Admission requirements
none
Description
This course provides a general introduction to Buddhism as a religious system, set of philosophies and doctrines, and cultural force. The study of Buddhism also provides an excellent opportunity to approach basic human questions of an entirely general type. The course surveys the historical background of Buddhism from its Indian origins through its development and spread through Asia, through lectures, reading in primary sources in translation and secondary studies.
Topics which may be included:
General Introduction: Issues and Problems
The Buddha’s life
The Shape of the Universe and Our Place in It
Basic doctrine: Non-self; dependent origination; emptiness
The Nature of Death and What to Do About It
Buddhist monasticism
Other Ways of Being Buddhist
Chan/Zen
The Spread of Buddhism
Buddhism in Society (aka the “real” world)
Summing Up and Coming to Terms with Buddhism
Course objectives
Through this course you will gain a familiarity with basic chronological / historical information about Buddhism, Buddhist cosmology, the major movements of ideas and practices in Buddhism over time, the major forces acting on Buddhism over time, the major sources for the study of Buddhism, and think about questions such as the nature of authority, and its sources, regionalism, and its effects, and the place of religion in life, and the tensions brought out by religious thinking. The approach of the course is entirely non-confessional, meaning that we aim to look as objectively as possible at Buddhism as an object of study.
Timetable
The timetable is available on the website
Mode of instruction
- Lecture
Attendance is not obligatory for lectures. The conveners do not need to be informed in case of missed classes. Information and knowledge provided in the lectures greatly contribute to the subsequent courses of the programme and their contents will be part of the examination. In order to pass the course, students are strongly advised to attend all sessions.
MANDATORY discussion section: 1 hour per week, to enroll in the course students MUST also enroll in a discussion section, attendance at which is required.
Course Load
2 Contact hours/week (2hs class) for lecture: 13×2hs: 26 hours
1 hour mandatory discussion section per week: 13 x 1 : 13
8 weekly summaries of readings (1A4): 12 hours
Readings (540pp., of which 70pp. cursory): 66 hours
Preparing for midterm & final exam: 1×9 & 1×10hs: 19 hours
Examinations (midterm and final) 2 x 2 hours: 4 hours
Total: 140 hours
Assessment method
Written examination with essay questions for both midterm (3Q x 1A4; 30%) and final exam (5Qs x 1A4; 60%);
Submission of written weekly summaries: 10%
Final Re-sit: 5Q on entire course.
In order to pass the course, students must obtain an overall mark of 5.50 (=6) or higher. Students will be able to do the re-sit as described above.
The course is an integrated whole. The final examination and the assignments must be completed in the same academic year. No partial marks can be carried over into following years.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
*readings on blackboard and through library or online
Reading list
The booktitles and / or syllabi to be used in the course, where it can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand.
The Heart of Understanding by Thich Nhat Hanh
Buddhisms: An Introduciton, by John Strong
Registration
Enrolment through uSis is mandatory (both lecture and workgroup).
General information about uSis is available on the website
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable