Buddhist Nirvana RELB 3190

Class location and time : 141 Gibson Hall Tuesday 3:30PM - 6:00PM

Instructor: KAREN LANG, 436 Gibson Hall; Office Hours: Tuesday 1-3and Thursday 1- 2 and by appointment. Phone: 924-0846; Email:

klang@virginia.edu

Course description: This seminar will examine what Buddhists mean when they talk about Nirvana and the path to enlightenment. We'll begin with how the concept of Nirvana develops in the culture in which Sakyamuni Buddha lived and taught, explore how different forms of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, Japan, and in the west developed new ideas about what Nirvana is and how it can be experienced. We'll read classic sutras on the topic, as well as books and essays by Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, other contemporary Zen masters, and western Buddhist practitioners and scholars.

Course Requirements:

This course presumes some previous study of Buddhism but it has as a prerequisite the desire to read challenging, interesting, and unusual materials, and to engage in conversation and writing about these readings. Grades will be based on: take home Mid term examination (30%)  Final paper (45%).  Active participation in class discussion, one class presentation, (25%). Regular attendance at lecture, and participation in class discussions.

Texts

Steven Collins NIRVANA: CONCEPT, IMAGERY, NARRATIVE

Dalai Lama- BECOMING ENLIGHTENED

Tazan Maezumi and Bernie Glassman - HAZY MOON OF ENLIGHTENMENT

Miranda Shaw, PASSIONATE ENLIGHTENMENT

* = Books/ Articles on class collabsite under  "resources."

WEEKLY TOPICS AND READINGS

8/26 Narratives about the Buddha's quest for enlightenment

Readings:  *Gowans, chap. 2 of Philosophy of the Buddha (“the Life of the Buddha”);  *Gummer, “Reading Narrative Literature,” and *Horner “Noble Quest.”

9/2 Narrative and Systematic Thought

Readings, Collins, pp. 1-28, and *Gethin, “Matikas: Memorization, Mindfulness, and the List.”

9/9 Nirvana as a Concept and as an Image 

Readings: Collins, pp. 29-99; *Gowans, chap. 12 of Philosophy of the Buddha ((Cessation of Suffering: Nibbana in Life) 

Optional Readings: *Snelling, Songs of Buddha's Sons and Daughters

9/16 Nirvana, time, and narratives of past and future Buddhas

Readings: Collins, pp. 100-188; *Gowans, chap. 13 of Philosophy of the Buddha (Cessation of Suffering: Nibbana After Death) 

9/23 Mahayana Buddhas, Pure Lands and the Buddha Within (Buddha Nature)     

Readings: 1. Pure Lands: *Gomez, “Introduction to the Longer Sutra” and *Longer Sukhavativyuha Sutra (translation);  *Nattier, “Aksobhya; ” *the Dharma-door of Praising Tathagata Aksobhya’s Merits.”

2. Tathagatagarbha/ Buddha Nature)  *Gomez, Whole Universe in a Sutra;  *Grosnick, Tathagatagarbha Sutra” ; and *King, “Buddha-nature.”

9/29 Mid-term exam: email to me by 11:59pm

9/30 Tantric  Buddhas

Readings: Shaw, pp. 1-73;  *Powers, "Adepts and Sorcerers”, and (optional) *Strong, “Tantric Buddhism”

10/7 Passionate Enlightenment

Readings: Shaw, pp. 74-205.

10/14 Fall break

10/21 Enlightenment Debates: Gradual or Sudden?

Readings:  1. Gradual approach: readings: *Beyer, “The Meditations of a Bodhisattva; ” *Conze, Quietist Controversy

2. Sudden approach: readings: *Gomez. “The Direct and the Gradual Approaches of Zen Master Mahayana: Fragments of the Teachings of Mo-ho-yen"; and *Huang-Po, “the Real Buddha.” 

10/28 Zen Enlightenment: Traditional Accounts

Readings: Maezumi, pp. 1-37; 141-51;"*Platform Sutra"; *Levering, "Linchi"; and *Scharf, “How to Think with Gong-an.”  

Optional readings: *Foster, “Lin-chi” and “Hakuin”; *Ikkyu, Wild Ways.' 

11/4 Zen Enlightenment: Contemporary Practice

Readings: Maezumi, pp. 51-109; *D.T. Suzuki and Shunryu Suzuki, "Mahayana/Zen Practice;" and * Thich Nhat Hanh "Be Free Where You are.

Optional readings, : Maezumni, pp. 113-140.*van Bragt, " Reflections on Zen and Ethics.” 

11/11 Becoming Enlightened: Traditional Tibetan Views

Readings: Dalai Lama, pp. 1-176; and *Tsomo, “Death, Identity and Enlightenment in Tibetan Culture.”

11/18 Becoming Enlightened: Contemporary Tibetan Practice 

Readings: 1. The Geluk view: Dalai Lama, pp. 137-262

2.the Nyingma view:  *Duckworth, “Buddha-nature and the indivisibility of the Two-truths,” and *Dzongsar Jamyang, “Nirvana is Beyond Concepts”  

11/25 Thanksgiving break

12/2 Conclusions

Final paper due by Dec 12 11:59pm 

This seminar will examine what Buddhists mean when they talk about Nirvana and the path to enlightenment. We'll begin with how the concept of Nirvana develops in the culture in which Sakyamuni Buddha lived and taught, explore how different forms of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Tibet, China, Japan, and in the west developed new ideas about what Nirvana is and how it can be experienced. We'll read classic sutras on the topic, as well as books and essays by Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, other contemporary Zen masters, and western Buddhist practitioners and scholars.