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Zen Buddhism AEAS/AREL 357

University at Albany, SUNY: Spring 2018

Time: MWF 11:30AM-12:25PM Place: ED 125 Office Hours: 12:30-1:30, MW Professor: Aaron Proffitt (aproffitt@albany.edu) COURSE DESCRIPTION Widely known by its Japanese name, Zen Buddhism (Chan in Chinese, Seon in Korean, Thien in Vietnamese) is one of the most influential Buddhist traditions in East Asia, and the world. As Zen has continued to grow in popularity and influence in the Western world, it is also one of the most misunderstood products of East Asian culture. In this course, students will survey the history of Zen Buddhism, from its early development in China to its introduction to the US. Readings will consist of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese Buddhist texts in translation as well as English language works by contemporary Zen masters and scholars. There are no prerequisites. All are welcome.

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REQUIRED TEXTS • Jeffrey L. Broughton, The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen (1999)

ISBN-13: 978-0520219724 • John R. McRae, Seeing Through Zen: Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in

Chinese Chan Buddhism (2004) ISBN-13: 978-0520237988 • Three Chan Classics (2006) ISBN-13: 978-1886439078

o ***Now available ONLINE: http://www.bdkamerica.org/system/files/pdf/dBET_Alpha_ThreeChanClassics_1999.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=457

***All books are available in the UAlbany bookstore. Students are expected to acquire copies in order to actively participate in class. GRADING SCHEME COURSE REQUIREMENTS A 94 A- 90 B+ 88 B 84 B- 80 C+ 78 C 74 C- 70 D+ 68 D 64 D- 60 E 50

Journals 25% Presentations 25% Mid-Term Paper 25% Final Paper 25%

JOURNALS (25%) • Do the reading before coming to class. • Take notes on every reading: Outlines, quotes, reactions, thoughts, summaries, etc. ALL

OK • You will post these notes to our Blackboard “Journals” section.

o In our Blackboard site, on the left, under “Course Content,” there is a link labeled “Journals.” Click this link, click the next Journals link, click “Create Journal” link and share your reading notes and reactions with me. These “journals” are private. Only I read them.

• Journals should be around 250 words and include page numbers from the reading. • All journal entries should be done before coming to class.

PRESENTATIONS (25%) • Everyday, 1-3 students will present on pre-assigned sections of the reading. A sign-up

sheet will be circulated within the first two weeks of class. • Presentations should be no more than 15 minutes long. • Presenters must compose a handout that includes a summary or outline of the reading

AND discussion questions. Please email me the presentation 1 hour before class and I will print copies for the whole class.

• PowerPoint presentations are NOT required.

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MID-TERM PAPER (25%) AND FINAL PAPER (25%) • MID-TERM: 5-8 pages, 12 font, double spaced • FINAL: 10-15 Pages Long, 12 font, double spaced • Paper may build upon or borrow from journal notes • Footnotes and Bibliography: Chicago Style Citations

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide/citation-guide-1.html • NO OUTSIDE MATERIAL (unless specifically recommended by professor) NOTE CARDS • Purchase a pack of 3x5 note cards • At the end of class, write your name, and the date, and answer the following two questions:

o What was the most interesting thing you learned today? o Do you have any questions about the reading or lecture?

• 5+/- cards will be selected to start off the discussion for the next day of class. COMPUTER AND TECHNOLOGY RULES • Purchase a notebook for taking notes in class • No computers, cellphones, smartphones, or any other electronic devices allowed • Exempted are those who have verifiable medical reasons ACADEMIC INTEGRITY • “Every student has the responsibility to become familiar with the standards of academic

integrity at the University. Faculty members must specify in their syllabi information about academic integrity, and may refer students to this policy for more information. Nonetheless, student claims of ignorance, unintentional error, or personal or academic pressures cannot be excuses for violation of academic integrity. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with the standards and behaving accordingly, and UAlbany faculty are responsible for teaching, modeling and upholding them. Anything less undermines the worth and value of our intellectual work, and the reputation and credibility of the University at Albany degree.” (University’s Standards of Academic Integrity Policy, Fall 2013) http://www.albany.edu/undergraduate_bulletin/regulations.html

