HRCE 3002: Buddhist Ethics: Loving Kindness in Buddhism The class will provides an introduction to Buddhist ethics and the role of love in this ethical system as found in the Theravada Buddhist tradition. We will begin with exploring what the Buddha taught about love and then how these teachings changed and developed through Theravada history up to the present. The theme of loving- kindness will be used to understand some of the historical, doctrinal, and sociological issues that are important for understanding Theravada Buddhism. With this as a foundation, we will also study how Theravada teachings on loving- kindness have been both adapted by Western Buddhists and applied to secular, therapeutic purposes by contemporary psychologists. The class will be a combination of lecture and discussion. The intended audience is MDiv, MA and MTS students. Grading will be based on: Three- page analytical paper due October 1 (10%) Mid- term paper due November 5 (20%) Final research paper due December 12 (60%) Class participation (10%) Attendance policy: students may miss one class and still complete the course. In the event of a second absence students may make up the missed class by writing a 4- page research paper on an assigned topic related to the missed class. Missing a second class and not writing a paper will drop a student s grade a half a grade. Time: Mondays 9:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Office hours: Mondays 8:00 a.m. 9:20 a.m. at Sonoma Cafe Instructors: Gil Fronsdal (gil@sati.org) Nona Olivia (SITBSDean@sati.org) Texts: Peter Harvey, Introduction to Buddhist Ethics (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000) Harvey Aronson, Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism (Motilal Banarsidass, 2008) Sharon Salzburg, Lovingkindness: the Revolutionary Art of Happiness (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 2002) Thomas Jay Oord, Defining Love: A Philosophical, Scientific, and Theological Engagement (Grand Rapids, MI: BrazosPress, 2010). 1
Syllabus September 10 - Introduction to Love in Buddhism A. Place of Loving- kindness and Compassion in Buddhism and Modern Society B. What are we studying when we study love in Buddhism? 1. Brief overview of Theravada Buddhist History 2. anukampa, metta, karuna, mudita, upekkha, anudaya, kama, pema, bhakti 3. Issues of cross cultural comparisons between different periods of human history. 4. Issue of theories or theologies of love in Buddhism C. Discussion of student s interest and questions regarding our study of love. September 17 Introduction to Buddhist Ethics A. Fire Sermon and Liberation B. Kalama Sutta and the Foundations of Buddhist ethics C. Loving- kindness and Ethical Purification D. Compassion as a basis for the Buddhist Precepts Introduction to Buddhist Ethics, pp. 1-122 Kalama Sutta, Cula- Assapura Sutta, Tevijja Sutta (posted) September 24 - Scriptural Foundation of Theravada Buddhist Love A. The Buddha s Compassion and Loving- kindness B. Empathy (anukampa) as the foundation for Brahmaviharas C. Sutta descriptions of Metta and other Brahmaviharas Gautama s Motivation in Anayalo, The Genesis of the Bodhisattva Ideal (Hamburg University Press; 2010) pp. 20-28. (posted) Harvey Aronson, Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism pp. 1-38, 60-77. Love and the Science- and- Theology Symbiosis chapter 1 in T.J. Oord Defining Love, pp. 1-30 Metta Sutta (posted) Misc. suttas (posted) October 1 Functions and Ethical applications of loving- kindness A. Social Harmony B. Overcoming anger 2
C. Countering Brahmanical beliefs D. Eleven Benefits E. Source of merit F. Response to Interpersonal difficulties G. Protection (paritas) H. Meditation Practice I. Path to Liberation (Iti 27; Anuruddha sutta MD 127) J. Is Metta altruistic? Altuism in Buddhist Ethics Harvey Aronson, Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism pp. 39-59 Richard Gombrich, Kindness and Compassion as a Means to Nirvana in Early Buddhism (Amsterdam: Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Science; 1988. (posted or available at Academic Works page of ocbs.org) Advantages and Relationship with Non- Humans, U Pandita in On the Path to Freedom (1995) pp. 268-273 (Buddhanet.net) Various Suttas (posted) October 8 Columbus Day (no class) October 15 Meditation Practice of Metta in the Suttas A. Meditation Practice B. Benefits of meditation practice C. Liberation through Metta Meditation suttas (posted) October 22 Reading Week (no class) October 29 Ethics of Love and Sexuality Suttas (posted) Genuine and Fictious Metta and Family Love by U Pandita, in On the Path to Freedom (1995) pp. 262 264 and 266 (found at Buddhanet.net) Love s Diverse Forms and Multiple Recipients in Oord, Defining Love, pp. 31-64 On Knowledge of Beginnings from Long Discourses of the Buddha; DN27 (handout); Love and Cosmology in Oord, Defining Love, pp. 137-172. November 5 - Metta in later Theravada and Theravada commentaries A. Intro to Theravada History and Commentarial tradition B. Abhidhamma and Patisambhidamagga C. Visuddhimagga 3
D. Metta as a Perfection E. Metta in Jataka Tales F. Love, Faith, and Devotion (pema, saddha, bhakti) Selections from Abhidharma and Jatakas (class handouts) Buddhaghosa, The Path of Purification (Visuddhimagga), Chapter 9 (available at Accesstoinsight.org). Dhammapala, A Treatise on the Paramis, selected passages (posted or available at Accesstoinsight.org). Bhatti by in S. Saibaba, Faith and Devotion in Theravada Buddhism (2005) pp. 167-191 (handout). View on YouTube or show in class: On YouTube, view Vesak Bhakti Gee 2011 Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Viharaya Los Angeles - Wandanawe Yamu (3:54 minutes) On YouTube, view Buddham Sharanam Gachchami The Three Jewels Of Buddhism I Bhagwan Buddha (2:47 minutes) November 12 Metta in the West A. Sharon Salzberg B. Jack Kornfield C. Joseph Goldstein Sharon Salzberg, Loving- kindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness, pp 1-119. Jack Kornfield, The Path of Service in Seeking the Heart of Wisdom (Shambhala, 1987), pp 159-170 Joseph Goldstein, Lovingkindness and Compassion in Insight Meditation: The Practice of Freedom (Shambhala, 1993) pp 143-149. November 19 - Metta in Modern Asian Theravada A. The appearance of Metta teachings in modern Asia. B. Asian Teachers 1. Mahasi Sayadaw 2. U Pandita 3. U Indeka 4. Nyanaponika 5. Ven. Piyasilo Mahasi Sayadaw, Brahmavihara Dhamma (1985) pp 1-76 in printed version. (found at yellowrobe.com; pp1-38 in online version) U Pandita, Loving- Kindness Meditation in On the Path to Freedom (1995) pp. 261-286 (Buddhanet.net) U Indeka, Metta: The Practice of Loving- kindness as the Foundation for Insight Meditation Practice. (2004) pp 1-3, 29-32, 39-53, 71-83 (posted) 4
Nyanaponika Thera, The Four Sublime States in The Vision of the Dhamma, (London: Rider, 1986) pp183-200 (also at Accesstoinsight.org) Ven. Piyasilo, The Fivefold Love in Buddhist Culture (1988) pp. 9-11 (posted). November 26 The Intensive Practice of Metta Guest Speaker Donald Rothberg, Metta retreat teacher - include a guided meditation on loving- kindness. 1. Sujiva, selections from Meditation on Loving Kindness and other sublime states (handout) 2. Ajahn Sumedho, Nothing is Left Out: The Practice of Lovingkindess in Sharon Salzberg, Voices of Insight (Shambhala, 1999) pp. 168-176. (handout) 3. Thanissaro Bhikkhu, Metta Means Goodwill (posted and at Accesstoinsight.org) December 3 - Metta, ethical evaluation, and engaged Buddhism A. For speech (AN V. 198) B. Medical ethics C. Metta as motivation for engaged Buddhism D. Burmese Saffron Revolution Love in Buddhist Bioethics by Pinit Ratanakul in Eubios Journal of Asian and International Bioethics 9 (1999), 45-46. (posted) Sallie King, The Social Ethics of Engaged Buddhism (SUNY Press, 2005) selected sections (posted). Bhikkhu Bodhi, A Challenge to Buddhists in Buddhadharma Fall 2007 Byama- so taya [the Brahmaviharas): social meditation and the politics of influence in Gustaaf Hourman, Mental Culture in Burmese Crises Politics, 1999 (posted) The Sarvodaya Sramadana movement in Sri Lanka and Sarvodaya Sramadana as a force for defusing conflict in Sri Lanka in Introduction to Buddhist Ethics pp. 225-234 and pp. 271-274 December 10 Contemporary secular uses of metta and clinical studies and Conclusion A. Different ways love is defined in clinical studies B. Different ways love is measured in clinical studies C. Value and role of clinical studies D. What is the relationship between Buddhist suttas and contemporary scientific publications? E. Toward a Theology of Love in Theravada Buddhism. 5
Love and the Social Sciences and Love and the Biological Sciences, ch. 3-4 in Oord, Defining Love, pp. 65-136. Cultivating Loving Kindness: A Two- stage Model of the Effects of Meditation on Empathy, Compassion, and Altruism by Jean L. Kristeller and Thomas Johnson in Zygon, vol. 40, no 2 (June 2005) 391-407. (posted) Measuring the Immeasurable: Development and Initial Validation of the Self- Other Four Immeasurables (SOFI) Scale Based on Buddhist Teachings on Loving Kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity by Sue Kraus and Sharon Sears in Soc. Indic Res. (2009) 92: 169-181. Meditation Experience is Associated with Differences in Default Mode Network Activity and Connectivity by Judson Brewer et al in PNAS, Vol. 108, no 50 (Dec. 2011) (posted) God and the Turn of Love in Oord, Defining Love, pp 182 189. 6