RLMgB055 Buddhism in the West

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2023
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
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. Matouš Vencálek
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each even Monday 14:00–15:40 G32
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! RLB55 Buddhism in the West && TYP_STUDIA(MND)
Základní znalosti o buddhismu v rozsahu kurzů Buddhismus I a II.
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
The establishment of Buddhism in Western societies (Europe and North America) is a process that is deeply related not only to modern Western religiosity but also takes place in close connection with the development of Oriental and religious studies. Mapping the process of Buddhism's arrival and transformation outside traditional Asian societies takes place at the intersection of interreligious and intercultural interaction and the history of Western discourses on culture and religion. In turn, these modern forms of Buddhism are now backfiring in traditionally Asian countries, creating a 'global and glocal Buddhism'. In doing so, modern Buddhism has responded to a range of stimuli that relate to current world issues - social problems and imbalances in the world, human rights issues, national issues, climate change, and the relationship between science, culture, and religion. The course aims to present the transformations of Buddhism in these contexts and to offer appropriate perspectives and theories for its study.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to: - understand the main milestones in the process of establishing Buddhism in Western societies - be oriented in the sources for the study of Buddhism in the West, especially in selected Czech sources - understand the main theories concerning Buddhism in the West - interpret the major influences of the forms of Western Buddhism on traditional Buddhism in Asia
Syllabus
  • 1. introductory lesson 2. approaches to the study of Buddhism in the West, classification, concepts 3. Historical milestones of the West's encounter with Buddhism 4. Buddhism and colonialism 5. Buddhism and nationalism 6. Origins of Buddhism in the Czech lands 7. Humanistic Buddhism 7. Socially and ecologically engaged Buddhism 8. Buddhism and science 9. Global and Glocal Buddhism 10. final discussion
Literature
    required literature
  • Westward Dharma : Buddhism beyond Asia. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Martin Baumann. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002, xi, 425 s. ISBN 0-520-22625-9. info
    recommended literature
  • Buddha's daughter : teachings from women who are shaping Buddhism in the West. Edited by Andrea D. Miller. 1st ed. Boston: Shambhala, 2004, viii, 289. ISBN 9781590306239. info
  • Action dharma : new studies in engaged Buddhism. Edited by Christopher S. Queen - Charles S. Prebish - Damien Keown. 1st publ. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2003, xix, 365. ISBN 0700715940. info
  • Teaching Buddhism in the West : from the wheel to the web. Edited by Victor Sōgen Hori - Richard P. Hayes - James Mark Shields. 1st pub. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002, xxvii, 234. ISBN 0700715576. info
  • Engaged Buddhism in the west. Edited by Christopher S. Queen. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000, xi, 544. ISBN 0861711599. info
  • Buddhism and human rights. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Wayne R. Husted - Damien Keown. Richmond: Curzon Press, 1998, xxi, 239. ISBN 0700709541. info
  • The faces of Buddhism in America. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Kenneth Ken'ichi Tanaka. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998, viii, 370. ISBN 0520213017. info
Teaching methods
lectures, seminars, discussions.
Assessment methods
For the successful completion of the course it is required: a) 2 written commentaries to the reading, submitted during the course, 2 pages. b) an essay (4-5 pages long).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2023/RLMgB055