Pure Land Buddhism. AEAS 389 / University at Albany, SUNY: Spring 2017

Transcription

1 Pure Land Buddhism AEAS 389 / University at Albany, SUNY: Spring 2017 Meeting Times and Location: MWF 1:40PM-2:35PM, ED-120 Instructor: Aaron P. Proffitt, PhD aproffitt@albany.edu Office Hours Time and Location: MW 10:30-11:30AM COURSE DESCRIPTION The concept of rebirth in a Pure Land, a world apart from our own that is currently inhabited by a living Buddha, is fundamental to Mahayana and East Asian Buddhist theories of death, rebirth, and meditation. Though quite possibly the most widely practiced form of Buddhism in the world, Pure Land Buddhism continues to be understudied and under theorized in the academic study of Buddhism in the West. In this class, we will examine the diversity of Buddhist approaches to Pure Lands, as well as theories of the afterlife and meditation, through a survey of Buddhist texts, images, and material culture. While a background in Asian cultural, historical, or religious studies will be an asset, there are no prerequisites for this class. All are welcome.

2 REQUIRED TEXTS ***There are no required texts for this class. All readings are either freely available online or posted to our Blackboard site. GRADING SCHEME A 94 A- 90 B+ 88 B 84 B- 80 C+ 78 C 74 C- 70 D+ 68 D 64 D- 60 E 50 COURSE REQUIREMENTS Attendance & Participation 25% Presentations 25% Mid-Term Paper 25% Final Paper 25% PRESENTATIONS Each class period, between one and three students will present their own reactions to key passages from the text. Presentation dates will be assigned within the first two weeks of class, and should be understood not as a test on the reading, but as an opportunity for students to lead discussion and engage one another. Presenters will be asked to provide a handout summary of their assigned reading that includes discussion questions. Research and resources employed for these presentations must be limited to the assigned readings and other course materials. MID-TERM AND FINAL PAPER There are two writing assignments for this class. The Mid-Term paper will be 5-8 pages in length, and the Final Paper will be pages in length. Each student will select their paper topics in consultation with the instructor, and write a one-page research proposal. All research for these papers must be limited to the assigned readings and other course materials. ABSENCE POLICY Attendance is mandatory, and counts toward 25% of the final grade. See the University at Albany Medical Excuse Policy: NOTE CARDS Each student should purchase a pack of 3x5 note cards and bring them to class. At the end of class, each student will write their names, and the date, on the card and answer the following two questions: (1) What was the most interesting thing you learned today? (2) Do you have any questions about the reading or lecture? The instructor will select up to five cards to be answered at the beginning of the next lecture. The note cards will also be used to take attendance. COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY RULES In principle, computers, cellphones, smartphones, and other electronic devices are prohibited. In this course we will be practicing the art of active listening, engaged dialogue, and effective note taking. Students are encouraged to purchase notebooks for the purpose of taking notes on the reading, bringing those notes to class, and writing down key points from the day s discussion.

3 ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Every student has the responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic integrity at the University. Faculty members must specify in their syllabi information about academic integrity, and may refer students to this policy for more information. Nonetheless, student claims of ignorance, unintentional error, or personal or academic pressures cannot be excuses for violation of academic integrity. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the standards and behaving accordingly, and UAlbany faculty are responsible for teaching, modeling and upholding them. Anything less undermines the worth and value of our intellectual work, and the reputation and credibility of the University at Albany degree. (University s Standards of Academic Integrity Policy, Fall 2013) STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES I request that any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. For more information, please visit Disability Resource Center: /23 01/25 01/ /30 02/01 02/03 Introduction to Buddhism and the Buddhism of Pure Lands First Day of Class Lopez, Donald S. Jr., ed. Introduction: In the World of the Buddha. In Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism, edited by Jack Miles and Donald S. Lopez, Jr., New York: W.W. Norton & Company, (On Blackboard) ***Get Started*** Lopez, Introduction: In the World of the Buddha, (On Blackboard) ***Finish Up*** To See the Buddhas of the Present The Pratyupanna Samadhi Sutra (On Blackboard) Harrison, Paul. Buddhānusmriti in the Pratyutpanna-buddha sammukhāvasthita-samādhi sutra. Journal of Indian Philosophy 6 (1978): (On Blackboard) The Vimalakirti Sutra (On Blackboard)

