RLB229 Tibetan Buddhism in Western Interpretations

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Zbíral, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable of Seminar Groups
RLB229/Prez01: each even Thursday 10:00–11:40 K12 nerezervovat, J. Valtrová
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of characteristic features of Tibetan Buddhism.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields 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
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course is focused on selected issues of western intepretations of Tibetan Buddhism. Methodologically it is based on works of D. Lopez, P. Bishop, M. Brauen and others. Particular lecture demonstrate various attitudes of Western interpreters toward Tibetan Buddhism. These images of Tibetan Buddhism are analysed in their socio-cultural contexts, both Western and Tibetan.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course students will be able to:
  • undestand the history of western exploration of Tibet;
  • explain particular representations of Tibetan Buddhismu in their historical and cultural context;
  • understand and apply the theory of representations.
    • Syllabus
    • 1. Introductory lesson
    • 2. “Myth of Tibet” examined – a survey of the development in the studies about Western images of Tibetan Buddhism
    • 3. Tibetan Buddhism in the Accounts of Christian Missionaries - the Middle Ages
    • 4. Tibetan Buddhism in the Accounts of Christian Missionaries - Early Modern Times
    • 5. European travellers in Tibet - case of Alexandra David-Neél.
    • 6. Lamaism.
    • 7. Myth of occult Tibet - Nazis and Tibet.
    • 8. The image of Tibetan Buddhism in Czechoslowakia before 1989
    • 9. Lobsang Rampa - literary phenomenon.
    • 10. Tibetan Buddhism in a visual culture.
    • 11. Tibetan Buddhism and Western followers.
    • 12. Final discussion.
    • See Study materials for detailed information.
    Literature
      required literature
    • KOLMAŠ, Josef and Jaroslav MALINA. Panoráma biologické a sociokulturní antropologie 16: První Evropané ve Lhase (1661) (Kircherovo résumé Grueberovy cestovní zprávy. Latinský text a český překlad). Editor: Jaroslav Malina. Brno (CZ): Nadace Universitas Masarykiana v Brně, nakladatelství a vydavatelství Nauma v Brně, 2003, 72 pp. Modulové učební texty pro studenty antropologie. ISBN 80-210-3096-8. info
    • LOPEZ, Donald S. Prisoners of Shangri-La : Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1998, x, 283. ISBN 0226493105. info
      recommended literature
    • ROZEHNALOVÁ, Jana. Czech Perspectives on Buddhism, 1860-1989. Journal of Religion in Europe. Brill, 2008, vol. 1, No 2, p. 156-181. ISSN 1874-8910. info
    • BRAUEN, Martin and Markus VOCK. Dreamworld Tibet : western illusions. Edited by Renate Koller, Translated by Martin Willson. 1st English ed. Trumbull, CT: Weatherhill, 2004, xii, 284. ISBN 0834805464. info
    • ROZEHNALOVÁ, Jana. Obzor znovu nalezený - bádání o vysněném Tibetu (Horizon rediscovered: Studies on Tibet Imagined). Sacra aneb Rukověť religionisty. Brno: Občanské sdružení Sacra, 2003, vol. 3, No 1, p. 18-27. ISSN 1214-5351. info
    • Imagining Tibet : perceptions, projections, & fantasies. Edited by Thierry Dodin - Heinz Räther. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2001, xiii, 465. ISBN 0861711912. info
    • Recalling Tibet. Edited by Per Kværne - Vladimír Sís, Translated by Josef Kolmaš, Photo by Jo. Prague: Práh Press, 1997, 160 s. ISBN 8085809745. info
    • BISHOP, Peter. Dreams of power : Tibetan Buddhism and the western imagination. 1st publ. London: Athlone Press, 1993, 162 s. ISBN 0838635105. info
    Teaching methods
    Letures, discussion, reading.
    Assessment methods
    a) two written commentaries to assigned texts (40 %)
    b) essay (6-7 pages) on a selected topic (60 %)
    Language of instruction
    Czech
    Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
    The course is taught once in two years.
    Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučující.
    The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007, Spring 2016, Autumn 2018.
    • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
    • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2021/RLB229