Buddhist Traditions of Mind and Meditation
RELI 314
Spring 2022
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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: |
| 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: Less than 50% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Bhikkhu Bodhi, "What Does Mindfulness Really Mean?"
Buddhaghosa, "Foulness as a Meditation Subject"
Erik Braun and David McMahan, MEDITATION, BUDDHISM, AND SCIENCE.
Geshe Tashi Tsering, BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY.
Gunananda, MINDFULNESS IN PLAIN ENGLISH.
Elizabeth Harris, "Sleeping Next to My Coffin: Representations of the Body in Theravada Buddhism"
Khenpo Tsultrim Gyatso, PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF MEDITATION ON EMPTINESS
Edwin Ng, "White Privilege & the Mindfulness Movement"
Shantideva, THE WAY OF THE BODHISATTVA.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Weekly reading responses
1 short paper (5 pages)
1 final paper (12 pages)
Oral presentation
Self-graded meditation practicum |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This course fulfills the Historical Traditions requirement for the Religion Major |
| Instructor(s): Quintman,Andrew H Times: ...W... 01:20PM-04:10PM; Location: RSCSEM; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 15 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 3 | | |
| Seats Available: 2 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 3 | FR: 0 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 8 | 1st Ranked: 1 | 2nd Ranked: 1 | 3rd Ranked: 1 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 5 |
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