4/16/2024 12:09:37 AM	RELS 8 Course Outline as of Fall 2016	New Course (First Version)
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:

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 1A or equivalent

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

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 1A or equivalent
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.   Explain at least four of the historical Buddha's major teachings.

2.   Explain three features (each) of Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana Buddhism

      which illustrate the major differences in their respective doctrines and  forms of

      practice.

Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will 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

(Not all are required; choice of specific topics is up to individual instructor's discretion)

 

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 10 pages per week).

2.  Five to twelve reading quizzes (short answer) covering assigned readings.

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

4.  One to three midterm examinations including multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

5.  Final examination including multiple choice, short answer, and essay questions.

 

Other assignments may include:

6.  Visitation to an institution of Buddhist practice in the North Bay, followed by a written report.

7.  Field trip to the SF Asian Art Museum 3rd floor permanent collection, which focuses entirely on Buddhism.

8.  Summary-response reports on films recommended by instructor.

9.  Research project on a specific category of Buddhist doctrine or practice.

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%
Essays required on reading quizzes and on mid-term and final exams; essays required on visitation, field trip, or film reports.
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%
Multiple choice, true/false, short answer, completion, essay, quizzes, final
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 10 - 25%
Attendance and class participation, off campus field trips

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

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

Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience, 3rd edition.  Mitchell, Donald  and Jacoby. Sarah H.   OUP: 2013

Buddhism: the Illustrated Guide.  Trainor, Kevin, ed.  OUP:  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

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

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