Tibetan Religion
RELI 229
Spring 2021
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
CEAS 343, WLIT 273 |
This course serves as an introduction to major themes of Buddhist thought and practice within the cultural and historical framework of Tibet and the wider Himalayan world. In doing so, it examines various approaches to the study of religion and questions traditional definitions of categories such as "religion" and "Buddhism" themselves. Beginning with a close study of Patrul Rinpoche's classic 19th-century guide to Tibetan Buddhism, the early part of the course focuses on the doctrinal foundations of the tradition. This is followed by a historical and more critical examination of Tibetan religious history, proceeding from Buddhism's Indian antecedents and its initial arrival in Tibet during the seventh century through the present day. The course will explore a wide range of Tibetan religious cultures and practices including Buddhist ethics, systems of monastic and ascetic life, ritual activities, sacred geography and pilgrimage, lay religion, as well as the status of Tibetan Buddhism under Chinese occupation and in the West. It will also examine the lesser-known communities of Tibetan Muslims and Christians inside Tibet and in exile. The majority of readings will consist of primary texts in translation, and will concentrate on Tibet's rich narrative literary tradition. These will be supplemented by secondary literature on the study of religion and Tibetan Buddhism. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (CEAS-MN)(CEAS)(CEAS-Phil/Reli)(GSAS-MN)(GSAS)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Patrul Rinpoche, WORDS OF MY PERFECT TEACHER (Shambhala, 1998), ISBN: 9781570624124
Quintman, transl., THE LIFE OF MILAREPA (Penguin Classics, 2010), ISBN: 9780143106227
Gethin, FOUNDATIONS OF BUDDHISM (Oxford University Press, 1998), ISBN: 9780192892232
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Examinations and Assignments:
4 short reading responses
2 short written projects (3 pages each)
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
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Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the "Historical Traditions" requirement for the Religion Department major. |
| Instructor(s): Quintman,Andrew H Times: ..T.R.. 11:10AM-12:30PM; Location: ONLINE; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 25 | | SR major: 1 | JR major: 1 | | |
| Seats Available: -4 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 5 | SO: 7 | FR: 7 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 2 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 1 | Unranked: 0 |
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