RLB276 Mahayana Buddhism

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2010
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Jiří Holba, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. et Mgr. Dušan Vávra, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Dušan Lužný, Dr.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
each odd Wednesday 11:40–14:55 K12 nerezervovat
Prerequisites (in Czech)
( RLA10 Buddhism I ) || ( RLKA10 Buddhism I )
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 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course is divided into two parts. The first presents an overview of the origin and development of mahayana buddhism in India. The second focuses on the changes mahayana buddhism underwent in Chinese cultural environment. Both the development of Chinese buddhist thought and its institutional character (the adaptation on specifically Chinese political and social context) are stressed.
Main objectives of the course:
At the end of this course, the students should be able to:
- be familiar with the basic factual knowledge of the mahayana buddhism in general and Chinese mahayana buddhism in particular;
- understand, explain, and apply the basic terminology used in the study of the mahayana buddhism;
- understand and explain the social, political, and economic context of buddhism in Chinese culture;
- understand and explain the basic concepts and ideas of Chinese mahayana buddhism;
- interpret basic passages of buddhist texts in translation
Syllabus
  • (0) Introduction; the beginnings of mahayana
  • (1) The mahayana sutras: their origin and character
  • (2) Prajnaparamita literature
  • (3) The idea of bodhisattva
  • (4) Indian Mahayana philosophical schools: madhyamaka and yogacara
  • (5) The Lotos sutra
  • (6) The concept of buddha in mahayana, the bodhisattva path, faith and cult in mahayana
  • (7) The coming of buddhism to China
  • (8) Early reception of buddhism in Chinese culture
  • (9) Buddhism and the state in the Six dynasties period
  • (10) Chinese buddhist schools (Tiantai, Huayan)
  • (11) Chinese buddhist schools (Chan, Pure land)
  • (12) Buddhism in China after the 9th century AD
Literature
    required literature
  • Paul Harrison. "Searching for the Origins of the Mahāyāna: What Are We Looking For?"

    Lance Cousins. "Buddhist Jhāna: Its nature and attainment according to the Pali sources."

    Robert Gimello. "Chang Shang-ying on Wu-t'ai Shan."

  • CHENG, Anne. Dějiny čínského myšlení. Translated by Helena Beguivinová - Olga Lomová - David Sehnal - Dušan Vávra. 1. vyd. Praha: DrahmaGaia, 2006, xv, 688. ISBN 8086685527. info
  • WILLIAMS, Paul. Mahāyāna Buddhism : the doctrinal foundations. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 1989, xii, 317. ISBN 0415025370. info
    recommended literature
  • WALSER, Joseph. Nāgārjuna in context : Mahāyāna Buddhism and early Indian culture. New York: Columbia University Press, 2005, x, 369. ISBN 023113164X. info
  • Buddhism in practice. Edited by Donald S. Lopez. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1995, xvi, 608 s. ISBN 0-691-04441-4. info
  • ZÜRCHER, E. The Buddhist conquest of China : the spread and adaptation of Buddhism in early medieval China. Repr., with additions and co. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1972, xiii, 320. info
  • CH'EN, Kenneth K. S. (Kenneth K. Buddhism in China : a historical survey. Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1964, xii, 560 s. ISBN 691030057-2. info
Teaching methods
Contents of the semester:
Lectures, class discussions.
Assessment methods
Requirements for the colloquium:
(a) active participation in class discussions;
(b) written test; content: testing of factual knowledge, abilities to identify and interpret a simple text, familiarity with relevant terminology
c) essay (1-7 pages) based on individual reading of the Vimalakirti nirdesha sutra
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught once in two years.
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