies.  A great interpreter of religious texts as well as artistic expressions of religion, he has been collaborating for the past decade with art historians and archaeologists, extending his work beyond traditional China to include India, Central Asia (Xinjiang province), and Tibet.

In 2008, Professor Teiser led Princetonians on a successful Journey through China, discussing religious practice and the art surrounding it. With his field study and personal interest in India, he is looking forward to leading another group through the myriad of rituals, temples, and arts alive in the subcontinent.

His most recent book, Reinventing the Wheel: Paintings of Rebirth in Medieval Buddhist Temples, which was awarded the Stanislas Julien Prize by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres (Institut de France), examines how Buddhists imagined the afterlife in temple paintings throughout Asia, including the Silk Road, China, and Tibet. His early books focused on the interaction between Buddhism as a pan-Asian religion and Chinese social life. Professor Teiser is currently the Chief Editor of the book series entitled “Buddhisms” (beginning in 1998), sponsored by Princeton University Press and University of California Press, which emphasizes new theoretical approaches and the gleaning of broader lessons from the interpretation of local Buddhist practice.  He is also editor of a new series designed to further the teaching of Buddhist literature at the undergraduate level.  Entitled “Readings of Buddhist Literature,” the series is sponsored by Columbia University Press.  The first volume in the series, co-edited by Teiser and Jacqueline I. Stone, will be Readings of the Lotus Sūtra (2009).

To make a reservation, fill out the form in the brochure or contact Princeton Journeys at (609) 258-8686 or journeys@princeton.edu for further information.