4 3 02/06 02/08 02/ /13 02/15 02/ /20 02/22 02/ /27 Pure Lands in Indian Buddhism The Larger Sutra (Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life Delivered by Śākyamuni Buddha), (Part I) The Larger Sutra (Sutra on the Buddha of Infinite Life Delivered by Śākyamuni Buddha), (Part II) Fujita, Kotatsu. Pure Land Buddhism in India. In The Pure Land Tradition, edited by James Foard, et. al., Berkeley: Jain Publishing Company, (On Blackboard) The Contemplation Sutra and The Smaller Sutra Schopen, Gregory. Sukhāvatī as a Generalized Religious Goal in Sanskrit Mahāyāna Sūtra Literature. Indo-Iranian Journal 19 (1977): (On Blackboard) The Contemplation Sutra (Sutra on the Visualization of the Buddha of Infinite Life Delivered by Śākyamuni Buddha), The Smaller Sutra (Sutra on Amitāyus Buddha Delivered by Śākyamuni Buddha), Fujita, Kotatsu. The Textual Origins of the Kuan wu-liang-shou fo ching. In Chinese Buddhist Apocrypha, edited by Robert Buswell, Jr., Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, (On Blackboard) Issues in the Study of Pure Land Buddhism in Indian Payne, Richard K. Aparamitāyus: Tantra and Pure Land in Medieval Indian Buddhism? Pacific World Journal Third Series 9 (2007): (On Blackboard) Harrison, Paul. Women in the Pure Land: Some Reflections on the Textual Sources. Journal of Indian Philosophy 26 (1998): (On Blackboard) Nattier, Jan. The Realm of Aksobhya: A Missing Piece in the History of Pure Land Buddhism. Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies 23.1 (2000): (On Blackboard) Pure Land Buddhism in China Amstutz, Galen. The Politics of Pure Land Buddhism in India. Numen 45.1 (1998): (On Blackboard) Amstutz, Galen. The Politics of Independent Pure Land in China. Journal of Chinese

5 03/01 Religions 26 (1998): (On Blackboard) 03/ /06 03/08 03/10 Stevenson, Daniel. Pure Land Buddhist Meditation and Worship in China. In Buddhism in Practice, edited by Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Princeton: Princeton University Press, (On Blackboard) Pure Lands and Meditation in Chinese Buddhism Zhiyi, Mohezhiguan (On Blackboard) Getz, Daniel A. T ien-t ai Pure Land Societies and Creation of the Pure Land Patriarchate. In Buddhism in the Sung, edited by Peter N. Gregory and Daniel A. Getz, Jr., Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, (On Blackboard) Jones, Charles B. Foundations of Ethics and Practice in Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Journal of Buddhist Ethics 10 (2003): (On Blackboard) ***MID-TERM PAPER DUE*** ***SPRING BREAK 03/11-03/19*** 8 03/20 03/22 03/ /27 Esoteric Buddhism, Chan, and Pure Land Buddhism in China Amoghavajra, Wuliangshou rulai guanxing gongyang yigui (On Blackboard) Sharf, Robert. On Pure Land Buddhism and Ch'an/Pure Land Syncretism in Medieval China. T'oung Pao (2003): (On Blackboard) Chappell, David. From Dispute to Dual Cultivation: Pure Land Response to Ch an Critics. In Traditions of Meditation in Chinese Buddhism, edited by Peter N. Gregory, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, (On Blackboard) Conceiving the Pure Land in Korean Buddhism Collected Works of Korean Buddhism 元曉 Wonhyo, Selected Works (On Blackboard) Doctrinal Essentials of the Sūtra of Immeasurable Life 無量壽經宗要 (Muryangsugyeong jong-yo), 39-41, Prolegomenon to the Commentary on the Amitâbha Sūtra Spoken by the Buddha 佛說阿彌陀經疏 (Bulseol Amitagyeong so), /29 Collected Works of Korean Buddhism 2: 知訥 Chinul, Selected Works (On Blackboard) ii, Encouragement to Practice: The Compact of the Samādhi and Prajñā Society

6 勸修定慧結社文, , (and footnote 67). 03/31 Collected Works of Korean Buddhism 3: 休靜 Hyujeong, Selected Works (On Blackboard) Mindfulness of Buddha 念佛, The Gate of Mindfulness of Buddha 念佛門, Three Kinds of Contemplation of Purity 三種淨觀, Hymns on Mindfulness 念頌, The Three Sentences Preached by the Buddha 佛說三句, The Gate of Mindfulness of Buddha, Presented to Retired Scholar Baek 念佛門贈白處士, /03 04/05 04/ /10 04/12 04/ /17 Pure Lands in Early Japanese Buddhism Rhodes, Robert F. The Beginning of Pure Land Buddhism in Japan: From its introduction through the Nara Period. Japanese Religions 31.1 (2006): (On Blackboard) Rhodes, Robert F. Ōjōyōshū, Nihon Ōjō Gokuraku-ki, and the Construction of Pure Land Discourse in Heian Japan. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 34.2 (2007): (On Blackboard) Inagaki Hisao. The Esoteric Meaning of Amida by Kakuban. Pacific World Journal 10 (1994): (On Blackboard) Morrell, Robert E. Shingon s Kakukai on the Immanence of the Pure Land. Japanese Journal of Religious Studies : (On Blackboard) Medieval Japanese Pure Land Buddhism Dōhan, Himitsu nenbutsu shō (On Blackboard) Classes Suspended after 2:35 Hōnen, Senchakushū (On Blackboard) Shinran, Tannishō: Passages Deploring Deviations of Faith, Classes Resume after 12:35 Jōdo Shinshū Eshinni, The Letters of Esshinni (On Blackboard) Classes Resume at 12:35pm

7 04/19 04/ /24 04/26 04/ /01 05/03 05/ /08 Rennyo, The Letters of Rennyo, Rennyo, The Letters of Rennyo, Jōdo Shinshū in Meiji and Beyond Blum, Mark L. Shin Buddhism in the Meiji Period. In Cultivating Spirituality, A Modern Shin Buddhist Anthology, edited by Mark L. Blum and Robert F. Rhodes, Albany: State University of New York Press, (On Blackboard) Suzuki, D. T. The Shin Sect of Buddhism. In Selected Works of D. T. Suzuki, Volume II: Pure Land, edited by James Dobbins and Richard Jaffe, Oakland: University of California Press, (On Blackboard) Unno, Taitetsu. The Practice of Jōdo-shinshu. in Living in Amida s Universal Vow: Essays on Shin Buddhism, ed. Alfred Bloom (Bloomington: Wisdom World, 2004), Pure Lands in Tibetan Buddhism Halkias, Georgios T. Chapter Two: Pure Lands in the Tibetan Empire. In Luminous Bliss: A Religious History of Pure Land Literature in Tibet, Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, (On Blackboard) Kapstein, Matthew T. Pure Land Buddhism in Tibet? From Sukhāvatī to the Field of Great Bliss (On Blackboard) Silk, Jonathan A. The Virtues of Amitābha, A Tibetan Poem from Dunhuang. Ryūkoku daigaku Bukkyō bunka kenkyūjo kiyō 32 (1993): (On Blackboard) Contemporary Perspectives on Pure Land Buddhism, Course Wrap-up and Presentations Pure Land Zen, Zen Pure Land, Letters from Patriarch Yin Kuang, /10 Final Paper Research Presentations ***FINAL PAPER DUE: 05/19, Midnight***