There are a total of 400 points possible in this class. They are distributed as follows:

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1 RELS/HIST 4910: WOMEN IN BUDDHISM Instructor: Dominic Sur Class time: 1:30PM-2:45PM Tuesday & Thursday Location: ANSC 118 Office: MAIN 321M Office Hours: TBA Phone: (435) COURSE DESCRIPTION: Our starting point is Carolyn Bynum's statement that "No scholar studying religion, no participant in ritual, is ever neuter. Religious experience is the experience of men and women, and in no known society is this experience the same." This course explores the historical, textual and social questions relevant to the status of women in the Buddhist world ranging from the time of Buddhism's origins in South Asia to the present day. Materials will be interdisciplinary: scripture and iconography, and poetry. We will read iconographic, mythological, historical, and primary source depictions of women from throughout the Buddhist world, and discuss how such studies move us towards a different understanding of Buddhism and its traditions and cultures. Course Requirements and Grading: Regular attendance is mandatory and 5% of your grade. Every student is allowed four free absences for things like travel, sports, family events, common illnesses, etc. Regular attendance results in no lost points. If you have more than 5 unexcused absences, your final grade will be lowered. Chronic tardiness is not acceptable. It is your responsibility to make sure that your presence has been marked on the sign-in sheet at each class. For medical emergencies or chronic conditions that require extended absences, please bring a doctor s note and together we will make a plan for the semester. There are a total of 400 points possible in this class. They are distributed as follows: Active participation in class discussions (100 points possible, 25%). This class is designed as a seminar in which we all can collectively engage in critical thinking about the materials. You should come to every class prepared to discuss the s of the week. Active participation includes posing discussion questions pertaining to each, as well as having one critique and one strong/interesting point per article ready to bring up in class discussion. Students will have the opportunity to lead discussions and/or give presentations either on topics related to the week's s or on related topics of interest. The purpose of the presentation is not to summarize the, since everyone should have read it, but to set the stage for the class discussion by providing ideas and questions, and highlighting problems or issues you think deserve further discussion. Sur Syllabus 1

2 Your task is somehow to stimulate the class into thinking critically and creatively about the material. These presentations might also include invited guest speakers, discussions of ideas and issues not covered in the assigned s. Written Assignments (140 points possible per paper, 70%): TWO SHORT PAPERS (ca double-spaced pages each). For the first paper (due March 3 rd ) choose 3 (or more) short selections from The Hidden Lamp and analyze/reflect on the stories and contemporary comments on them. For the second paper (due April 28 th ) choose any topic (or format, e.g. research paper, essay, cycle of poems, etc.) that interests you. Further Remarks on Writing for this Class: A STYLE MANUAL IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED: Much of your grade in this course depends on your ability to write well. To give just one example of a fatal error, there is a world of difference between the following two sentences: Let s eat, mom! Let s eat mom! The first is an invitation for mom to eat with us; the second suggests that we eat mom. The comma makes all the difference. The quality of English (grammar, proof, organization, etc.) will play a major role in how I grade your writing. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that students have (and use) one of the following writing style manuals: Strunk & White s Elements of Style (fourth edition). Amazon has used copies for less than a dollar. This is the simplest writer s manual. Knowledge and command of its contents (i.e. correct comma use, etc.) are requisite for every first year college student. Diana Hacker s Rules for Writers (6 th or 7 th edition). This is an excellent guide covering everything in Strunk & White, but with additional content on Academic writing and research. Kate Turabian s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (7 th or 8 th edition). This book should be purchased by students intending to do work in the Humanities and Social Sciences such as History, English, Religious Studies, etc. If you are planning on pursuing a Masters Degree or Ph.D., then, in addition to one of the above style manuals, I strongly recommend purchasing Booth, Colomb, & Williams The Craft of Research (3 rd edition).

3 Writing Evaluation Rubric (That is, these are the criteria I will use to grade your papers) S A Content Conventions Organization Is well thought out and answers the prompt Reflects application of critical thinking based on the s and lectures Has clear summary and response to the content Consistent integration and application of lecture material No spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors Implementation of vocabulary from lectures and Martin s A Critical Introduction to the Study of Religion Proper citation of sources (see Style Manual) Information is clearly focused in an organized and thoughtful manner Information is constructed in a logical pattern to support the solution Appropriately incorporates evidence from sources by accurate paraphrasing, citation, and analysis. B Is well thought out and supports the solution Has application of critical thinking that is apparent Has clear explanation of the Integration and application of lecture material Few (1 to 3) spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors Good use of vocabulary and word choice All necessary citations are included in-text Information supports the solution to the challenge or question Proper citations are used throughout the essay. Incorporates evidence from sources by accurate paraphrasing, quotation, and analysis. C Supports the solution Has application of critical thinking that is apparent Has no clear explanation of the Uses a few examples from the Little use of lecture material Minimal (3 to 5) spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors Low-level use of vocabulary and word choice Some errors in proper citation. Project has a focus but might stray from it at times Information appears to have a pattern, but the pattern is not consistently carried out in the project Information loosely supports the solution D/ F Provides inconsistent information for solution Has no apparent application of critical thinking Has no clear explanation of the Uses few to no examples More than 5 spelling, grammatical, or punctuation errors Poor use of vocabulary and word choice Chronic errors in citation Content is unfocused and haphazard Information does not support the solution to the challenge or question Information has little to do with the topic No use of lecture materials

