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Professor Todd T. Lewis
Course Description:
This course is designed to give students
a chance to read and critically analyze classic sacred writings in translation
from the South Asian religious traditions, particularly those of Buddhism.
The genres sampled will include a law code, ascetic mysticism, religious
biography, popular narrative, and scholastic treatise. We will also consider
the cross-cultural definition of "text," the idea of a "scriptural canon,"
and the construction of tradition in the western historical imagination.
Course Design and Guidelines:
Course journal; textual commentary; final
essay.
Active Participation.
Required Textbooks:
Patrick Olivelle, trans. Samyasa Upanishads: Hindu Scriptures on Asceticism and Renunciation. NY: Oxford, 1992.
Wendy Doniger and Brian K. Smith, trans. The Laws of Manu. NY: Penguin, 1991
E.J. Thomas,The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History. NY: Dover, 2000.
Bhikkhu Nanamoli. The Life of the Buddha. Seattle: Pariyatti Book Service, 2001
T.W. Rhys-Davids, Buddhist Suttas: Major Scriptural Writings from Early Buddhism. Book Tree, 2000
Todd T. Lewis, Popular Mahayana Texts from Nepal: Narratives and Rituals of Newar Buddhism. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2000.
I.B. Horner, Ten Jataka Stories (Bangkok: Mahamakut Rajavidyalaya Press, 1993)
Jeffrey Hopkins, Buddhist Advice for Living and Liberation: Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland. Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1998.
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher. Walnut Creek, Altamira, 1998.
All the books above have been ordered from the Holy Cross bookstore.
Lecture Topics and Reading Assignments
INTRODUCTORY
1. 8/28: First Class: Syllabi Distributed and Course Overview
2. 8/30: What do we mean by "Religious Tradition"? Texts & Contexts;
Exegesis and Hermeneutics
Required Reading:
"Asian Scriptures Among the World’s Religions"
[XEROX Handout]
TOPIC 1:
Ancient and Formative Hindu Scriptures
3. 9/4: Perspectives on Hinduism: Asceticism and Brahmanical Laws
Required Reading:
Patrick Olivelle, trans. Samyasa Upanishads, 1-112
4. 9/6: Upanishadic Mysticism
Required Reading:
Patrick Olivelle, trans. Samyasa Upanishads, 113-169.
5. 9/11: The Upanishads: Discussion
Required Reading:
Patrick Olivelle, trans. Samyasa Upanishads, 170-287
6. 9/13: Brahmanical Visions of Hindu Society
Required Reading:
Doniger and Smith, trans. The Laws of Manu, 1-127
7. 9/18: Brahmanical Visions of Hindu Society [2]
Required Reading:
Doniger and Smith, trans. The Laws of Manu, 128-233
8. 9/20: Brahmanical Visions of Hindu Society [3]
Required Reading:
Doniger and Smith, trans. The Laws of Manu, 234-290.
TOPIC TWO:
The Life of the Buddha
9. 9/25: Siddhartha, the Future Buddha
Required Reading:
E.J. Thomas, The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History. 1-50
Bhikkhu, Nanamoli. The Life of the Buddha, 1-9
10. 9/27: Shakyamuni, Renunciation and Enlightenment
Required Reading:
E.J. Thomas, The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History, 51-96
Bhikkhu, Nanamoli. The Life of the Buddha, 10-47. 48-100
11. 10/2: Shakyamuni, Teacher of Gods and Humans
Required Reading:
E.J. Thomas, The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History. 97-142
Bhikkhu, Nanamoli. The Life of the Buddha, 101-181; 257-272
12. 10/4: Shakyamuni, Last Days and Parinirvana (parinibbana)
Required Reading:
E.J. Thomas, The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History. 143-164
"Maha-Parinibbana Sutta," in T.W. Rhys-Davids, Buddhist Suttas: Major Scriptural Writings from Early Buddhism, 1-155.
Note: 10/9: NO CLASS
13. 10/11: The Buddha: Final Considerations on Teacher and Teachings; Buddha as Refuge
Required Reading:
E.J. Thomas,The Life of the Buddha as Legend and History. 211-236
Bhikkhu, Nanamoli. The Life
of the Buddha. 182-204
TOPIC THREE:
Jatakas and Avadanas: Former Lives of the Buddha
14. 10/16: Storytelling, Parables, Karma Stories as Buddhist Genre
Required Reading:
Todd T. Lewis, Popular Mahayana Texts from Nepal, 1-10
NEED SOURCE HERE
15. 10/18: Pali Jatakas
Required Reading:
I.B. Horner, Ten Jataka Stories; Vessantara Jataka [XEROX]
16. 10/23: Sanskrit Avadanas from Nepal
Required Reading:
Todd T. Lewis, Popular Mahayana Texts from Nepal, 11-88
17. 10/25: Sanskrit Avadanas and Narratives from Nepal [2]
Required Reading:
Todd T. Lewis, Popular Mahayana Texts
from Nepal, 89-164
TOPIC FOUR:
Texts of Mahayana Buddhism
18. 10/30: Overview of Mahayana Traditions
19. 11/1: Advice from a Philosopher: Nagarjuna
Required Reading:
Jeffrey Hopkins, Buddhist Advice for Living and Liberation: Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland. 92-164.
20. 11/6: A Mahayana Pilgrimage Text
Required Reading:
"The Guide", last Chapter of the Avatamsaka
Sutra [XEROX]
TOPIC FIVE:
The Tibetan Assimilation of Buddhism
21. 11/8: Tibet and Tantric Buddhism; Schools of Buddhism
Required Reading:
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher, xl-xliv
22. 11/13: Basic Buddhist Teachings in Tibetan Explication
Required Reading:
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher, 1-100
23. 11/15: Tibetan Mahayana Traditions
Required Reading:
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher, 101-194
24. 11/20: Tibetan Mahayana Traditions [2]
Required Reading:
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher, 195-308
25. 11/27: Esoteric Mahayana-Vajrayana Teachings
Required Reading:
Rimpoche, Patrul. Words of My Perfect Teacher, 309-375
TOPIC SIX:
Term Studies
26. 11/29: Reflections and Reconsiderations
Presentation of Final Essays