Topics for Paper II, REL101
World Religions: Asian Traditions
Due Friday, October 30, 2009 in
class.
- Double-spaced, 2-3 pages. (You may use
parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual
references. BE SURE TO INCLUDE PAGE REFERENCES FROM THE
READINGS.)
- Be sure to write your name; the name of
the class, GTF, and section meeting time; and the NUMBER of
your topic at the top of the page.
- I encourage you to discuss these topics with one another.
- I also strongly encourage you to read
the essays on my Writing web pages, especially "Four Keys to
Writing in the Humanities," "Paper Writing Guidelines," "Checklist
for Papers," and "Writing: The Bridge between Consciousness and
Unconsciousness."
Topics
- 1. The Goddess from The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti
(course reader)
- In the "Goddess chapter" The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti
the Goddess engages in a series of exchanges with the monk
Sariputra. Discuss how two of the three following episodes from
the "Goddess" chapter illustrates the two-fold truth of form and
emptiness in different ways: a) the flower petals sticking
to Sariputra and other monks' (disciples') robes, b) the Goddess'
admonishment to Sariputra not to fall silent, and c) the exchange
of gender between the Goddess and Sariputra.
-
- 2. Chinese Philosophical Schools
- Compare and contrast the presentation of the two-fold truth
made by Chi-tsang of the San-lun (Emptiness) school and Chih-i of
the T'ien-t'ai school as explained by T. Unno in "Chinese
Philosophical Schools" (course reader). Specifically describe how
Chi-tsang's "Four Middles" and how Chih-i's view of the inherent
karmic evil of sentient beings (human beings) each express the
practical realization of the two-fold truth of form and emptiness
differently.
-
- 3. Critiquing the Orchestral Vision of Confucius
- Confucius sees society and the cosmos like the orchestral
performance of a classical symphony: A fixed script, roles for
everyone, ritualized behavior, and when combine properly, social
and cosmic harmony. First, present this basic picture in your own
words in 1-2 pages by identifying four or five key aspects of the
orchestral vision. Second, offer a critique of this view using one
of the other thinkers we have examined in this course (such as the
Goddess from The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti or Krishna
from the Bhagavad Gita).
-
- 4. Fingarette, Confucius-The Secular as Sacred
- Describe what Fingarette means by each of the following in
describing Confucius's philosophy: Human Community as Holy Rite,
Way without a Crossroads, A Confucian Metaphor-The Holy Vessel.
Illustrate each of your points using direct quotations from
Confucius' Analects as cited in Fingarette's book.
-
- 5. Influence on View of Religion
- Describe how two of the readings we have done thus far have
changed or influenced your view of religion. At least one of those
sources must be from Week 3 onwards. BE SURE
TO INCLUDE PAGE REFERENCES FROM THE READINGS.