Cultures and Religions of the Himalayan Region

Marty Schmidt
Hong Kong International School
"Who is Buddha?" Fall, 2004-2005

Syllabus

Glossary

HKIS Service Learning

Summer '04 NEH & Family Pictures

"Who is Buddha?" Course Syllabus
Instructor: Marty Schmidt
Hong Kong International School
Fall, 2004-2005

Course Objectives: Students will . . .

(Clicking on an image will take you to the point in the syllabus where this objective is addressed.)

	1) Gain an understanding of the Buddha's past lives (Jataka Tales) and the life in which be was "awakened."
	2) Gain an understanding of the basic Buddhist worldview.
	3) Gain an understanding how the Buddhist worldview is practiced in the Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric traditions of Buddhism.
	4) Consider their own spiritual journey in light of the insights of Buddhism.

Basic Course Outline:
1) Introduction: Geography, Jataka Tales, Buddha's Life and Enlightenment
2) Basic Buddhist Concepts
3) Personal reflection on spiritual identity
4) Theravada Buddhism and meditation
5) Mahayana Buddhism and householder spiritual practices
6) Chi Lin Nunnery: Visit by the nuns and school field trip to the nunnery
7) Final projects
8) Visit to HKIS Lower Primary

A Tibetan Buddhist Practitioner of the PrayerWheel

Tara, a Tibetan goddess

The Buddha's First Sermon at Deer Park on the 4 Noble Truths