RLB395 Shambhala

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2017
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 29. 9. 14:10–15:45 G24, Fri 27. 10. 14:10–15:45 G24, Fri 24. 11. 14:10–15:45 G24
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA10 Buddhism I && RLA11 Buddhism II ) || ( RLKA10 Buddhism I && RLKA11 Buddhism II ) || ( RLA21 Buddhism || RLKA21 Buddhism ) || JAP149 Buddhism: Teaching&Practice
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 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
Shambhala is presented in the course from two viewpoints – form the Buddhist and the Buddhologist prospective. Shambhala is Tibetan realm of legends and myths and their origin dates back to vedic religion. During the last two centuries is Shambhala also in focus of Western Euro-American interest, mainly as a fantasy and imaginary world. These interpretations takes existence of Shambhala: (1) as real geographical and historical entity (2) as unreal – imaginary and supernatural entity; the last one is from the point of view academic studies of religions.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
  • Summarize and interpret the structure of the Buddhist Eschatology Myth of Shambhala;
  • Summarize and interpret the structure of the Buddhist Soteriology Myth of Shambhala;
  • Distinguish the scientific approach to Shambhala as the phenomenon in the history of Northern Buddhism;
  • Summarize sources analytically.
    • Syllabus
    • Tibetan Buddhist Eschatology - Individual (Bardo Thedol).
    • Tibetan Buddhist Eschatology - Universal (Shambhala).
    • Kalachakratantra. Tantric Text from Northern India (10th – 11th century).
    • Structure of the Buddhist Eschatology Myth: Shambhala as a place of future Rudra Chakrin as a World Destroyer and World Savior.
    • Structure of the Buddhist Eschatology Myth: Shambhala Middle History.
    • The Last Battle in Shambhala: the End of World and following future restoration of the World.
    • Decsription and Analysis of Images of Shambhala: Rudra Chakrin as a World Destroyer.
    • Decsription and Analysis of Images of Shambhala: Rudra Chakrin as a World Savior.
    • Decsription and Analysis of Images of Shambhala: Image Typology
    • Shambhala a Shangrila: West and he Shambhala Myth
    Literature
      required literature
    • BĚLKA, Luboš. Buddhistická eschatologie : šambhalský mýtus. Vyd. 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2004, 171 s. ISBN 8021034912. info
    • ROZEHNALOVÁ, Jana and Luboš BĚLKA. Tibetský buddhismus a západní imaginace. Slavnost Kálačakry ve Štýrském Hradci (Tibetan Buddhism and Western Imagination: The Kalachakra Initiation in Graz). Religio: Revue pro religionistiku. Brno: Česká společnost pro studium náboženství, 2003, vol. 11, No 1, p. 53-76. ISSN 1210-3640. info
      recommended literature
    • Transformations and transfer of Tantra in Asia and beyond. Edited by István Keul. Berlin: De Gruyter, 2012, ix, 531. ISBN 9783110258110. info
    • Shambhala. Edited by Nikolaj Konstantinovič Rerich. New Delhi: Aravali Books International, 1997, viii, 316. ISBN 8186880178. info
    Teaching methods
    Lectures; reading of literature; class discussion; study of multimedia presentations.
    Assessment methods
    Colloquium
    Written test based on the required reading, lectures, and presentations (100 points, the minimum of 60 points is required to pass the test). Test represents 100% of overal evaluation in the course.
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    Study Materials
    The course is taught once in two years.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020.
    • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2017, recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2017/RLB395