Religious Studies 2K03

Introduction to Buddhism

McMaster University, Term I 2017 {draft outline, June 21 2017; full outline to come}

Lectures—Tuesdays and Thursdays

Tutorials

Religious Studies Undergraduate Administrator—Jennifer Nettleton, ext. 23109.

Instructor—Dr. James A. Benn

Email—bennjam@mcmaster.ca Phone—905-525-9140 ext. 24210

Office—University Hall 120

Teaching Assistants—

Email—

Office—

Office hours—

Course Objectives

This course is an introduction to the history, doctrines, and practices of Buddhism focussing

mainly on the Indian schools of the religion. It will concentrate on 1) those aspects of Buddhist

thought and practice that are common to the various Asian traditions, and 2) developments in

Buddhist doctrine that are important to the future development of Buddhism outside India,

especially East Asia (China, Korea and Japan).

Course Requirements and Grading

There are no formal prerequisites. No knowledge of Buddhist classical languages is required.

Attendance & participation (10%)

You really should come to the Lectures and weekly Tutorials. Not only will you get a

straightforward 10% of the final grade for doing so, but (more importantly) Lectures will cover

material not treated in the textbooks, for which students will be responsible in the Tests and on

the Final Exam. Tutorials will focus on close readings of primary texts; detailed knowledge of

these materials will be necessary for your understanding of the Lectures and for you to be able to

do well on Tests and the Exam.

Make sure to read the assigned passages prior to attending Lectures and Tutorials and bring the

relevant books to both!

Tests (30%)

2

Three online tests, 10% each.

Essay (20%)

Final Examination (30%)

Statement on academic dishonesty Don’t cheat.

Books

Required:

An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices by Peter Harvey.

What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula

Buddhism in Practice edited by Donald S. Lopez.

Schedule

Part I. Historical Background

Week One

Introduction and orientation.

Week Two

.Overview: Buddhism and how it works. Cause and effect.

Introduction: The Buddha and “Buddhism.” The three jewels: Buddha, Dharma, Saṃgha. The

pragmatic character of Buddhism. Upāya and the expediency of Buddhist doctrine. Buddhist

classical languages: Pāḷi and Sanskrit. The Buddhist canon.

Week Three

1. Buddhist origins. The religious world of India. Asceticism. Śramaṇic vs. Vedic religion.

Yoga. Buddhism as a “middle way.”

2. The Life of the Buddha. The paradigm of Buddhist religious experience. Born a prince.

Leaves home. Searches for solution to old age, sickness, and death. Ascetic attainments. Finds

the middle way. Attains enlightenment. Teaches others. Enters Parinirvāṇa.

Week Four

1. The Life of the Buddha, continued.

2. The Saṃgha. Creation of the Saṃgha. Monastic regulations. The councils. Spread of

Buddhism throughout India.

Part II. Basic doctrines of Buddhism

3

Week Five

Causality and the conditioned nature of existence. The law of cause and effect.

Week Six

Fall Break

Week Seven

1. Karma and rebirth. Intermediate state between rebirths. The Wheel of Life.

2. The twelve-fold chain of co-dependent origination. The fundamental problem of ignorance.

The Buddhist critique of the soul.

Week Eight

1. The path to liberation. The Four Noble Truths, the three trainings, the eightfold path.

2. The Buddhist view of mind. Mindfulness and meditation.

Week Nine

Tutorial: The Way to Meditation, Lopez 157–165.

1. Non-conceptualization. The bondage of concepts. Wisdom and access to enlightenment.

Nirvāṇa

Part III. The Mahāyāna

Week Ten

1. Early Buddhist sectarianism. The meaning of “Hīnayāna.” Early critiques of the arhat ideal.

New attitudes towards the Buddha; the trikāya.

2. Monastic and lay practice. The “word of the Buddha” and appearance of new scriptures.

Week Eleven

1. Emerging Mahāyāna. The Bodhisattva ideal. Compassion and wisdom. The Six Perfections.

Buddhas and Bodhisattvas; Amitābha and Avalokiteśvara.

2. The Perfection of Wisdom. Prajñāpāramitā literature.

Week Twelve

1. The Mādhyamika school and emptiness. The Yogācāra school and “consciousness-only.”

Meditative experience and the inner reality of the mind.

2. Buddha-nature. Tathāgatagarbha thought and its importance for the East Asian tradition.

Week Thirteen

1. Tantra. Visualization of deities and the fast track to enlightenment. The use of sex.

Buddhism in Tibet.

2. November 29th. Review. There will be a review class before the final exam.