SYLLABUS:GTU/INSTITUTEOFBUDDHISTSTUDIES-Spring,2011Instructor:TaigenDanLeighton Title:SurveyofZenBuddhismCoursenumber:HR8305 OnlinecourseCourseDescription:ThiscoursewillsurveythehistoricalandphilosophicaldevelopmentandpracticesofZen,asitiscalledinJapan,orCh’aninChinese,SoninKorean.WewillreadanddiscusswritingsfromdynamicmajorfiguresinthetraditionfromChina,Korea,andJapan,suchasBodhidharma,Hui-neng,Pai-chang,Chao-chou,Tung-shan,andYun-meninChina,ChinulinKorea,andDogen,Ikkyu,Hakuin,andRyokaninJapan.Wewillexaminethereligiousimportoftheircolorfulteachingstories,aswellashowthesestorieswereusedinZenpractice.Relatedtothesefigureswewillexploremajorthemessuchasmonasticset-ups,societalinfluences,andritualenactments.Wewillexploremajorpracticesincludingstrategiesformeditation,withinstructioninexperientialengagementinsomeofthesepractices.WewillalsolookatthehistoricalandculturalimpactofCh’an/Zen,includingthedevelopmentoftheWayofTeaanditsassociatedartsandSamuraiZeninJapan.WewillconcludewithsomeconsiderationofmoderndevelopmentsandZen'spopularimportationtotheWest.Courseformat:OnlineDiscussion.Evaluationmethod:finaltermpaper,midtermexam,participationinonlinediscussion.20studentsmaximum.Texts: Required:Leighton,TaigenDan.FacesofCompassion:ClassicBodhisattvaArchetypesandTheirModernExpression.Boston:WisdomPublications,2003.

Foster,NelsonandJackShoemaker.TheRoaringStream:ANewZenReader.Hopewell,NJ:EccoPress,1996.

Buswell,RobertE.,Jr.TracingBacktheRadiance:Chinul’sKoreanWayofZen.Honolulu:UniversityofHawaiiPress,1991.

Suzuki,Shunryu,ZenMindBeginner’sMind.N.Y.:Weatherhill,1970.

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TherearealsoAdditionalCommentariesfromtheInstructorincludedforeachweek,alsol istedinthesyllabusbelow.Thesewil l consistofcommentsbytheinstructor,availableOnlineorviaMoodle,relatedtotheassignedZenreading.

AdditionalResearchBibliography[OPTIONAL]isavailableonMoodle.WeeklyTopicsandAssignments:1.WeekofJanuary31IntroductionandOverview:MahayanaBuddhistbackgroundoftheChan/Zentradition,includingemptinessteachings;Madhyamika,YogacaraandHua-yenphilosophies;primarybodhisattvatranscendentpractices;andthemodelofthehistoricalBuddhaandthearchetypalbodhisattvafigures.Assignment:FacesofCompassion,chapters1-4,pp.25-107.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.2.WeekofFebruary7ThedynamicbalanceofWisdomandCompassion.InterconnectednessteachingsandthedevotionalsideofZen.BodhisattvasManjusri,Samantabhadra,Avalokitesvara(Guanyin/Kannon),andVimalakirti.Assignment:FacesofCompassion,chapters5-7,10-11,pp.109-209,275-312.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.3.WeekofFebruary14Ch’anfounders:LegendarybarbarianBodhidharmaandtheilliteratesixthancestorHui-neng,Wang-weiandCh’anpoetry.Assignment:RoaringStream,1-5,pp.3-37AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.

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4.WeekofFebruary21Shih-t’ouandthebasisofZendialectics,Ma-tsuthehorsemaster,Han-shantheColdMountainpoet,andLaymanP'ang.[Note:ThisweekpleasereadbeforethereadingAssignmentthefirstsectionoftheClassNoteson“Teachingstoriesandkoans.”]Assignment:RoaringStream,6-8,10,pp.38-56,64-69.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.5.WeekofFebruary28Pai-chang’sfoxandmonasticcode,Nan-ch’uan.theKuei-shanhouse,thegreatChao-chou.Assignment:RoaringStream,9,11-12,15,pp.57-63,70-82,96-102.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.6.WeekofMarch7Huang-poandhisstudentthedynamicLin-chi(Rinzai)andtheirshouts,hits,andyells.Assignment:RoaringStream,13-14,16-17,19,pp.83-95,103-114,125-131.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.7.WeekofMarch14Tung-shan,thefiveranksandtheSoto/Ts’ao-tunglineage;Yun-men’sappropriateresponses;andtheFa-yenhouse.Assignment:RoaringStream,18,20-22,pp.115-124,132-151.Tung-shan’s“SongofthePreciousMirrorSamadhi”:[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#song_of_the_precious_mirror_samadhi].AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.

