Admission requirements
Background in the study of Buddhism would be a tremendous plus; for students without such background, the instructor will recommend important readings. Otherwise, the ability to communicate clearly in English is essential.
Description
From its birth in approximately the 4th c. BCE India, the Buddhist tradition grew over approximately two millenia until its ultimate destruction in India around the 13th c. The period of its Indian life saw the continual production of new literature and the evolution of new practices. From around a millenium after its initial founding, a new stream began to develop within Mahāyāna traditions, which can retrospectively be termed Tantra. This tantric tradition generated an enormous scriptual, commentarial and practice-oriented literature, much of which remains unstudied, and motivated new material creations, including those related to maṇḍalas. Buddhist tantra became highly influential not only in India itself , where it dominated the later centuries of the tradition, but also in Tibet, where it still survives, and in Indonesia. This course offers an introductory survey of tantric Buddhist traditions, with main focus on the Indian background, its literatures and practices, its interactions with, chiefly, Śaivite traditions, and some attention paid to its subsequent spread to Indonesia, to Tibet and to East Asia.
Course objectives
Students will develop abilities in close reading of secondary scholarship and of primary sources in translation, often with a comparative perspective in mind. They will thereby sharpen their critical eye in textual analysis. The materials are often challenging and demand of students flexibility of mind, the ability to openly consider alternative viewpoints, to listen openly to others, and to articulate their own perspectives on the material.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Active Participation/coöperation in class/group & Oral presentations
Weekly short writingEssay, paper
Weighing
The course will be evaluated on a combination of oral presentations, which will in practice merge with active cooperations and participation in class, that is, engaged, informed and regular class participation, and a final paper. Weekly short assignments will be accepted on a pass/no credit basis, and the final paper will be discussed much in advance. Students will submit a draft for close discussion; this draft will not be graded, but is required. Since a draft is required, and will provide the opportunity for all necessary revision, this will obviate the need for any resit.
Final paper: 60%
NB: Final paper will be accepted only with timely submission of draft(s). No papers will be graded unless drafts have been received and suggestions taken into account.
Regular written papers: 10%
Informed class participation with regular contributions: 30%
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 5.5 or higher.
Since a draft is required, and will provide the opportunity for all necessary revision, this will obviate the need for any resit."
Reading list
Reading list TBA. As far as possible, freely available materials will be assigned.
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration À la carte education, Contract teaching and Exchange
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of À la carte education (without taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
Information for those interested in taking this course in context of Contract teaching (with taking examinations), eg. about costs, registration and conditions.
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: [ Herta Mohr.