Providence, R.I.--The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) recently selected Rev. Leonard P. Hindsley, Ph.D., professor of humanities at Providence College, to take part in a summer institute on "Buddhist Traditions of Tibet and the Himalayas."

The three-week program is one of 19 summer study opportunities supported by the NEH. It is currently being held at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. Todd Lewis, professor of world religions at Holy Cross, and Leonard van der Kuijp, professor of Tibetan and Himalayan studies at Harvard University, are directing the study.

Father Hindsley, who was one of 25 people selected from a national applicant pool, said the program "will utilize both textual sources and anthropological studies to explore the influence of Buddhism on Himalayan societies."

"I was very happy to receive the news that I had been chosen to participate in the institute," said Father Hindsley, who also serves as pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in Westport, Mass.

Father Hindsley said the institute offers an opportunity for both professional and personal growth. He currently teaches a course--THL 358, The Church and Major World Religions--and is preparing another class on the Indian subcontinent for the Spring 2011 semester.

"Personally, I am intrigued by the Buddhist traditions and wonder at the tremendous appeal that they continue to exert, especially more and more in Western countries," he said. "I am also intrigued by the similarities between Buddhist meditation practices and Christian practices."

Each summer, the NEH sponsors seminars and institutes throughout the country so that teachers can work in collaboration and study with experts in the humanities disciplines.

The scholars participating in the program receive a stipend of $2,600 to cover their travel, study, and living expenses. Approximately 375 instructors participate in the endowment's summer programs each year.

"I believe that knowledge of world civilizations is extremely important for our students and faculty to develop, given the rise of foreign cultures in the world," said Father Hindsley, who has taught at PC since 1985. "These are people with whom Americans will have to relate on a more equal footing, showing personal respect and cultural awareness to build a better working relationship for the good of all."

        - Joe Miller '10

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