IST3038-1-WI16 - Buddhist Philosophy

Buddhist Philosophy

IST 3038

Jacob N. Kinnard

jkinnard@iliff.edu

Winter 2016

Course Description:

Buddhism began in a remote corner of the Indian subcontinent some 2500 years ago, and has over the course of its history spread to nearly every corner of the world. Not only has Buddhism shaped the thought, culture, and consciousness of Asia, however, it has also influenced the West in significant ways. This course is an exploration into the rich history, the doctrines and practices, and the various manifestations of the Buddhist tradition. Buddhism has always been culturally and historically embedded, and therefore we shall approach Buddhism from several different angles - historical, cultural, ritual, philosophical, and artistic - in an attempt to comprehend the religion in all of its diversity. We will begin with an investigation into the social and religious context of 5 ^th century BCE India out of which the Buddha emerged, and then progress to an exploration of Buddhism’s philosophical basis in the early teachings of the Buddha in India, and the various important interpreters of these teachings. We will then turn to an investigation of the early social and religious structure of the Buddhist community, and trace the changes in this community - and the changes in the Buddha’s original formulation of his teachings - as Buddhism spread out from India, to Nepal and Tibet, to Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand, to China and Japan, and eventually to Europe and America.

Course Goals :

1. to acquaint you with the basic history, beliefs and practices of the Buddhist tradition
2. to familiarize you with key Buddhist concepts
3. to help you think critically about the differences between various Buddhist sub-traditions and schools
4. to expose you to some of the key debates and disputes within historical and contemporary Buddhism

Course Objectives :

1. You will gain an understanding of Buddhist history, philosophy, and practices.
2. You will learn about the commonalities and differences between different Buddhist traditions.
3. You will learn about the position of women in different Buddhist traditions.
4. You will be introduced to Buddhist art, be able to identify its key characteristics, and understand how these function within different Buddhist contexts.

Course Requirements:

Grades will be based on: 1. One take-home mid-term exam of approximately 8 pages, which will count for 40% of the final grade (the content of this exam will presuppose attendance at all class meetings and thoughtful completion of all reading assignments); 2. One take-home final exam of approximately 8 pages , which will count for 40% of your final grade; 3. Participation , which will count for 20% of your final grade. In order to receive a passing grade in this course, you must complete all assignments.

Required Readings :

All readings will be made available by the instructor.

Course Topics and Readings:

Tuesday 5 January : Introduction to the Course and the Ancient Indian Milieu

Tuesday 12 January : The Life of the Buddha and the Doctrinal Foundations of the Tradition

Reading : Kinnard, The Emergence of Buddhism , pp. xi-70, pt. Pt 1, Pt 2.

Tuesday 19 January : Doctrinal Complications and the Life of the Sangha and the Laity

Reading : Kinnard, The Emergence of Buddhism , pp.71-86 ; Peter Harvey, “Early Developments in Buddhism,” pp. 73-94 .

Tuesday 26 January : The Spread of Buddhism

Reading : Kinnard, The Emergence of Buddhism , pp. 87-132 ; Peter Harvey, “The Later History and Spread of Buddhism,” pp. 139-69 .

Tuesday 2 February: Snow Day

Tuesday 9 February: The Continuing Presence of the Buddha and the Rise of the Mahāyāna

Reading : Kinnard, “The Field of the Buddha’s Presence,” pp. 117-144 ; Paul Williams, Mahāyāna Buddhism , Mahāyāna Buddhism , pp. 167-83.

First Exam Questions Distributed

Tuesday 16 February: No Class

First Exam Due - via email

Tuesday 23 February : Mahāyāna Doctrine

Reading : Paul Williams, Mahāyāna Buddhism, pp. 37-115.

Tuesday 1 March: Zen 101

Reading : Thomas Kasulis , Zen Action/Zen Person , pp. 3-86 .

Tuesday 8 March : Tantra 101

Reading : John Powers, pp. 219-82.

Final Exam Handed Out ; due Tuesday 15 March.

Course Overview

Course Objectives

Degree Learning Goals: Please take some time to look over the Professional Degree Learning Goals (MDiv, MASC, MAPSC) and the Academic Degree Learning Goals (MTS, MA).

Incompletes:  If incompletes are allowed in this course, see the Master's Student Handbook for Policies and Procedures.

Pass/Fail:  Masters students wishing to take the class pass/fail should discuss this with the instructor by the second class session.

Academic Integrity and Community Covenant:  All students are expected to abide by Iliff’s statement on Academic Integrity, as published in the Masters Student Handbook, or the Joint PhD Statement on Academic Honesty, as published in the Joint PhD Student Handbook, as appropriate.  All participants in this class are expected to be familiar with Iliff’s Community Covenant.

Accommodations:  Iliff engages in a collaborative effort with students with disabilities to reasonably accommodate student needs.   Students are encouraged to contact their assigned advisor to initiate the process of requesting accommodations.  The advising center can be contacted at advising@iliff.edu or by phone at 303-765-1146. 

Writing Lab:  Grammar and organization are important for all written assignments.  Additional help is available from the Iliff Writing Lab, which is available for students of any level who need help beginning an assignment, organizing thoughts, or reviewing a final draft. 

Inclusive Language:  It is expected that all course participants will use inclusive language in speaking and writing, and will use terms that do not create barriers to classroom community.