Weekly Schedule - REL440/540 Buddhist Scriptures

 

(CR = Course Reader. Thus, CR3 = Course Reader Article 3; RT = Required Text. Focus readings/pages in asterisks* )

Week 1, 9/28: Background of Buddhism: Indian Sutras I

• Peter Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhism, 9-26 (CR1).*
• Mark Unno, "Key Ideas - Nagarjuna and the Thought of Emptiness," 1 (CR2).*
• Donald Lopez, Jr., The Heart Sutra Explained, 3-9, 19-20 (CR3).

Week 2, 10/05: Indian Sutras II

• Luis Gomez, The Avatamsaka-Sutra, 160-189 (CR4).
• Thomas Clearly, trans., Entry into the Inconceivable, 1-8, 49-59, 187-201 (CR5).
• Buddha-Dharma: New English Edition, 17-21, 27-32, 502-505, 548-573 (CR6).*
• Mark Unno, "The Karma of Bodhisattva Devadatta" (pdf)*(CR7).*
• Richard Hayes, "A Buddha and His Cousin (CR8).
• Yoshiro Tamura, "The Ideas of the Lotus Sutra," 37-51 (CR9).
• Leon Hurvitz, trans., Scripture of the Lotus Blossom of the Fine Dharma, ix-xv: 49-64, 195-201 (CR10).*
• Kate Wheeler, "Bowing, Not Scraping," 57-67 (CR11).*

Week 3, 10/12: Indian Sutras III; Chinese Philosophical Adaptations Short due on Canvas by 2:00 p.m.

• Hisao INAGAKI, The Three Pure Land Sutras: A Study and Translation 3-18 ("Outlines of the Three Sutras," "The Source of the Three Sutras); 106-114 (Shan-tao); 235-243 ("The Larger Sutra on Amitayus"); 317-327, 347-350 (The Sutra on Contemplation of Amitayus) (CR12).*
• Taitetsu Unno, "Philosophical Schools-San-lun, T'ien-t'ai, and Hua-yen" in Buddhist Spirituality, ed. by Takeuchi Yoshinori 343-365 (CR13).*focus: 350-356
• Mark Unno, "Key Ideas: Taitetsu Unno, 'Philosophical Schools: San-lun, T'ien-t'ai, and Hua-yen'" 1-3 (CR2)*

Week 4, 10/19: The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: Early Chinese Chan/Zen Paper I due on Canvas by 2:00 p.m.

• Robert A. F. Thurman, trans., The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti, (RT, focus: xi-x, 1-5, 24-33, 56-63, 73-77).*
• Heinrich Dumoulin, Zen Buddhism: A History-India and China, 85-94 (CR14).*
• Philip Yampolsky, trans., The Platform Sutra of Hui-neng, 125-153 (CR15).*focus: 126-137, 141, 149-153.
• John McCrae, Shen-hui and the Teaching of Sudden Enlightenment in Early Ch'an Buddhism, 227-259. (CR16).

Week 5, 10/26: Medieval Japan I: Zen Master Dogen

• Norman Waddell and Masao Abe, trans. "Shobogenzo Genjokoan," by Dogen Kigen, 129-140 (CR17).*
• Kosho UCHIYAMA, Refining Your Life : From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment, vii-xiv, 3-19 (CR18).
• Barbara Ruch, "The Other Side of Culture in Medieval Japan," 500-511 (CR19).*
• Lori Meeks, Hokkeji and the Reemergence of Female Monastic Orders, 250-300 (CR26).

Week 6, 11/02: Medieval Japan II: Pure Land Buddhism of Shinran

• Mark Unno, “The Original Buddhist Rebel: Shinran” 1-16 (CR20).*
• Taitetsu Unno, trans., Tannisho-A Shin Buddhist Classic (RT).*Focus Sections: I, X, III, II, IV, V, VI, Epilogue.
• Mark Unno, "Key Terms: Pure Land Buddhism of Honen and Shinran" 1-2 (CR21).*
• Mark Unno, "The Nembutsu of No-Meaning and the Problem of Genres in the Writings and Statements of Gutoku Shinran," The Pure Land 10-11 (12/1994) 1-9 (CR22).
• Mark Unno, "The Nembutsu as the Path of the Sudden Teaching," unpublished paper presented at the 7th IASBS Conference, 1-7 (CR23).

Week 7, 11/09: Contemporary Zen, an Irish American Woman: Maura O’Halloran Paper II due on Canvas by 2:00 p.m.

• Maura Soshin O’Halloran, Pure Heart: Enlightened Mind (RT).*
• Paula Arai, "Soto Zen Nuns in Modern Japan: Keeping and Creating Tradition," 38-51 (CR24). 
• Rita Gross, Buddhism after Patriarchy, 29-54 (CR25).

Week 8, 11/16: Contemporary Pure Land: Coffinman Brief Research/Writing due on Canvas by 2:00 p.m.

• Shinmon Aoki, Coffinman. (RT)*
• Mark Unno, “Oneness and Narrativity: A Comparative Case Study,” 1-18 (CR27).*

Week 9, 11/23: Research Assignments

Week 10, 11/30: Concluding Lecture/Discussion Final Paper due on Canvas by 2:00 p.m.  

• Student presentations and concluding discussion.