Introduction to Buddhism: Modernism and Other Forms (3 credits)
Course Syllabus Excerpt
- Mon/Wed 10:00-11:00 Buchanan B315
- Fri 10:00-11:00 McLeod 202
- Office hours: Mondays, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm
- Instructor: Jessica L. Main, jessica.main@ubc.ca, (604) 822-9305, C.K. Choi Building, Room 283
Course Description: We will move from the Buddhism many know, “Buddhist modernism,” to forms of Buddhism many are less familiar with, including early Buddhism and its historical spread from the Indian subcontinent throughout Asia in Mahayana, Theravada, and Tantric streams. We will cover the story of the Buddha, characteristic Buddhist social roles (male and female renunciates, pious laypersons, and rulers), and forms of Buddhist practice (meditation, chanting, pilgrimage, devotion, generosity). Lastly, we will return to issues in contemporary Buddhism, its spread into Western cultures, with special emphasis on politics, ethics, and prison dharma. This course is made possible by the support of The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation, and is a gateway to advanced courses on Buddhism and Asian cultures. Prerequisites: None.
Coursepack and textbooks: Textbooks purchase at the UBC bookstore. Supplementary readings will be available through a course blog (to be created). You are welcome to purchase readings from another source, so long as you acquire them in time to do the readings as assigned. Please bring a copy of the assigned reading to class on the day specified either hardcopy or on a laptop. Bibliographic information for selected course texts:
- Strong, John S. The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations, Third Edition. Thomson/Wadsworth, 2007.
- Berkwitz, Stephen C., ed. Buddhism in World Cultures: Comparative Perspectives. ABC-CLIO, 2006.
- McMahan, David L. “Introduction: Buddhism and Modernity.” (3-25) The Making of Buddhist Modernism. Oxford University Press, 2009.
- Journal of Buddhist Ethics. http://www.buddhistethics.org/.
- BLopez, Donald S., ed. Critical Terms for the Study of Buddhism. University of Chicago Press, 2005.
- Strong, John S. 2007. The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations, Third Edition. Thomson/Wadsworth.
- Jones, Lindsay, ed. Encyclopedia of Religion, Second Edition. Macmillan Reference USA, 2005.
Films:
- “The Trap” by Lina Verchery (18 min). 2008.
- “The Dhamma Brothers” by Andrew Kukura, Jenny Phillips, and Anne Marie Stein (76 min). 2008.
- “Doing Time, Doing Vippasana” by Eilona Ariel and Ayelet Menahemi (52 min). 1997.
- “Changing from Inside” by David Donnenfield Productions (42 min).
Assessment and Grading: Your course work for the semester will be weighted as follows:
- In-class test 15%
- Short paper (1,000 to 1,500 words) 20%
- Group assignment (1,500 words) 20%
- Critical responses (500 words) 10%
- Class participation/preparation/effort 10%
- Final exam 25%
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