Introduction To Buddhism (RELB 2100)

Class location and time: Claude Moore Nursing Education Building G010, Tuesday and Thursday 12:30-1:45  plus discussion section
Instructor: KAREN LANG, 436 Gibson Hall; Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 2-3:30  and by appointment. Phone: 924-0846; E-mail: klang@virginia.edu
Teaching assistants: Bill McGrath, (wam6n@virginia.edu)  Katarina Turpeinen (kst9f@virginia.edu)

Course description: The goal of courses in religious studies is to promote sensitivity to religious ideas, personalities, and institutions. Such courses are not intended to persuade you toward or away from any particular religious tradition. This course is an introduction to Buddhism, beginning with its origins in India, its spread throughout Asia to the West. The course will examine the historical and cultural contexts in which Buddhist beliefs and practices developed and are still developing. We will explore a wide variety of sources to understand the many ways in which Buddhists speak about the Buddha, what he and his followers say about karma and rebirth, the practice of meditation and the pursuit of enlightenment. We will also examine the views of contemporary Buddhist teachers and on the challenges Buddhism faces in the modern world.
Course objectives: 1.To understand the basic teachings of Buddhism on (a) ethics,  (b) meditation, and (c) the concept of a self and the nature of reality. 2. To examine Buddhism as a religious tradition in its diverse cultural and historical settings.  3. To consider Buddhism's adaptation to Western culture.
Discussion sections and Attendance Policy: We meet twice weekly as a group for lecture and viewing video clips and once a week in small discussion sections. Sections are forums for discussing issues related to class readings and lectures as well as those of interest to the class. You are expected to be an active participant, respect the views of other students, and to do your part to make the section worthwhile. Please note that aside from these general expectations, individual TAs might have extra requirements or expectations for their sections. Also note that your TA (in consultation with the Instructor) will be the person assigning your final grade for this course. If you are absent for more than FOUR discussion section meetings without a good excuse, you will receive an automatic F for the section grade. There are, of course, good reasons for missing discussion section (illness, family emergency, etc.). Let us know if you have to miss class for such a reason--in advance if you can.
Grading policy
You will be tested on material covered in lectures, assigned readings, films, and class discussions. There are two in class examinations (midterm and final: Oct 10, Dec 10: 2-5pm) and one short paper due on or before Nov 11th, which count for 75% of your grade  (midterm: 20%; paper 30%; last exam: 25 %) and the discussion grade makes up the final 25%.

TEXTS
deBary, William ed. The Buddhist Tradition
Brown, Sid, The Journey of One Buddhist Nun.
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, What Makes You Not a Buddhist
Morinaga, Soka. Novice to Master

*Articles on class web site, click on "resources "

WEEKLY TOPICS AND READINGS
8/27 Introduction
The Buddha and his Community
8/29 The Life of the Buddha
9/3 The Buddha and the formation of his community
 Readings: *Conze, Buddha’s Previous Lives”, pp.1-7; de Bary, pp. 3-9, 55-72
The Buddha’s Teachings
9/ 5 Karma and Rebirth
9/10 Four Noble Truths and the doctrine of no-soul
Readings: de Bary, pp 9-54.
Meditation and Theravada Buddhist Practice  
9/12 Meditation
9/17 Theravada Buddhism in SE Asia
Readings: Brown (all of it) and *Lester, “The Dynamics of Buddhist Life”.
 Mahayana Buddhism in India
9/19 Rise of Mahayana Buddhism
9/24: Bodhisattvas and Celestial Buddhas
Readings: de Bary, pp 73-94; *Conze, "Personalist Controversy," pp. 192-97; and *Shantideva, “Guide to Bodhisattva’s Way.”
9/26 The Philosophical teachings of the Mahayana Schools: Middle Way (Madhyamaka)
Vajrayana Buddhism
10/1 Vajrayana Buddhism in India
Reading: de Bary, pp. 118-122
10/3  First exam (in class)-- covers everything up through September 26th  No discussion sections this week.

10/8 the first spread of Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan
10/10 The second spread of Buddhism in Tibet, Bhutan

Readings: *Conze, "Quietist Controversy and *Lawless, “Milarepa” and *Robinson, “Buddhism in the Tibetan Cultural Area.” pp. 271-287
10/15 Fall break
10/17 The Dalai Lamas in Tibet and Mongolia

Readings: Kapstein, “Religious Life and Thought” and *Dalai Lama, “Deity Yoga” and *Robinson, pp, 287-296

Tibetan Buddhism in the US
10/22 Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche on essential Buddhist teachings
10/24 Tibetan Buddhist practice in the west: adaptation and changes
Readings: D K Rinpoche, What Makes You Not a Buddhist; and  *Willis, "A Baptist-Buddhist."
Mahayana Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan

Mahayana  Buddhism in China, Japan and Korea
10/29 Pure Land Buddhism in China and Korea.
10/31 Pure Land and Nichiren Buddhism in Japan
Readings: de Bary, pp. 125-138,197-207; 314-354
11/5 Chan
11/7 Zen
Readings: de Bary, pp. 207-240; de Bary, pp. 355-373

11/11 Short Paper due by 11:59 pm in your TA’s email box

Buddhism Comes west
11/12 Immigrant Communities in the US
11/14 Western Zen
 Readings: Readings: Morinaga, Novice to Master (all of it); *Selections from Kerouac's Dharma Bums

Socially Engaged Buddhism

11/19 Reinterpreting the Precepts

11/ 21 New venues for meditation and practice: prisons, hospices, and hospitals

readings : *Gross, “When the Iron Bird Flies,  *Thich Nhat Hanh, "Diet for a Mindful Society”  *F. Maull, “Letting Go of Depression;" and *R. Purser and D. Loy, "Beyond McMindfulness."

11/26-28  Thanksgiving break


12/3 Inter-religious dialog

optional reading:  *Dalai Lama, *Love your enemies"

12/5 in class final exam