examtopics2

Exams Topics B, REL 303 Japanese Religions

Dogen - You should know what the following are:

Barbara Ruch, "The Other Side of Culture in Medieval Japan"

Who was Zen master Mugai?
Why does Ruch believe that Mugai is important for understanding the life of women in medieval Japan?
What was Dogen's view of women's religious abilities in theory?
In terms of gender, how was Dogen's monastic practice at his mountain temple of Eiheiji structured? (from lecture)

Shinran

Tannisho: What is the difference between the first ten sections and the last eight sections?
Tannisho: What place does this work have in relation to Shinran's own writings? (See Mark Unno, "The Nembutsu of No-Meaning.")
The central practice in the Shin school of Pure Land Buddhism is saying the Name, Namu Amida Butsu. What does Namu refer to, and what does Amida Butsu signify?
What is the relationship between "foolish being" and "Amida Buddha."?
Who was Honen?

Myoe Koben

What was Myoe's view of the relation between his waking life and his dream life on the theme of sexuality?
What was the relation between Sakyamuni Buddha, the Kasuga Deity, and the Woman of Yuasa who was the medium of the Kasuga deity?

The Way of Tea

What are the religious influences on Rikyu's Way of Tea, both Asian and Western?
What are the four main philosophical principles of Rikyu's Way of Tea?

Shunryu Suzuki

Natalie Goldberg, A Long Quiet Highway

Katagiri Roshi, Goldberg's master, makes her choose between two things. What are they?
Writing is about words; zen meditation emphasizes letting go of attachment to words. How are the two alike for Goldberg?