STUDENT TESTIMONIALS

What Students Say About Learning with Professor Greg Seton

Many of Tarpa's video lectures and teaching materials come from courses Professor Greg Seton taught at Dartmouth College over the past decade—Buddhist Meditation Theory, Tibetan Buddhism, and related courses in the Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies departments. Below are unedited excerpts from just a few of the many glowing anonymous student evaluations submitted over multiple years.

"One of the Best Classes I've Taken"

Buddhist Meditation Theory student (2019-20):

"This course has been such a special part of my Dartmouth academic experience, and I can say with certainty that it is one of, if not the best class I have taken during my time here. This course was not only engaging, interesting and thought-provoking, but has shaped my experiences beyond the classroom. I truly believe that every student here should take this class, regardless of their interest in religion (or Buddhism more specifically), as it has not only made me more open-minded but also more aware, more thoughtful and more compassionate. Whether a student is interested in this class because of a curiosity for religion or an interest in what meditation and mindfulness mean (both inside and outside of the Buddhist context), they should take this class."

Tibetan Buddhism student (2019-20):

"It was the best part of my academic experience at Dartmouth and made me want to study and learn more about eastern philosophy and religion. I am considering pivoting from my STEM background to pursue this field of study. The course was demanding and required more work than many of my courses at Dartmouth, but the workload was nevertheless fair and turned out to be extremely rewarding in how it allowed me to consolidate knowledge learned in class. The lectures were outstanding and the readings were incredibly engaging. I found the reading journals at the end of the week to be very helpful synthesizing the readings. This is one of the best courses I've had in my four years at Dartmouth - there really is not anything that comes to mind in improvements."

Transformative Learning

Buddhist Meditation Theory student (2019-20):

"My time at this school would truly not be the same without this class, and it was so special to be a part of it not only in the classroom, but also outside of it when students in the class were constantly excited to talk about what we were learning and how it influenced them."

2018-19 student:

"Professor Seton was an incredible professor. He was invested in students learning and understanding core concepts. He wanted us to learn about Buddhism clearly and never made me feel like any question was too small to ask. Having us come in at least once to talk to him one-on-one was a great experience and made me feel like he cares about us as people. As well, he knew all of our names by the first class which was incredible. You honestly got what you put into this class and it really made me rethink my way of viewing the world. This was one of the few classes at Dartmouth where I really believe the goal was for us to learn."

Dedicated Teaching & Feedback

2018-19 student:

"Professor Seton is the single best professor, and possibly human, that I have ever encountered. He is inspiring on both these fronts. He met with me several hours a week outside his office hours for lunch/coffee and I also know several other students whom he met with as well. I am genuinely confused how he fits everything in, and he shows nothing but the utmost care to anyone he is meeting with. Because of this, I came away from the course feeling far more knowledgeable about Tibetan Buddhist meditation and inspired to take more courses in the REL department."

Buddhist Meditation Theory student (2019-20):

"Professor Seton is not only an intelligent and engaging lecturer, but is also one of the most dedicated professors I have seen at this school. He gives all of his time to his students and consistently seeks to check in with them, making sure they are engaged and following the course material."

2018-19 student:

"We were submitting a lot of written material and he went above and beyond on answering discussions, meeting with students, and replying to emails. He encouraged students to meet with him with any questions, and clarified topics in the course and assignments to whatever degree the student required."

2018-19 student:

"Professor Seton was available literally whenever you needed him or wanted to go over concepts or had questions which was very helpful. He required us to post 3 questions about the readings or certain topics before every class and then he would answer them or go over them in class which was very helpful and reinforced previous concepts."

Thorough & Helpful Feedback

2018-19 student:

"Professor Seton took time to comment on every student's reading summaries and reflections, which we wrote every class! He also answered student questions online. Furthermore, he offered personal feedback on the paper, meeting with students or giving feedback even on outlines and thesis statements. His feedback allowed me to further my understanding of the material and also improve my writing."

2018-19 student:

"Very good and in depth feedback on papers. Always answered questions and cleared up concerns really well."

2018-19 student:

"...the professor was great about reliably giving feedback (especially with a class of this size) unlike other professors I've had."

2018-19 student:

"In addition to written feedback, [Professor Seton] met with every student at least once during the term. These meetings offered opportunities to answer additional questions and gain new insights into the material."

Clear & Accessible Teaching

2018-19 student:

"He wanted us to learn about Buddhism clearly and never made me feel like any question was too small to ask."

2018-19 student:

"He encouraged students to meet with him with any questions, and clarified topics in the course and assignments to whatever degree the student required."

Beyond the Classroom

2018-19 student:

"I really enjoyed our field trip to the Buddhist center because it, more than class readings and discussion, provided a glimpse into the actual nature and practice of Buddhist sanctuaries."

Buddhist Meditation Theory student (2019-20):

Why These Testimonials Matter

These evaluations come from diverse students—some interested in religion, others in philosophy or psychology, some pursuing STEM fields, others in humanities. What they share is recognition that this approach to teaching Buddhist studies is:

Rigorous but accessible - demanding work that feels fair and rewarding
Transformative - changing how they think about consciousness and living
Expertly taught - by an instructor who genuinely cares about student learning
Practically valuable - applicable beyond the classroom
Intellectually honest - focused on understanding, not conversion

Tarpa brings this same systematic approach, expert instruction, and dedication to clear teaching into accessible online format—making comprehensive Buddhist education available to anyone, anywhere.

These testimonials are unedited excerpts from anonymous student course evaluations submitted to Dartmouth College between 2018-2020.