Topics for Paper III, REL407 Zen Buddhism

New due date Thursday, March 1, 2001 in class.

• Double-spaced, not more than 800 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. In the article "Ikebana," Nishitani makes the argument that the Buddhist-influenced art of flower arrangement expresses a kind of emptiness through a particular form, the transcendence of life and death within the form of the cut flower. In class, we discussed whether there really could be this kind of transcendence in the flower arrangement or whether it merely represented the arbitrary act of ego-centered human beings. Examine this issue from the perspective of Dogen, who in the "Genjokoan" states with reference to even one who attains the realization of form and emptiness, "In spite of this, flowers fall amid our grudging, and weeds flourish in our chagrin."

2. In Three Zen Masters: Ikkyu, Hakuin, Ryokan, John Stevens depicts the life and thought of three very different Zen masters: Ikkyu, Hakuin, and Ryokan. Select any two of these Zen figures and compare and contrast them on any one of the following themes: life-style (e.g. Ikkyu's wild and free approach versus Ryokan's quiet and apparently innocent life in the country), style of teaching others (e.g. Hakuin's fierce koan practice versus Ryokan's influence on others while refusing to be called a "master."), understanding of two-fold truth of form and emptiness (e.g. Ikkyu's affirmation of the forms of desire versus Hakuin's affirmation of forms of practice and art as vehicles of transcendence).

3. Select any two readings from the course thus far dealing with gender and Buddhism and compare and contrast the views of the authors. Select at least one reading from Week 7. As part of your paper, address the question, what kind of social changes, if any, should arise from the Buddhist philosophies the authors seem to regard as important?