4 A helpful writing guide by USU History Professor Mark Damen can be found at: If you need additional help with your writing, please visit the university s Writing Center ( Class Schedule: WEEK 1: INTRODUCTION TO THERAVADA BUDDHISM January 12, 14 S16 Theravada pdf Total: 56 pages WEEK 2: INTRODUCTION TO MAHĀYĀNA BUDDHISM January 19, 21 S16 Mahayana pdf Total: 52 pages WEEK 3: BUDDHISM & MASCULINITY January 26, 28 No Class on Jan. 26! Powers A Manly Monk pdf Total: 44 pages Caplow & Moon s Yaśodhara s Dream pp Caplow & Moon s Soma Rebukes Mara pp Caplow & Moon s "Bhadda-Kundalalakesa Cannot Answer pp WEEK 4: INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN S STUDIES & FEMINISM February 2, 4 Introduction to Women s Studies pdf Total: 12 pages Religious & Secular Roots of Feminism pdf Total: 25 pages Caplow & Moon s Punnika and the Brahman s Purification

5 pp Caplow & Moon s Patacara s Presence of Mind pp Caplow & Moon s Khujjutara Teaches the Dharma pp Caplow & Moon s Mahapajapati Opens the Door pp WEEK 5: BUDDHIST VIEWS ON GENDER & DESIRE February 9, 11 Liz Wilson's "Buddhist Views on Gender and Desire" Total: 35 pages WEEK 6: EARLY BUDDHIST ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN February 18 No class Feb 16.! Sponberg s Attitudes Toward Women & the Feminine in Early Buddhism pdf Total: 33 pages WEEK 7: ATTITUDES TOWARD WOMEN & THE FEMININE February 23, 25 Serinity Young's "Female Mutability and Male Anxiety in an Early Buddhist Legend" Total: 37 pages WEEK 8: THERIGATHA: POEMS OF THE FIRST BUDDHIST WOMEN March 1, 3 First paper due on the 4 th on Canvas before 11:59PM (.doc or.docx only!) From Hallisey s Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women, read: Introduction, pp. vii-xxxii (25 pp.) Pages 3-71 (every other page). Spring Break: March 7 th -11 th!!

6 WEEK 9: THERIGATHA (CONT.) March 15, 17 From Hallisey s Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women, read: WEEK 10: THERIGATHA (CONT.) Pages , every other page (in verse) March 22, 24 From Hallisey s Therigatha: Poems of the First Buddhist Women, read: Pages , every other page (in verse) WEEK 11: WOMEN IN MAHAYANA BUDDHISM March 29, 31 José Cabezón s Mother Wisdom, Father Love: Gender-Based Imagery in Mahāyāna Buddhist Thought, pp Total: 11 pages Barbara Reed s The Gender Symbolism of Kuan-yin Bodhisattva, pp Total: 18 pages From The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti, read: The Goddess Total: 8 pages Caplow & Moon s The Naga Princess s Enlightenment pp Caplow & Moon s The Goddess Transformations pp WEEK 12: WOMEN IN BUDDHIST TANTRA April 5, 7 From Miranda Shaw s Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, read: Chapters 1 & 2 (pp. 3-34) pdf Caplow & Moon s Tara s Vow pp

7 WEEK 13: WOMEN IN BUDDHIST TANTRA Caplow & Moon s The Old Woman and Naropa pp April 12, 14 From Miranda Shaw s Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, read: Chapters 3 (pp ) pdf Total: 38 pages WEEK 14: WOMEN IN BUDDHIST TANTRA April 12, 14 From Miranda Shaw s Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, read: Chapters 4 (pp ) pdf Total: 26 pages WEEK 14: WOMEN IN BUDDHIST TANTRA April 19, 21 From Miranda Shaw s Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism, read: Chapters 4 (pp ) pdf Total: 26 pages WEEK 15: TBA April 26, 28 No Test Days FINAL paper due April 28 th, by 11:59PM on Canvas