Buddhism Course: Spring 2007, ECU - Prof. Derek F. Maher, Papers of World Religions

Download Buddhism Course: Spring 2007, ECU - Prof. Derek F. Maher and more Papers World Religions in PDF only on Docsity! 1 PHIL 2692 Buddhism Religious Studies Program Spring 2007 Dr. Derek Maher Office: Austin 235 Office Telephone: 328-5332 Assistant: Mrs. Susan Adams 328-6121 Mailbox: Brewster Building BA-327 Email: maherd@ecu.edu Office hours: Tuesday 12:30 – 4:00 Thursday 12:30 – 2:00 COURSE DESCRIPTION: Buddhism has profoundly influenced nearly every aspect of Asian culture. We will survey this intriguing religion, focusing on the biography of the founder, its origins, meditative and visualization practices, methods for overcoming harmful emotions, and explanations of the path to enlightenment. We will examine Buddhist traditions in a variety of historical and social contexts, including lay and monastic traditions among both Theravada and Mahayana Buddhists. We will also explore Buddhist art and architecture. By way of these inquiries, the student should be able to: • Identify Buddhist beliefs, practices, myths, rituals, traditions, history, and art • Compare and contrast the assumptions, beliefs, and outlooks of different Buddhist traditions and the practices that result from those assumptions. Students in this course will also: • Become familiar with various methodologies employed in the academic study of religion • Cultivate critical thinking and reading comprehension skills • Learn to communicate more effectively, verbally and in writing. These objectives will be attained through lectures, classroom discussions, and assignments. Challenging readings from a variety of disciplines will supplement these strategies. GRADING: • two exams with essays and short answers (20% each) • two quizzes (10% each) • research paper (20%) • final exam (20%) REQUIRED READINGS: • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words • Charles Prebish and Damien Keown, Introducing Buddhism 2 • Lama Yeshe, Introduction to Tantra • Santideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life Additional readings will be available on the course Blackboard website. http://ecu.blackboard.com/ Students are responsible for checking their email address linked to Blackboard system so that they are assured of remaining up-to- date with reading assignments, exam dates, and any other information relating to the course. EXAMS: Exams will consist of essays and short questions. Generally, I will provide several essay questions from which the student may select two to answer. Short questions may be multiple choice, true and false, and simple identification. Check the ECU catalog in order to determine the date and time of the final exam. Students who maintain at least a 94% average throughout the semester will be exempt from the final. QUIZZES: Quizzes will be brief and focused on a narrow body of information. For example, one quiz will be on mapping the Buddhist world. There is a series of maps on the Blackboard webpage. Students are expected to become familiar with these maps on their own time. CLASSROOM PARTICIPATION AND ATTENDANCE: Students who attend all classes, read all assignments on time, and demonstrate that they are capable of being fully involved in all class discussions will earn full marks for participation. An absence for a legitimate university-sanctioned reason will be excused. Students should consult the following site to become familiar with the relevant ECU policies: http://core.ecu.edu/psyc/wuenschk/docs00/University-Excused-Absence.htm Quizzes, exams, and other assignments may be made-up only if the absence is officially excused by the University or is medically related (See Student Health for a note). Documentation is required. Students who must be absent—excused or not—are responsible for obtaining notes from a peer. After they have done so, they may ask me for further clarification, but they should not ask me first. Unexcused absences will result in grade reduction. After the 2nd unexcused absence, 3% will be deducted from the final grade. Each additional absence will result in a deduction of a further 3%. Please plan on attending our class. RESEARCH PAPER STANDARDS: A research paper is a particular form of writing that articulates and then argues for a thesis. A thesis is a clear and unambiguous statement that a research paper proves; it has the form, “I will argue that X is true.” For example: 5 plagiarize, cheat, or falsify qualify as violations. Consult the ECU Clue Book for details. http://www.ecu.edu/studenthandbook/III.htm UNIVERSITY RESOURCES: The Writing Center offers students in-person and on-line assistance in learning writing skills. Contact the Writing Center for hours and locations at Bate (GCB) 2026 (328-2820). http://www.ecu.edu/cs-acad/writing/writingcenter/index.cfm In addition to providing students with personal counseling, the Center for Counseling and Student Development in Wright Building 316 (328-6661) offers various resources to assist students in their academic development. These include training in time management, test taking, overcoming test anxiety, and academic motivation. http://www.ecu.edu/studentlife/counselingcenter/ East Carolina University seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services located in Slay 138 (252) 737-1016 (Voice/TTY). MEETING WITH ME: I have 5 hours of scheduled office hours a week. Aside from those hours, I can often be found in my office. If the times I have indicated are not practical, students are encouraged to see me before or after class. If students need to meet at another time, I am sure I can be accommodating. I encourage all students to come and see me as they begin to formulate their research papers. This will insure that the selected paper topic is appropriate and relevant. LIBRARY: All students at ECU should become proficient in using library resources. The Joyner Library at ECU (accessible on-line at http://www.lib.ecu.edu/) has many valuable resources on Islam. There are hundreds of books on religion in the stacks of Joyner Library. See the following website for help in navigating your way around the Library. Books on Philosophy, Psychology, and Religion have call numbers beginning with the letter B. Books on Buddhism have call numbers beginning with BQ. Navigate your way around the library with the following source: http://geography.miningco.com/library/congress/blb.htm) Additionally, you can find information on religious traditions in books in other sections of the library, including anthropology, art, geography, history, literature, philosophy, and psychology. You may also explore the film and music resources the library collects. One of the best resources available is the library’s collection of journals. Not only does the library have numerous religion journals in paper and bound forms, but it is also possible to access a very large number of journals on-line. (http://www.lib.ecu.edu/locator/main.cfm) The library staff can be extremely helpful in learning to use all of these resources. Don’t be shy about asking for their help. 6 As a student of East Carolina University, you also have free use of the Library system at University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill (www.lib.unc.edu). Moreover, you can access just about any book, journal or other resource in the world through the Inter-Library Loan. Many resources can be obtained within a matter of days. Often, journal articles can be delivered electronically within a day or two. The Joyner Library has a special office for Inter-Library Loan services, located to the left of the front desk. You can access these resources on-line at: http://jill.lib.ecu.edu/illiad/logon.html Outline of Topics and Readings January 9 and 11 – Pre-Buddhist context • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 1 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, up through p. 7 January 16 and 18 – Buddha’s Biography • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 2 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 2 and 3 January 23 and 25 – Buddhist Religious Life and the Path to Liberation • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapters 3 and 7 January 25 - QUIZ January 30 and February 1 – Ethics and Cosmology • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 4 and 5 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 13 and 1 February 6 – Meditation • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 6 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 7 February 8 - EXAM February 13 and 15 – Monastic Life PAPER PROPOSAL DUE IN CLASS • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 8 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 4 February 20 and 22 – Wisdom and Awakening • Bhikkhu Bodhi, In the Buddha’s Words, Chapter 9 and 10 February 27 and March 1 – Buddhism in India • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 5 March 6 – Mahayana 7 • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 6 March 8 - EXAM March 13 and 15 – SPRING BREAK March 20 and 22 – Buddhism in Southeast and East Asia • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 8 and 9 March 27 – Buddhism in Tibet • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 10 March 29 – Socially Engaged Buddhism • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 12 April 3 and 5 – Buddhism in the Modern World April 5 - QUIZ • Prebish and Keown, Introducing Buddhism, Chapter 11 and 14 April 10 and 12 – Santideva’s Guide • Santideva, Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life April 17 and 19 – Tantra • Lama Yeshe, Introduction to Tantra April 24-5 - READING DAYS PAPERS DUE April 25th by 6:00 p.m. May 1, 2007 11:00 – 1:30 Final Exam