Introduction to Buddhism (A EAS 265/A REL 265) University at Albany, SUNY: Fall 2016 Meeting Times and Location: MWF 11:30-12:25pm, ED120 Professor: Aaron P. Proffitt, PhD (aproffitt@albany.edu) Office Hours Time and Location: 12:30-1:30, MWF, HUM 241 (also available by appointment) COURSE DESCRIPTION This course is an introduction to Buddhism, covering its early history in South Asia, its expansion into Central, East, and Southeast Asia, and its recent growth in Europe and the Americas. Students will acquire a foundational knowledge about basic Buddhist doctrines and practices, as well as the diversity of Buddhism as a lived religion. Course readings will largely consist of primary texts in translation. This course will serve as both an introduction to Buddhism in particular, as well as an introduction to the study of religion. There are no prerequisites for this course. All are welcome. General Education Requirements fulfilled by this course: 1) Humanities 2) International Perspectives REQUIRED TEXT Norton Anthology of World Religions: Buddhism (Donald S. Lopez, Jr., ed.) 1
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% Online Journals 25% Mid-Term Exam 25% Final Exam 25% ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION (25%) Attendance and active participation is required, and counts toward 25% of the final grade. If you must miss a class, please see the University at Albany Medical Excuse Policy: http://www.albany.edu/health_center/medicalexcuse.shtml Note Cards: Each student should purchase a pack of 3x5 note cards and bring them to class. At the end of class, students will write their names on the card and answer the following two questions: (1) What was the most interesting thing you learned today? (2) What question would you like to ask? In the next session the instructor will select three or four questions to discuss. Note cards not only count for attendance but also gauge level of engagement. Computer and Technology Rules: This class is built around active participation in lecture and discussion. Laptop computers, cellphones, smartphones, ipads, and other electronic devices are distracting and therefore prohibited. Students are required to purchase a notebook for taking notes by hand in class. Excluded, of course, are those who for medically documented reasons must use assistive technology. JOURNALS (25%) For each reading assignment or film students must complete one journal entry on Blackboard. These journals are essentially your notes you take while reading a text or watching a film. If you are using your notebook for reading notes, These are not graded for content, or style, or length (though they should be substantial: 250 words or more ). Journal posts are not public, and only the instructor will read them. All journal entries should be done before coming to class. These journals will serve as a resource for our inclass discussion. MID-TERM EXAM (25%) 25 multiple choice questions. This is a take home exam that you must complete through the Blackboard link. Exam will open at 12:00am and close at 11:59pm on the day noted on the syllabus. It should take about one hour to complete. FINAL EXAM (25%) 25 multiple choice questions. This is a take home exam that you must complete through the Blackboard link. Exam will open at 12:00am and close at 11:59pm on the day noted on the syllabus. It should take about one hour to complete. ACCOMMODATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES OR OTHER NEEDS 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: http://www.albany.edu/disability/index.shtml 2
