RLBcA002 Buddhism I

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Špirk, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Kristýna Čižmářová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Mon 23. 9. to Fri 20. 12. Mon 18:00–19:40 C33, except Mon 14. 10., except Mon 18. 11. to Mon 25. 11. ; and Mon 14. 10. 18:00–19:40 Virtuální místnost, Mon 25. 11. 18:00–19:40 Virtuální místnost
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 90 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 86/90, only registered: 0/90, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/90
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to present basic outlines of Buddhist teachings and practices in the period from the establishing of Buddhism to beginning of our era. Through various Buddhist texts and iconographic material the students learn about its culturally specific forms and gain an overview of its transformations in various periods of history and societies.
Learning outcomes
The student will be able to:
To describe key moments in the history of Buddhism from Buddha´s birth until beginning of the Common Era;
To practice basic Buddhist terminology in Sanskrit or Pali in connection with Theravada;
To recognize the most important sources to the study of elementary Buddhist concepts;
To define basic terms of Buddhist teaching – teaching, ethics and cosmology;
To describe the life of Buddha based on various visual representations.
Syllabus
  • Introductory lecture
  • India during the life of Buddha
  • The life of the Buddha in historical and religious prospective I
  • The life of the Buddha in historical and religious prospective II
  • Buddhist cosmology
  • Four noble truths
  • Buddhist ethics
  • The conception of person in Buddhism
  • Early Sangha and the Pali Canon
  • Buddhist meditation, awakening, nirvana
  • Theravada and the beginnings of the spread of Buddhism.
  • Buddhist art and ritual
  • The final test
Literature
    required literature
  • LOPEZ, Donald S. Příběh buddhismu : průvodce dějinami buddhismu a jeho učením. Translated by Lenka Borecká. 1. Vyd. Brno: Barrister & Principal, 2003, 253 s. ISBN 8086598543. info
    recommended literature
  • WILLIAMS, Paul and Anthony TRIBE. Buddhistické myšlení : úplné uvedení do indické tradice. Translated by Dušan Zbavitel. Vydání první. Praha: ExOriente, 2011, 301 stran. ISBN 9788090424685. info
  • MILTNER, Vladimír. Vznik a vývoj buddhismu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2001, 373 s. ISBN 8070214104. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions
Assessment methods
Colloquim
Colloquim is recommended to students of other disciplines except of Religion studies. Requirements for colloqium is:
(a) Written test
60% of correct answers is needed to pass.
Exam
Exam is compulsory for all students of Religion studies. Prerequisites for the exam are written test and two short written commentaries to selected texts. Commentaries have to be delivered in time, each is evaluated with max. 15 points. For successful completion it is necessary to achieve 60% of points for both commentaries (i.e. 18 points together). The exam is oral and is focused on:
(a) Examining student’s knowledge according to given list of themes;
(b) Examining student’s interpretation abilities within these themes.
In case of failure in test at the end of semester, it becomes a part of the exam. The oral exam represents 100% of final evaluation.
Detailed schedule of the course, list of themes subject to the examination and list of recommended literature are published in the Study materials of the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači religionistiky povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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