| Department of
Religious Studies University of California, Riverside |
Course Syllabus |
Buddhist Traditions
Ivan Strenski Religious Studies 106
University of California, Riverside Autumn 1995
Office: Library South 1139, X5986 Hours: Tu3.30-4.430 Th1-2
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Conze, Buddhist Texts through the Ages
Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhism
LaFleur, Buddhism, A Cultural Perspective
Warren, Buddhism in Translation
A course reader is required and is available at the P&R office
note:
(X) = handouts, photocopied materials, or course reader
# = sections in Warren, Conze; these are not page numbers.
3 Oct The Flavor of the Buddhadharma
LaFleur, ch 4.
5 Oct Early India: Gods, Sacrifice and World Renouncers
Conze, #2; LaFleur, ch 1, 2; Warren, #64, 72, 83, 93, 95, 100
FILM: "In the Footsteps of the Buddha"
10 Oct God and the Buddha
LaFleur, 96-104; Jayatilleke, ch 4: "The Buddhist Attitude to Revelation" and ch
8: "The Buddhist Attitude to God" (X)
12 Oct Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Arahants
Conze,#7-9,13-22,100-20; Harvey, ch 1; LaFleur, 10-20; Warren, ch I and #89, 92, 99, 102
17 Oct Evil and Suffering
Harvey, ch 3; Warren, #33-34; Camus, "The Myth of Sisyphus" (X); Dostoevsky,
"Rebellion" from The Brothers Karamazov (X); Jayatilleke, ch 16: "The
Buddhist Conception of Evil" (X)
19 Oct What Is a Person?
Harvey, ch 2; Warren, #15-17,20-25; Havens, "Dynamics of Confession"(X)
24 Oct Essential Buddhism: Karma and Rebirth
Conze, #24-7, 39-71; LaFleur, 77-89; Warren, #27,36, ch III, #70-1, 73-79, 98;
Jayatilleke, ch 9: "The Buddhist Doctrine of Karma" (X)
26 Oct Essential Buddhism: Nibbana and Emptiness
Conze, #14-19, 36-38, 79-99; Warren, # 70-1, 73-79, 98; Jayatilleke, ch 11:
"Nirvana"
31 Oct What Buddhists Do: Meditation
Conze, #29-35; Harvey, 244-57; LaFleur, 84-9 on Buddhaghosa, Warren, #57-62;
"Mahāsattipatāna Suttanta"(X)
2 Nov What Buddhists Do: Gift
Conze, #1,4; Harvey, ch 8; Warren, #86,101; Yalman, "Food Offerings in
Ceylon"(X);
7 Nov Emperor Ashoka: Politics and the Order of Monks
Conze,#1-5; Harvey, 73-7, ch 10; LaFleur, ch 7 and 104-12; Warren, #80-87, 93, 96-97, 99;
Ashoka, "Inscriptions on Rocks"(Part I) "Minor Rock Edicts" &
"Rock Edicts" (X)
9 Nov The Mahayana and the New Buddha
Conze, #72-3, 121, 124-33, 146, 170-77; Harvey ch 6; LaFleur, 25-8, 96-104; Harvey: ch 8,
pp. 258-67.
11 Nov Buddhist LA, Its Smells, Sounds, Sites and Tastes:
Sat Field Trip
LACMA, Theravada and Mahayana sites, lunch in a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant.
2 page field report/essay required is due on 16 Nov. Discuss the following proposition by
making specific reference to details of the field trip of 11 November: "Since
Buddhism is a religion of inwardness, universality and spirituality, field trips are
strictly speaking irrelevant to an understanding of Buddhism." Due 14 November in
class
14 Nov Basic Mahayana: Bodhisattvas Pure Land, Emptiness
Conze, # 122-3, 134, 169; Harvey, ch 5, LaFleur, 81-4, 88-95.
Field report/essay is due in class.
16 Nov Buddhism in East Asia: China
Harvey: 148-58; Conze: #195-214; LaFleur: 21-8, 39-44.
21 Nov Buddhism in East Asia: Japan
Harvey: 161-9; LaFleur ; Film: "The Disappearing Buddha"
23 Nov Thanksgiving Holiday
28 Nov Zen
Kapleau, "The Private Encounter with the Master" (X) LaFleur, 112-21; Harvey
270-9.
30 Nov Three Challenges to Modern Buddhism:
#1. Can or Should Buddhism Adapt to Modern Science?
LaFleur, ch 3; Harvey, ch 12, 13.
5 Dec #2. Can or Should Buddhism Adapt to the Politics of Nation-States?
selections from Tambiah's Buddhism Betrayed
8 pages papers are due today
7 Dec #3. Can or Should Buddhism Adapt to Market Society?
Jayasena, "Some Thoughts on Buddhism and Development"
14 Dec Final Examination, 3-6pm
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1. regular attendance
a. in class and
b. on field trip (11 Nov) (10%)
2. a short 2 pp. essay relating to our field trip will be required (10%)
3. two (2) short (20 min) announced tests will be given during the term. (20%)
4. an 8 pp paper on a topic of your choice relating directly to an aspect, school or kind of Buddhism will be due on 5 Dec in class. (30%)
5. a final exam will be given on 14 December 3-6pm. (30%)
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. get on-line; I am available for consultation by e-mail at eui9ias@mvs.oac.ucla.edu
2. make use of my office hours: Tu 3.30-4.30, Th 1-2,
phone x5986, South Library 1139.
3. stay current with the reading; attend all our classes; ask questions when you don't feel you understand.
Other syllabi of the Department of Religious Studies at UC Riverside are avaiable at their web page.
Latest update: August 02, 2002
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