Buddhist Traditions of Mind and Meditation
RELI 314
Spring 2021
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01
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This seminar surveys a range of Buddhist meditation practices in the context of traditional theories of mind, perception, and cognition, with an emphasis on the traditions of South Asia, East Asia, and the Himalaya. Beginning with canonical descriptions of the mind and its variety of mental states, the course will then examine early scriptural expositions on the two principal types of meditation techniques: tranquility or concentration meditation (samatha) and insight meditation (vipasyana). Next will be an examination of techniques for cultivating compassion and the view of emptiness that were central to the later Indian traditions of the Mahayana or Great Vehicle. The course will finally turn to the elaborate systems of Tantra that developed in India and spread through Tibet, which incorporate the visualization of deities and recitation of mantras. Readings will include both primary Buddhist canonical works and commentaries by contemporary Buddhist teachers in English translation as well as secondary scholarship on the historical context of Buddhist meditation systems, cognitive theory, and ritual practice. The course will also provide opportunities for practical engagement with a variety of meditation traditions. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS RELI |
| Course Format: Seminar | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (GSAS-MN)(GSAS)(RELI-MN)(RELI)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 50% - 74% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Geshe Tashi Tsering, BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY (Wisdom, 2001) ISBN 9780861712724
Shantideva, THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA (Shambhala, 2006) ISBN 9781590303887
Gunananda, Mindfulness in Plain English (Wisdom, 2011) ISBN 9780861719068
Gethin, Rupert, Foundations of Buddhism (Oxford, 1998) ISBN 9780192892232
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly short reading responses
1 short paper (5 pages)
1 final paper (12 pages)
Oral presentation |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Historical Traditions requirement for the Religion Major |
| Instructor(s): Quintman,Andrew H Times: ...W... 01:00PM-03:50PM; Location: ONLINE; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 1 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 3 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 1 |
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