11/21/2024 4:09:35 AM	RELS 8 Course Outline as of Fall 2025	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  RELS 8	Title:  BUDDHISM
Full Title:  Buddhism
Last Reviewed:3/8/2021

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

This course is a historical introduction to the origins of Buddhism, the principal doctrines and teachings of the Buddha, and major themes in the development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana lineages through South and Southeast Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

This course is a historical introduction to the origins of Buddhism, the principal doctrines and teachings of the Buddha, and major themes in the development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana lineages through South and Southeast Asia, China, Tibet, Korea, and Japan.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL C1000 or equivalent or appropriate placement based on AB705 mandates
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 2016	Inactive:
Area:	E H	Humanities Global Perspective and Environmental Literacy
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	C2	Humanities		Fall 2016
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	3B	Humanities		Fall 2016
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2016	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 2016	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Critique and contextualize historical approaches to the study of Buddhism.

2. Explain the historical Buddha's major teachings.

3. Explain distinctions in the beliefs and practices of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism within their respective socio-historical contexts.

4. Name major themes and sectarian associations of various sutras and other literature in Buddhist traditions.

 

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Articulate key events in the life of the historical Buddha.

2. Express several tenets of early Buddhist philosophy as taught in the Pali Suttas.

3. Articulate several differences between Theravada & Mahayana doctrine.

4. Delineate some of the major teachings in the Mahayana sutras.

5. Explain unique features of Vajrayana Buddhism, especially its expression in Tibetan

    Buddhism.

6. Describe several difficulties associated with labeling Buddhism as a religion.

7. Explain aspects of Chan/Zen doctrine in contrast to other Mahayana lineages.

Topics and Scope

I. Historical Buddha

    A. Life of Siddhartha Gautama

     B. India at the time of the Buddha

II. Early Buddhist Teachings

     A. Four Noble Truths, eight--fold path

     B. Anatman doctrine, karma and samsara, Pañcaskandha doctrine

     C. Buddhist view of mind and emotions; centrality of meditation

III. Early Buddhist Texts

     A. Dhammapada

    B. Pali Canon/Tripitaka

         1. Sutta Pitaka: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta, Anatta-lakkhana Sutta, Adittapariyaya

               Sutta, Kalama Sutta

         2. Vinaya Pitaka

          3. Abhidhamma Pitaka: commentaries of Buddhaghosa and Vasubandhu

         4. Jataka tales

IV. Spread of Theravada Buddhist traditions; Ashoka

V.  New Developments in Mahayana doctrine

     A. Wisdom and compassion, Bodhisattva vow

    B. Six paramitas

     C. Yogacara vs. Madhyamika

     D. Asanga and Vasubandhu; Nagarjuna

VI. Spread of Mahayana Buddhism in China

     A. T'ien Tai

     B. Pureland

     C. Chan traditions: Northern vs. Southern Schools, 6th patriarch Hui Neng

VII. Mahayana Sutras

     A. Avatamsaka (Flower Garland) Sutra

     B. Lankavatara Sutra

     C. Lotus Sutra

     D. Diamond Sutra, Prajnaparamita (Heart) Sutra, Platform Sutra

     E. Vimalakirti Sutra

VIII. Vajrayana Buddhism in China & Tibet

IX.   Influence of Tantric practices in Vajrayana Buddhism

X.    Tibetan Buddhism

    A. Gelugpa, Karma Kagyupa, Nyingmapa, Sakyapa lineages

    B. Influence of Tibet's native Bön tradition on Tibetan Buddhism

XI.  Son Buddhism of Korea

XII. Major Schools of Japanese Buddhism

    A. Tendai, Saicho

     B. Shingon, Kobodaishi

    C. Shinshu, Honen; JodoShinshu, Shinran

     D. Nichiren, SokaGakkai

     E. Rinzai and Soto Zen; Eisai and Dogen Zenji

XIII. Theravada-Mahayana Syncretism in Sri Lanka

XIV. Socially-engaged Buddhism: Thich Nhat Hanh, the Order of Interbeing in Vietnam

XV.  Spread of Buddhism in Europe and the U.S.

Assignments:

1. Weekly readings from various textual materials (approximately 30-50 pages per week).

2. Quizzes, including 5-12 reading quizzes (multiple choice, true/false, short answer, completion,

    essay)

3. In-class discussion and group work covering assigned readings and lecture topics

4. Final examination and 1-3 midterm examination(s) ( multiple choice, short answer, and essay

    questions)

5. One to two research paper(s) of 3-6 pages in length

 

Other assignments may include:

1. Visits to local meditation centers, temples, and/or museums, followed by a written report

2. Summary-response reports on films recommended by instructor

3. Research project on a specific category of Buddhist doctrine or practice, a text situated with a

    particular socio-historical context, a historical event or series of events with significance to

    the shaping of a particular Buddhist tradition

4. Brief critical analysis response papers on Buddhism concepts, ideas, and/or approaches to

    studying Buddhism

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 25 - 35%
Papers
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 0 - 0%
None
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 40 - 65%
Quizzes, midterm exam(s), final exam
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 25%
Class participation, in class activities, and/or written reports on field trips and/or films

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. Santideva. Snow Lion. 1997 (classic)

Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience. 3rd ed. Mitchell, Donald and Jacoby, Sarah. Oxford University Press. 2013 (classic)

Buddhism: the Illustrated Guide. Trainor, Kevin, ed. Oxford University Press. 2004 (classic)

Dhammapada (online)

Mahayana Sutras listed in 'Topics & Scope' (online)

Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend, w/commentary. Rinpoche, Kangyur. Snow Lion. 2005 (classic)

Pali Canon: Suttas listed in 'Topics & Scope', Vinaya, and Abhidhamma commentaries (online)

Tibetan Book of Living and Dying. Rinpoche, Sogya. Harper San Francisco. 2012 (classic)

What the Buddha Taught. Walpola, Rahula. Grove Press. 1974 (classic)

Buddhism in Practice. Lopez, Donald. Princeton University Press. 2007 (classic)

Shingon Refractions: Myoe and the Mantra of Light. Unno, Mark. Wisdom Publications. 1997 (classic)

Early Buddhist Teachings. Karunadasa, Y. Wisdom Publications. 2018

Indian Esoteric Buddhism: A Social History of the Tantric Movement. Davidson, Ronald. Columbia University Press. 2002 (classic)

The Mystique of Transmission: On An Early Chan History and its Contexts. Adamek, Wendi L. Columbia University Press. 2007 (classic)

Nagarjuna in Context: Mahayana Buddhism and Early Indian Culture. Walser, Joseph. Columbia University Press. 2005 (classic)

BUDDHAPADA Following the Buddha's Footprints. de Guerny, Jacques. Orchid Press. 2013 (classic)

Tibetan Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction. Kapstein, Matthew. Oxford University Press. 2013 (classic)

The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans. Koun, Yamada. Wisdom Publications. 2004 (classic)

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