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES • I request that any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or

accommodations speak with me during the first two weeks of class. All discussions will remain confidential. For more information, please visit Disability Resource Center: http://www.albany.edu/disability/index.shtml

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Monday, 01/22 Wednesday, 01/24 Friday, 01/26 • • First Day of Class • Lopez, “In the World of

the Buddha” (Blackboard)

* Get Started

Monday, 01/29 Wednesday, 01/31 Friday, 02/02 • Lopez, “In The World of

the Buddha” * Finish Up…

• Teiser, “Spirits of Chinese Religion” (Blackboard)

• Analects of Confucius (Blackboard)

M 02/05 W 07 • F 02/09 • Dao de Jing

(Blackboard) • Zhuangzi

(Blackboard) • The Scripture of Forty-

two Sections (Blackboard)

Monday 02/12 Wednesday 02/14 Friday 02/16 • The Contemplation Sutra

(Blackboard) • Zhiyi, Mohezhiguan

(Blackboard) • Heart Sutra (Blackboard)

Monday 02/19 Wednesday 02/21 Friday 02/23 • Diamond Sutra

(Blackboard) • Broughton, The

Bodhidharma Anthology, 1-52.

• Broughton, The Bodhidharma Anthology, 53-76.

Monday 02/26 Wednesday 02/28 Friday 03/02 • Broughton, The

Bodhidharma Anthology, 76-96.

• “The Faith Mind Maxim,” in Three Chan Classics, 115-129. (Blackboard)

• The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, 17-52 (Blackboard)

Monday 03/05 Wednesday 03/07 Friday 03/09 • The Platform Sutra of the

Sixth Patriarch, 53-94 (Blackboard)

• “Essentials of the Transmission of Mind,” in Zen Texts, 3-45 (Blackboard)

• “The Recorded Sayings of Linji”, in Three Chan Classics, 1-30. (Blackboard)

Monday 03/12 Wednesday 03/14 Friday 03/16 • No Class • Spring Break

• No Class • Spring Break

• No Class • Spring Break

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Monday 03/19 • “The Recorded Sayings

of Linji”, in Three Chan Classics, 30-63 (Blackboard)

Mid-Term Papers Due

Wednesday 03/21 • “Wumen’s Gate,” in Three

Chan Classics, 67-112 (Blackboard)

Friday 03/23 “Wumen’s Gate,” in Three Chan Classics, to the end… (Blackboard)

Monday 03/26 Wednesday 03/28 Friday 03/30 McRae, Seeing Through Zen, 1-21.

• McRae, Seeing Through Zen, 22-44.

• No Class: Passover

Monday 04/02 Wednesday 04/04 Friday 04/06 • No Class • McRae, Seeing Through

Zen, 45-73.

• McRae, Seeing Through Zen, 74-100.

Monday 04/09 Wednesday 04/11 Friday 04/13 • McRae, Seeing Through

Zen, 101-118 • McRae, Seeing Through

Zen, 119-154.

• Wonhyo, Skim Introduction, 57-61

Monday 04/16 Wednesday 04/18 Friday 04/20 • Jinul, Skim Introduction,

355-366 (Blackboard)

• “Dogen’s Lancet of Seated Meditation” (Blackboard)

• “A Universal Recommendation for True Zazen,” 251-259;

• “Advice on the Practice of Zazen,” 263-276, in Zen Texts (Blackboard)

Monday 04/23 Wednesday 04/25 Friday 04/27 • Hakuin, “Authentic Zen”

(Blackboard) • Suzuki, “Zen and

Japanese Culture” (Blackboard)

• Sharf, “Zen of Japanese Nationalism” (Blackboard)

Monday 04/30 Wednesday 05/02 Friday 05/04 • Kim Iryop, Reflections of

a Zen Buddhist Nun, Chapters 1-4

• Translator’s “Introduction,” optional, but highly recommended

***FULL TEXT AVAILABLE THROUGH

• Kim Iryop, Reflections of a Zen Buddhist Nun, Chapters 5-8

• Kim Iryop, Reflections of a Zen Buddhist Nun, Chapters 9-13

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UALBANY LIBRARY WEBSITE

Monday 05/07 Wednesday 05/09 Friday 05/11 • Kim Iryop, Reflections of

a Zen Buddhist Nun, Part II: Chapters 14-17

Last Day of Class

Final Papers Due