TEXTS: Lucien Stryk, ed. The World of the Buddha; E. A. Burtt, Teachings of the Compassionate Buddha; Kalupahana (2), A History of Buddhist Philosophy (optional); Herman Hesse, Siddhartha; Gier, Spiritual Titanism: Indian, Chinese, and Western Perspectives (ST, optional); Ikeda, Buddhism: The First Millenium (optional); Thich Nhat Hanh, Being Peace; A Popular Dictionary of Buddhism.

RESERVE TEXTS: Kalupahana(1), Buddhist Philosophy: A Historical Analysis; Kalupahana (2), A History of Buddhist Philosophy; The Buddhist Bible; Ikeda, Buddhism: The First Millenium; Gier, Spiritual Titanism (ST); Dale Cannon, Six Ways of Being Religious; Phil 307 Filebox.

CLASS WEBSITE: www.its.uidaho.edu/ngier/307.htm. Log on for newsgroup, research links, class notes, class readings, in-class writing assignments, group work topics, class policies, and course objectives.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: (1) To introduce students to the full range of Buddhist thought from the early sutras to Zen; (2) to allow students to appreciate the philosophical acumen and depth of major Buddhist philosophers; (3) to expose students to the wide diversity and richness of Buddhism as a religion; (4) to discuss parallels between Buddhist and Western philosophy; (5) to encourage personal appropriation of aspects of Buddhist philosophy and religion.

8/31 THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA. In-class writing on Savior Archetype. Slide Show on the Life of the Buddha. Stryk, 1-46.  Kalupahana (2), Chap. II.

9/5 MYSTICISM AND THE BUDDHA’S ENLIGHTENMENT. Website reading on mysticism, class handout, and Cannon (234-242). Mysticism paper for 20 points is due.

9/7 THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS. Stryk, 47-55; The Buddhist Bible, 22-60; Filebox reading on the rules of discipline (vinaya) and the role of women. Do reading on Women and Buddhism on the Website.

9/12&14 THE DHAMMAPADA. Group work on selected questions on the Website (20 pts.). Check Styrk (56-65) and other translations on the Web and on reserve.

9/19&21 QUESTIONS OF MILINDA. Ikeda, Chap. 4. Stryk, 89-101. "Dialectic" and "Book Analogy" on Website.

9/26 Milinda Paper due. See Website for instructions.

9/26&28 EARLY SUTRAS. Stryk, pp. 143-49; 173-4; 187-190; 199-205; 224-231; 238-245. Ikeda, Chap. 3.

9/28 FIRST TERMS EXAM (10 pts.).

10/3-12 EARLY BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY. Kalupahana (1), Chaps 1-7; Kalupahana (2), Chap. III to p. 45; Gier, ST, pp. 85-90.

10/12 TAKE-HOME EXAM (100 pts.) Due October 17at 2PM.

10/17    ZEN BUDDHISM. Stryk, Chaps. XXIII; read all of Being Peace; Kalupahana (1), 163-176; Kalupahana (2), Chap. XXIII.

10/19    Group work on Being Peace (20 pts.).

10/24 THE RISE OF MAHAYANA BUDDHISM. Stryk, Chap. 15; Kalupahana (1), Chaps. 8 & 10; Ikeda, chaps. 1 , 2, 6.

10/26 ASHVAGHOSHA. Stryk, Chap. 15. Review "Dialectic" on Website.

10/31-11/2 NAGARJUNA. Ikeda, 135-144; Kalupahana (2), Chaps. XV & XVI; Burtt, 170-175; Stryk, Chap. 18. Website readings.

11/2  Nagarjuna Paper due on Oct. 26 (20 pts.).  See Website for instructions.

11/7-14 YOGACARA IDEALISM: ASANGA AND VASUBANDHU. Burtt, 175-181; Ikeda, p. 144 to end of chapter; Kalupahana (1), Chap. 12; Kalupahana (2), Chap. XIX. Stryk, Chap. 19; Gier, ST, Chap. 2.

11/16  VIMALAKIRTI SUTRA. Stryk, 266-276; Ikeda, Chap. 7. In-class writing on Mahayana elements of this sutra (10 pts.).

11/28 THE LOTUS SUTRA. Stryk, pp. 256-266. Ikeda, Chaps. 8 & 9; Kalupahana (2), Chap. XVII.

11/30-12/5 TIBETAN BUDDHISM. Stryk, Chap. 21; Kalupahana, Chap. XXII; Anderson, chap. 4; "Afterdeath Experiences" on Website.

12/5     SECOND TERMS EXAM

12/7 LANKAVATARA SUTRA. Stryk, 277-282; Kalupahana (2), Chap. XVIII. GROUP DISCUSSION ON HESSE’S SIDDHARTHA. YOUR PAPER IS DUE. Your group report is worth 10 pts.

12/12    BUDDHISM HUMANISM AND TITANISM. Gier, ST, 1-17 and chapter 8. In class writing on why some forms of Buddhism are not Titanistic.

12/14    PURE LAND BUDDHISM AND ZEN POEMS.  Burtt, 204-224; Stryk, Chap. XXIV.  Choose a Zen poem that you like to present in class or make up one of your own.

12/14 at 3:30.   BUDDHISM AND THE TOP OF THE WORLD: A JOURNEY TO BHUTAN, NEPAL, TIBET, AND LADAKH.  Substitute points may be earned with a report on this presentation.

12/19    IN-CLASS FINAL (100 pts.)  We meet from 1-3 in Morrill 302.  Study Questions here.   Instead of the final exam students may do a ten-page critique of Mike Collender's thesis available in the philosophy department.  A style sheet must be attached and it is due at 3 PM on December 19.

REQUIREMENTS: One take-home exam (100 pts.); one in-class final (100 pts.); three in-class writings (30 pts.); two terms exams (20 pts.); three short papers (60 pts.); the Siddhartha paper (100 pts.); eight newsgroup postings (40 pts.); and group work (50 pts.) for a total of 500 points.  90%+=A; 80%+=B; 70%+=C; 55%+= D. Students who are taking the class pass/fail must do a good faith effort on all requirements.