ASIA 250: Introduction to Buddhism: Modernism and Other Forms (3 credits)
Term 2, 9:00am – 10:00am, January 4, 2012 to April 5, 2012
Mon West Mall Swing Space 121
Wed Hennings 202
Fri Buchanan B213
Instructor: Jessica L. Main, jessica.main(a)ubc.ca, (604) 822-9305, C.K. Choi Building, Room 283, Office hours: Monday, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm or by appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Brandon Miliate, miliate(a)interchange.ubc.ca, C.K. Choi Building, Room 282, Office hours: Wednesday, 10:30 am to 11:30 am or by appointment.
Origins, basic teachings, development of Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric traditions, historical spread first through Asia and later the world, and Buddhism in contemporary societies. Prerequisites: None. This is a gateway course in Asian Studies. This course is eligible for the CR/D/F option.
Course description: This course moves from the Buddhism many know, “Buddhist modernism,” to forms of Buddhism that are less familiar. We cover the story of the Buddha, characteristic Buddhist philosophy and doctrine, social roles (male and female renunciates, pious laypersons, and rulers), as well as ritual and practice (meditation, chanting, pilgrimage, devotion, generosity). Next, we examine schools of thought—mainstream, Theravada, Mahayana, and Tantric—and Buddhism’s variations in the cultural regions of Southeast, North, and East Asia. Lastly, we will return to issues in contemporary Buddhism, its spread into Western cultures, with special emphasis on politics, ethics, and prison dharma. This course is made possible by the support of The Tung Lin Kok Yuen Canada Foundation, and is a gateway to advanced courses on Buddhism and Asian cultures.
Learning objectives and course outcomes: Students in this course will be introduced to the interdisciplinary study of religion, including historical, sociological, philosophical, ritual studies, and textual/hagiographical approaches. By the end of this course, students will have a basic familiarity with Buddhism in different Asian regions and some of the key issues in Buddhist studies. Students will have be evaluated based on individually written essays, a creative and collaborative group project, and a multiple-choice and short-answer final exam.
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