Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Studies a specific Asian religious tradition through the cultural and historical contexts that structure religious meaning. Students may repeat this course once for further credit under a different topic. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

This seminar will begin with an introduction to Buddhist philosophy and ethical thought through reading two texts. The first, compiled in the third century BCE, is the Dhammapada found in a collection of texts within the Pali Buddhist canon known as the Khuddaka Nikāya (Minor Collection). It is one of the most accessible ancient sources of Buddhist insight into Buddhist teachings (Buddhadhamma) and deals frequently with Buddhist insights into ethical conduct. The second text, also from Theravadin (“Teachings of the Elders”) tradition, is written by Thai academic and Theravadin monk, Phra Prayudh Payutto. His book is a broad introduction to Buddhist teachings. It addresses topics such as “What is Life,” “What is the Nature of Existence,” and “How Should We Live Our Lives?” Despite being an “introduction,” this is a dense and challenging work that sheds light on the foundations of early Buddhist philosophy as the basis for ethical action.  

During the second half of the term, we will discuss and open up debate on a wide range of contemporary ethical challenges (e.g. euthanasia and suicide, abortion and contraception, sexual identity, sexual equality, social justice, ethics of economics, attitudes toward the natural world). We will use Peter Harvey’s book for this purpose as he draws directly upon his reading of Theravadin primary texts, written in Pali, to inform detailed discussions of ethics in relation to current controversies and problems. Throughout the seminar series we will also draw frequently on the ancient Vinaya, a collection of rules of discipline for monks and nuns that continue to shape the lives of those devoted to a Buddhist way of life. 

Grading

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

REQUIRED READING NOTES: