RELG 356: SURVEY OF BUDDHISM
Professor: Hal W. French
tel: 777-2178 (O)
256-2866 (H)
email: frenchh@sc.edu
Office: Preston 107
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Spring Term, 2007
TTH at 2:00
Gambrell 201
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Course Description:
This course will offer an overview of the Buddhist tradition from its beginnings in North India from the fifth century B.C.E., its spread throughout Asia, and its contemporary expressions in Asia and the West. Attention will be given to contrasting schools, their teachings and practices, and the artistic forms which they fostered. The characteristic national expressions will be studied in the context of interaction with existing traditions, also. For the last few weeks of the course we will examine whether some Buddhist insights, particularly from Zen, may be incorporated into Western life styles.
Course Requirements:
1) Exams: Three will be given, each weighed as 20% of the course grade.
2) A paper on a topic to be selected from a list, or in consultation with the professor, will be written, and this, also, will be weighed as 20% of the grade. These papers, for undergraduate credit, should be from 1500-2000 words in length; for graduate credit, these should be from 2500-3000 words in length.
3) A personal journal will be kept for the last few weeks of the course, reflecting on the possible applicability of Buddhist insights in everyday life. This, also, will be weighed as 20% of the grade.
Texts:
- William Theodore de Bary, The Buddhist Tradition
- Robert Fisher, Buddhist Art and Architecture
- William LaFleur, Buddhism: A Cultural Perspective
- Hal French, Zen and the Art of Anything (to be obtained from the professor at
a drastically reduced rate of $5!)
Tentative course outline:
| January 16- |
Introductory- getting acquainted with the texts and course design |
| January 18- |
deBary, vii-xxii; LaFleur, 1-9; Fisher, 7-28; French, Chap. 1 |
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| January 23- |
The Life of the Buddha- deBary, 55-72; LaFleur, 10-16; 34-39; Fisher, 29-41 |
| January 25- |
The sangha- deBary, 44-57; LaFleur, 17-20; 122-127 |
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| January 30- |
Early Buddhism- deBary, 6-32; Fisher, 41-52 |
| February 1- |
Theravada Buddhism- deBary, 32-44; LaFleur, 28-30; 104-112; 77-89 |
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| February 6- |
Mahayana- deBary, 73-89; LaFleur, 21-28 |
| February 8- |
Mahayana, cont.- deBary, 90-109; LaFleur, 30-34; Fisher, 52-66 |
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| February 13- |
Tibetan- deBary, 110-122; LaFleur, 128-136; Fisher, 77-85 |
| February 15- |
FIRST EXAM |
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| February 20- |
In China- deBary, 127-143; LaFleur, 39-44; 30-44; Fisher, 86-110 |
| February 22- |
Buddhist schools, deBary, 143-167; LaFleur, 45-56; 96-104 |
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| February 27- |
Buddhist schools. cont.- deBary, 168-196 |
| March 1- |
Pure Land- 197-207; Fisher, 110-124 |
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| March 6- |
Chan- deBary, 207-251 |
| March 8- |
Japan , Nara Period- deBary, 255-276; LaFleur, 63-76; Fisher, 138-148 |
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| March 13- |
SPRING BREAK! |
| March 15- |
SPRING BREAK! |
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| March 20- |
Heian Period- deBary, 277-313; Fisher, 148-156 |
| March 22- |
Pure Land and Nichiren; deBary, 314-354, French, chap.
START JOURNALS
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| March 27- |
SECOND EXAM |
| March 29- |
Zen- deBary, 355-367; LaFleur, 112-121; French, chap. 3 |
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| April 3- |
Zen, cont., deBary, 367-380; Fisher, 156-166; French, chap. 4 |
| April 5- |
Zen. cont., deBary, 380-393; French, chap. 5 |
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| April 10- |
Zen and the Arts- deBary, 393-398; LaFleur, 63-76 |
| April 12- |
Meditation session |
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| April 17- |
Cambodia and Vietnam- Fisher, 167-172; 186-195; LaFleur, 137-143 |
| April 19- |
Buddhism in the West- Fisher, 278-293; French, Chap. 6 |
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| April 24- |
Buddhism in the West- French, Chap. 7; Meditation session |
| April 26- |
Buddhism in the West- French, Chap. 8; LaFleur, 144, 145 |
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| May 1 |
READING DAY |
| May 2 |
JOURNALS DUE |
| TBA |
FINAL EXAM |
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