Introduction to Buddhist Thought and Practice
RELI 242
Fall 2020
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01
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This course will introduce significant aspects of Buddhist thought and practice, primarily as it manifested through the literature of India, South Asia, and East Asia. It begins with an overview of the historical Buddha's life and the development of early Buddhist ideas and practices. The course then introduces the Mahayana or Great Vehicle tradition that began to emerge around the first century BCE, as well as later forms of esoteric Buddhism known as Tantra. The course concludes with the development of modern Buddhism in Asia and its manifestation in the West. Readings consist mainly of primary Buddhist texts in translation, which are supplemented as necessary by works of secondary scholarship. The course broadly examines the topics of Buddhist philosophy and ethics, monastic and ascetic life, meditation and ritual practices, and the material culture of Buddhist societies, including artistic traditions, architecture, and book culture. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA RELI |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN)(CEAS-Phil/Reli)(GSAS-MN)(GSAS)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Gethin, Rupert, FOUNDATIONS OF BUDDHISM (Oxford, 1998) ISBN 9780192892232
Shantideva, THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA (Shambhala, 2006) ISBN 9781590303887
Tenzin Chogyel. Kurtis Schaeffer, transl. THE LIFE OF THE BUDDHA (Penguin Classics, 2015) ISBN 9780143107200
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Examinations and Assignments:
4 short reading responses
2 short (3-page) papers
Midterm exam
Final exam |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Historical Tradition requirement for the Religion major |
| Instructor(s): Quintman,Andrew H Times: ..T.R.. 01:00PM-02:20PM; Location: ONLINE; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 1 | JR major: 1 | | |
| Seats Available: -3 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 7 | FR: 7 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 6 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 6 |
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