Professor Lauren M. Bausch has been teaching at DRBU since 2015. A specialist in the Brāhmaṇa texts, she investigates the relationship between Vedic tradition and early Indian Buddhism. She edited Self, Sacrifice, and Cosmos: Vedic Thought, Ritual, and Philosophy (Primus Books, 2019) and is currently working on a book about the Vedic Philosophy of Language and Causality. A scholar-practitioner, she reads classical texts with a mind to apply their wisdom in order to awaken her own. Lauren was awarded the International Association of Sanskrit Studies’ Honorary Research Fellowship in 2019, thanks to which she organized a seminar on the Vedic Philosophy of Language at Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune, India. Passionate about interreligious dialogue, translation, education, and practice, she supports Sanskrit learning and the Institute for World Religions at DRBU. In addition, she contributes to developing the curriculum for the Contemplative Exercise Immersions at DRBU. Lauren enjoys traveling in India, meditating, and watching Star Wars.

Education

• B.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2004;
• M.A., Graduate Theological Union, 2006;
• M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2011;
• Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 2015

Positions

• Program Assistant, Institute for World Religions, 2005-2008;
• Assistant Professor, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, 2015-2022
• Professor, Dharma Realm Buddhist University, 2022-