Topics for Paper II, REL407 Zen Buddhism

Due date Thursday, February 8, 2001in class.

• Double-spaced, not more than 750 words. (You may use parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual references.)
• I encourage you to discuss these topics with one another. You might find the Discussion Board on the Blackboard site for this course to be a convenient way to exchange ideas.
• Be sure to write your name, the name of the class, and the title of your topic (The Goddess and Hui-neng, Bodhidharma and Hui-neng ) at the top of the page.
• 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 and Nen-Consciousness

Relate one of the three episodes of the flower petals, Sariputra's silence, and the magical exchange of gender, the Goddess from the "Goddess" chapter of The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti to Sekida's theory of nen-consciousness. At what level of nen is Sariputra relating to the Goddess, and at what level is the Goddess relating to Sariputra? Is there is shift in levels of nen-consciousness in either one?

 

2. Bodhidharma and Nen-Consciousness

Relate the episode of Bodhidharma asking his disciples for their understanding of Zen Buddhism (Dumoulin 93) to Sekida's theory of nen-consciousness. In what sense does Hui-k'o manifest first-nen? How does Bodhidharma know? Why isn't Tao-yü's answer satisfactory in regards to the realization of first-nen consciousness?

 

3. Dogen and Hui-neng on the Two-fold Truth

Compare and contrast Dogen's understanding of the two-fold truth as found in the "Genjokoan" chapter of his Shobogenzo with Hui-neng's in the Platform Sutra. In particular focus on the first paragraph of the "Genjokoan" which ends with the line, "In spite of this, flowers fall always amid our grudging, and weeds flourish in our chagrin" (133) and Hui-neng's verse(s) (Yampolsky 132) (there are two versions).

 

4. Dogen and Hui-neng on Sudden versus Gradual Awakening

Dogen and Hui-neng both advocate the path of sudden awakening rather than gradual awakening. Compare and contrast their views. [Although Dogen does not use the phrase "practice as awakening," this view can be seen in his statements in the "Genjokoan." Although Hui-neng only uses the term "sudden" a couple of times (152-153), his implied criticism of gradual awakening can be seen throughout the Platform Sutra including the exchange of poems (130-132).]

 

5. Mugai and the Goddess 1

Barbara Ruch argues that becoming a nun represented one of the few ways in which a woman could pursue a relatively autonomous and creative life in medieval Japan; she cites the case of Mugai Nyodai as an example. Would the Goddess from The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti agree with Ruch's representation of Mugai or not? Why?

 

6. Mugai and the Goddess 2

The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti was a well-known scripture in Medieval Japan and important in the Zen tradition; Mugai may well have read this important sutra. Suppose that she was asked to write an essay on the question: Do you think a man or a woman wrote the "Goddess" chapter? Give some explanation of why she thinks so, and whether she thinks the gender matters or not. Write this in the first person, as if you are her.