Description
Tibetan Buddhism, both in its historical past and diasporic present, may seem to us as distant as almost anything we are ever likely to study, or as close as the neighborhood dharma group. Our semester of study of the Buddhism of Tibet will deal with its history of more than a thousand years, both in its mundane aspects (such as its monastic structure, its place between the great civilizations of India and China, historical tensions between Church and State) and its philosophy and practice, how Tibetan thinkers approach the nature of the mind, how to develop the individual, and what it means to be human. This course also provides an excellent opportunity to approach basic human questions of an entirely general type, such as questions about the dynamic tension between the religious and the secular, spiritual concerns and political concerns, and about how issues of authority are mediated in societies.
Teaching method
Lecture with in-class discussion.
A la carte or Contractonderwijs
Open for a la carte of contractonderwijs.
Admission Requirements
Introduction to Buddhism, equivalent, or permission of instructor
Course Objectives
Gaining an understanding of the basics of the history, philosophy and art and material culture of Tibetan Buddhism.
Course Load
5 EC * 28 hours = 140 hours
Course requirements
Course requirements include weekly readings (from Blackboard), participation in class discussions, and a written exam.
Timetable
Registration
Via Utwist or through mail to Languages and Cultures India and Tibet.
Information
Blackboard
Yes