PLAGIARISM AND 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) http://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin/regulations.html GETTING STARTED Here are a few essays I recommend you read before class. I ll be talking about these texts on the first day. o What is the Academic Study of Religion?: https://religion.ua.edu/links/the-students-desk/what-is-the-academicstudy-of-religion/ o Religious Studies: A Part of the Human Sciences: https://religion.ua.edu/links/religious-studies-a-part-of-thehuman-sciences/ o Theses on Method: https://religion.ua.edu/links/theses-on-method/ COURSE CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE OF READING ASSIGNMENTS Mon. Wed. Fri. 08/28 08/30 09/01 Welcome! Introduction: In the World of the Buddha, 43-86. Finish up Introduction 09/04 09/06 09/08 Buddhism in India, 87-92 No Class: Labor Day How Our World Began, 92-100 119 King Shibi Rescues a Dove, 100-109 Prince Vessantara Gives Away His Children, 109- The Buddha Remembers His Mother s Tears, 119-131 09/11 09/13 09/15 The Life of the Buddha, 131-158 The Buddha s Final Days, 158-177 The Benefits of Mindfulness, 193-202 The Buddha s First Sermon, Early Aphorisms, 202-212 177-181 The Beginnings of Buddhist The Buddha Belittles the Brahmins, 181-193 Philosophy, 212-228 09/18 09/20 09/22 Wander Solitary as a Rhinoceros Horn, 228-232 How to Meditate on Love, 249-267 Nuns Achieve Nirvana, 232-236 The Workings of the Law of Karma, 267-278 The Life Well Lived, 236-238 Kunala Loses his Eyes, 238-248 Classes Suspended at 2:35 pm: Rosh Hashanah No Class Classes Resume at 12:35 pm 3
The Meaning of Love, 248-249 Mahayana Sutras and Tantras 09/25 09/27 09/29 Mahayana Sutras, 278 A Layman Humbles the The Pure Land, 316-325 The Lotus Sutra, 278-304 Monks, 304-316 Classes Suspended at 2:35 pm: Yom Kippur 10/02 10/04 10/06 The Diamond Sutra, 325-340 The Buddha Nature Lies Hidden Within, 340-362 How to Be a Bodhisattva, 395-441 The Heart Sutra, 362-366 Mahayana Treatises, 366 How to Meditate on On the Meaning of Emptiness, 366-375 Emptiness, 441-464 (optional) In Praise of the Empty Buddha, 375-385 (optional) Advice to a King, 385-395 (optional) 10/09 10/11 10/13 Buddhist Tantra, 464 Tantric Masters, 478-486 Rituals for a Better Rebirth, 464-471 Ever in the Female Form, 486-491 How to Practice Tantra, 471-478 Buddhism in China 10/16 10/18 10/20 Buddhism in China, 491-496 A Chinese Pilgrim Visits the Bodhi Tree, 511-518 On the Origins of Zen, 531-541 Buddhism Comes to China, 496-503 Burning the Body for the Buddha, 518-531 Instructions of a Chan Master, 541-545 A Buddhist Apocryphon, 503-511 Mid-term due, 11:59PM through Blackboard 10/23 10/25 10/27 The Ten Kings of Hell, 545-557 Chinese Pilgrims Meet the Buddha, 561-571 ***MOVIE ONLINE: To the Land of Bliss (On Letters from a Zen Master, 557-561 The Bodhisattva who Bestows Children, 571-581 Blackboard)*** 4
Buddhism in Korea 10/30 11/01 11/03 Buddhism in Korea, 581-583 The Harmony of Doctrine and Practice, 586-603 Hyujeong (Blackboard) Why Practice the Dharma, 583-586 Buddhism in Japan 11/06 11/08 11/10 Buddhism in Japan, 603-606 The Glories of the Esoteric, 606-611 Dōhan, Himitsu nenbutsu shō (Blackboard) Tendai Texts (On Blackboard) Kakuban, Amida hishaku (Blackboard) 11/13 11/15 11/17 On the Power of Amitābha s Vow, 611-625 Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, 625-637 Nichiren, Risshō ankoku ron (Blackboard) How Buddhism Protects the Nation, 637-646 11/20 11/22 11/24 A Conversation with Skeletons, 662-668 No class: Thanksgiving Break No class: Thanksgiving Break You Poor Hole-Dwelling Devil, 668-677 Buddhism in Tibet 11/27 11/29 12/01 Buddhism in Tibet, 677-680 Milarepa Meditates on his Mother s Bones, 690-696 The Path and the Result, 701-711 How to Exchange Self and Other, 680-690 The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, 696-701 A Tibetan Book of the Dead, 711-724 Severing the Demon of the Self, 724-725 Modern Buddhism 12/04 12/06 12/08 Modern Buddhism, 735- How to Meditate, 761-770 bell hooks (Blackboard) 739 San Francisco Zen, 770-777 angel Kyodo williams Buddhism Comes to Chicago, 739-756 An American Sutra, 777-781 Buddhism Returns to India, 756-761 Buddhist monk Wins Nobel Peace Prize, 781-787 5
12/11 Mushim Ikeda Patti Nakai Final Exam due, 11:59PM through Blackboard 6