HREL 35200 / SALC 39001: Tibetan Buddhism Spring Quarter 2006 Christian K. Wedemeyer T/Th 13:00-14:20 Swift 303A Swift Hall Rm 204 Office Hours: M/T 9:30 10:30 wedemeyer@uchicago.edu Course description: This course is designed to serve as an introductory survey of the history, doctrines, institutions, and practices of Buddhism in Tibet from its origins in the mid-first-millennium through the end of the 20th century. Readings will be drawn both from primary sources (in translation) and secondary and tertiary scholarly research. There will be an in-class mid-term exam, and the option of either a take-home final exam or a short (7 9 pp.) paper. PQ: Preferably HREL 35100 or equivalent background in Buddhism. 28 March 2006: Introduction/ Orientation Schedule of Meetings 30 March 2006: Tibetan pre-history and the Bon tradition Topics: Earliest records of Tibet Bon and the pre-buddhist religion of Tibet How Tibetan is Tibetan Buddhism? Readings: Stein, Tibetan Civilization, pp. 19 44 Karmay, A General Introduction to the History and Doctrines of Bon 4 April 2006: The Imperial Period Topics: The Tibetan Imperium The Mythos of the Three Religious Kings Readings: Snellgrove and Richardson, Cultural History of Tibet, pp. 19-32, 49-65 Kapstein, Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism, pp. 51-65 Richardson, A Corpus of Early Tibetan Inscriptions, pp. 7-15, 26-31, 72-81 6 April 2006: Old Tibetan Buddhism: Scholastic Topics: Śāntarakṣita and the foundation of bsam-yas Imperial support for translation projects Kamalaśīla and the Great Debate of bsam-yas Readings: Snellgrove & Richardson, Cultural History of Tibet, pp. 66-80, 89-94 Ruegg, Tibetan Historiography and Doxography of the Great Debate of bsam yas History of Buddhism by Bu-ston, pp. 181-201 11 April 2006: Old Tibetan Buddhism: Shamanic Topics: The Figure of Padmasambhava: early and late The Old Tantras and the 9 Vehicles Readings: dba -bzhed, pp. 1-21 Powers, Tibetan Buddhism, pp. 319-345
13 April 2006: The Later Diffusion (phyi-dar) of Tibetan Buddhism Topics: Recovery of the vinaya lineages Atiśa and his impact on Tibetan Buddhism Readings: Hubert Decleer, Atiśa s Journey to Tibet (in RoTiP) History of Buddhism by Bu-ston, pp. 201-224 18 April 2006: Doctrinal Issues in the Later Diffusion Topics: Authenticity of the Old Tantras Consolidation of the Ancient School (rnying-ma) Treasure Teachings (gter-ma) Readings: Karmay, The Ordinance of Lha bla-ma Ye-shes- od Gyatso, Drawn from the Tibetan Treasury Davidson, gsar ma Apocrypha 20 April 2006: The Sakya (Sa-skya) School (and the Mongols) Topics: The Khon clan and the founding of Sa-skya Sa-skya Paṇḍita and his critiques Phags-pa and the founding of a Buddhist State Readings: Powers, Intro to Tibetan Buddhism, pp. 377-401. Ruegg, The Preceptor/Donor (yon mchod) Relation 25 April 2006: The Kagyü (bka -brgyud) Schools (and their Mongols) Topics: Marpa Chos-kyi blo-gros and Nāropā Gam-po-pa and Milarepa Phag-mo-gru-pa and a New Tibetan Buddhist State Readings: Powers, Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, pp. 346-375 Shakabpa, A Political History of Tibet, pp. 73-90 27 April 2006: Bu-ston and the bka - gyur/bstan- gyur Topics: Fixing of a Canon Comprehensive Surveys of Indian Buddhism Readings: Ruegg, Life of Bu-ston Rinpoche (pp. 1 40) 2 May 2006: Dol-po-pa, Tsong-kha-pa, and Tibetan Hermeneutics Topics: Dol-po-pa Shes-rab rgyal-mtshan rje Rin-po-che blo-bzang Grags-pa Exoteric and Esoteric Buddhism and interpretation Readings: Stearns, The Buddha from Dolpo, pp. 11-77 Thurman, Life and Teachings of Tsong Khapa, pp. 4-34. 4 May 2006: The Incarnate Lama (sprul-sku) System and the Crazies (smyon-pa) Topics: The theory and process of recognizing incarnate lamas Its political, economic, and religious impact Some reactions... Readings: Wylie, Reincarnation: A Political Innovation in Tibetan Buddhism Lhalungpa, The Life of Milarepa, pp. 153-197. 9 May 2006: No class meeting prepare for exam 11 May 2006: In-class mid-term exam
16 May 2006: Dalai Lama III and the Geluk(dge-lugs) to the 16 th /17 th Centuries Topics: Political fortunes of the Dalai Lamas Consolidation of the Geluk Tradition Rise of Mass Monasticism Tāranātha/Buddhaguptanātha Readings: Shakabpa, Political History of Tibet, pp. 91-99. Powers, Tibetan Buddhism, (Geluk: pp. 402 430) Dreyfus, Sound of Two Hands Clapping, pp. 32-53 Goldstein and Tsarong, Tibetan Buddhist Monasticism Goldstein, A Study of the ldab ldob 18 May 2006: Later 17 th Century: The Great Fifth Dalai Lama Topics: Maṇi bka - bum and the creation of a national mythos sde-srid Sangs-rgyas rgya-mtsho and the completion of the Potala Mass monasticism and the Tibetan Buddhist State Readings: Kapstein, The Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism, pp. 141-162 Gyatso, Down with the Demoness Goldstein, The Circulation of Estates in Tibet 23 May 2006: 18 th Century Developments Topics: Dalai Lama-s VI VIII Cang-skya Rol-pa i rdo-rje and Emperor Ch ien lung Jigme Lingpa Si-tu Paṇ-chen and xylographic canons Readings: Gyatso, Apparitions of the Self, pp. 124-144 Kapstein, The Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism, pp. 121-137 25 May 2006: 19 th Century Developments Topics: Dalai Lama-s IX XII The Non-aligned Movement (Ris-med) in Tibetan Buddhism Readings: Smith, Jam mgon Kong sprul and the Nonsectarian movement M. Aris, India and the British According to a Tibetan Text 30 May 2006: Early 20 th Century developments Topics: Dalai Lama XIII, dge- dun Chos- phel and modernism Pha-bong-kha and the rise of neo-dge-lugs Readings: Huber, Colonial Archaeology, Intl. Missionary Bism., and 1st Mod. Tib. Lit. Dreyfus, The Shugden Affair 1 June 2006: Contemporary Developments in Tibet and Exile Topics: Dalai Lama XIV, Chinese conquest, the Cultural Revolution, and its aftermath Readings: Goldstein & Kapstein, Buddhism in Contemporary Tibet (Intro and Conclusion) Goldstein, Revival of Monastic Life in Drepung Monastery 6 June 2006: Take-home final exam ** OR ** Final Paper due by 3:00PM in Swift 201
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