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[NOTE:March21-27isGTUSpringweek]8.WeekofMarch28SungperiodCh’an:Hsueh-touandtheBlueCliffRecord,thepoetSuT’ung-po,Hung-chihandsilentillumination,Ta-huiandlaykoan(kung-an)practice.Assignment:RoaringStream,23-28,pp.152-201.Hung-chih’s“GuidepostfortheHallofPureBliss”:[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#guidepost_for_the_hall];and“GuidepostforSilentIllumination”:[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#guidepost_for_silent_illumination]AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.9.WeekofApri l 4KoreanSonapproachestopracticeandChinulcultivatingthemind.Assignment:TracingBacktheRadiance,pp.1-39,50-72,98-115.[optional-pp.39-50,reviewandanalysisofCh’anhistory]AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.MIDTERMEXAMDUE10.WeekofApri l 11Dogen’spoeticteachingandtheintroductionofZentoJapan;KeizanandearlyRinzai.Assignment:RoaringStream,29-32,pp.205-238.Dogen’s“ActualizingtheFundamentalPoint”(Genjokoan):[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#genjo_koan];“Self-FulfillmentSamadhi”(JijuyuZammai)[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#the_self_fulfillment_samadhi];and“UniversallyRecommendedInstructionsforZazen”(Fukanzazengi)[http://ancientdragon.org/dharma/chants/#fukanzazengi].AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.

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11.WeekofApri l 18MedievalZen:MusoSoseki,DaitokujiandtheRinzaiFiveMountainset-up,wild-manmasterIkkyu,Landscapegardens.Assignment:RoaringStream,33-37,pp.239-273.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.12.WeekofApri l 25TokugawaperiodZen:TeaCeremonyAesthetics,TakuanandMartialArts,Bankeiandtheunborn,Bashoandhaiku.Assignment:RoaringStream,38-42,pp.274-313.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.13.WeekofMay2Hakuin,Torei,andmodernRinzaikoanpractice;Sotopoet/monkandGreatFoolRyokan.Assignment:RoaringStream,43-46,pp.314-350.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.14.WeekofMay9AmericanZen:EngagedBuddhism,FeministBuddhism,andPsychologicalBuddhism.ZenMajorthemesandpracticesrevisitedinmoderncontext.Assignment:FranzMetcalf“Bridges”article;ZenMindBeginner’sMind,pp.21-40,55-65,92-107,123-138.AdditionalCommentaryavailableonMoodle.

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15.WeekofMay16AmericanZen[continued]Review;GeneralDiscussiononZen.Assignment:ZenMindBeginner’sMind,pp.21-40,55-65,92-107,123-138.[continued]WorkonFinalPaper.FINALPAPERSDUEMAY27.CourseObjectives:1) The class will explore the historical development of the Ch’an/ Zen tradition as areligious force inEastAsian lifeandawareness,andstudentswillgain familiaritywithmajorfiguresandmovementsinthetradition.2) We will consider the philosophical and soteriological implications of spiritualteachingsproposedbyvariousZenteachersandlineages.3) Wewill discuss the practical applications of Zenapproaches described, and theirrelevancetocontemporaryspiritualconcerns.Grading:Yourfinalgradewillbebased: 1)35%onparticipationinonlineclassdiscussion. 2)30%onthe6pagemidtermexam,duebyendofweek9. 3)35%ona10pagefinalresearchpaper,duebytheendoftheweek

followingweek15,i.e.byMay27.Participationinonlinediscussion:Each studentwill contribute at least two postings and nomore than six postings eachweek on the class material for that week. Each posting should be no more than 3paragraphs or one page long. These maximum limitations of size and numbers ofpostingsare intended toencourageyou toconsideryour inquiriesor responses,and toexpress digested reflection. These suggested limitations may be shifted during thecourseattheinstructor'sdiscretion.Pleasetrytowriteasclearlyaspossible.Gobackandreadyourpostingbeforesubmittingit.Feelfreetorespondtothematerialprovidedinthe“AdditionalCommentaries,”aswellasthemainreadings.

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Your messages can include questions or comments about material in the reading, orresponsestootherstudents’questionsorcomments.Itisencouragedtoexpressvaryingviewpoints,butpleasedosowithrespectfulnesstoallotherparticipants.AsinstructorIwillrespondtocommentsandquestionsatleasttwoorthreetimeseachweek.Youmayseparatelysendquestionsaboutclassproceduresorprotocols,eitherintheMoodlevenue,orindividuallytotheinstructorat:<taigen108@gmail.com>.Midterm Test: This will consist of three two-page essay responses to be selectedfromfivequestions.FinalResearchPaper:Your essays should express your critical response or inquiry into a particular, focusedaspectofthematerialpresentedintheclasstexts,clearlyarticulatingyourpointofview.Comparativepapersarewelcome,butshouldfocusasignificantmajorityofcommentonthematerialfromtheclass.Itisnotrequiredthatyouconsultanyotherthantherequiredreading in the syllabus, but an additional research Bibliography is provided for thoseinterested. Papers should be 10 pages typed and double-spaced, plus conventionalformsofnotesandbibliography.FINALPAPERSDUEMAY27.Note: There are NO Prerequisites for this class. Previous BuddhistStudiesexperienceisappreciated,butNOTREQUIRED.Iamavailableforconsultation,andcanbereachedviae-mailat:taigen108@gmail.com

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