Topics for Paper II, REL
440/540 Buddhist Scriptures
Due date: Thursday, November 8, in class
- Double-spaced, not more than 800 words. (You may use
parenthetical notation to indicate page numbers for textual
references. Provide a bibliography at the end.)
- I encourage you to discuss these topics with one another.
- 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. Hui-neng and Dogen on Buddha-nature and Sudden
Awakening
- Compare and contrast Hui-neng and Dogen's conceptions of
Buddha-nature and Sudden Awakening as articulated in the
Platform Sutra and "Genjokoan," respectively. What are the
strengths and weaknesses? Which one do you think is more
convincing? Why?
- 2. Myoe's Mushrooms and Chuang Tzu's Butterfly
- Imagine that mushrooms and butterflies could talk. Write a
dialogue between them regarding what they think of Myoe and Chuang
Tzu's views on the self, language, and illusion. What would the
Shroom and the Butterfly have to say about the episodes in which
they appear, and about the understanding of self, language, and
illusion demonstrated by Myoe and Chuang Tzu
- 3. Pilgrimage and Wandering
- One might characterize Myoe as a pilgrim - in search of
Buddhist India geographically and enlightenment spiritually.
Chuang Tzu might be seen as a wanderer, floating aimlessly and
freely in the currents of the Tao.
- Option 1: Write a paper from Myoe's perspective that
discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Chuang Tzu's views on
wandering.
- Option 2: Write a paper from Chuang Tzu's perspective
that discusses the strengths and weaknesses of Myoe's views on
pilgrimage.
- Option 3: Compose a dialogue between Chuang Tzu and Myoe
on the significance of wandering and pilgrimage for attaining
spiritual liberation.
- (Suggestions for all three options: CT might begin to see
elements of pilgrimage in his own vision, or Myoe might begin
to see elements of wandering in his, but that would be up to
you. Pilgrimage tends to be more explicitly goal-oriented.
Wandering tends to be more focused on the present moment. These
are probably tendencies rather than absolute qualities.)
- 4. Hui-neng and Myoe
- Compare and contrast Hui-neng and Myoe's views on the sutra as
sacred scripture. What is the meaning of the sutra as a genre, and
what is its status in Buddhism?
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