LTWL 135 -- The Buddhist Imaginary

click here to review images of the Wheel of Existence

click here to access descriptions of midterm, paper, and final exam

click here to access vocabulary lists required for the final exam in a formatted .pdf file

Professor Richard S. Cohen

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Emily Carroll will be holding office hours on
Monday, from 12-1, in Lit 323

click here for pdf version of syllabus

Books Required for this Class

Class Reader
The Foundations of Buddhism, by Rupert Gethin
Manimekhalai: The Dancer With the Magic Bowl trans. by Alain Danielou
The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture trans. by Robert Thurman

All books can be purchased at the UCSD Bookstore in the Price Center
The Class Reader can be purchased at Cal Copy, 3251 Holiday Court #103, 452-9949
The Class Reader and books are all available at the SSH Library Reserves.

Student Responsibilities

first ssay
30% I will describe the assignment in early October. due November 8

second essay
40% I will describe the assignment in mid November. due December 6

final exam
25% This exam covers the entire quarter. It is all short answer and should take only one hour to complete.
Monday, December 10: 3:00-4:00

participation 5%

first ssay	30%	I will describe the assignment in early October.	due November 8
second essay	40%	I will describe the assignment in mid November.	due December 6
final exam	25%	This exam covers the entire quarter. It is all short answer and should take only one hour to complete.	Monday, December 10: 3:00-4:00
participation	5%

To pass the course, you must complete all assigned work in a timely fashion.

Schedule of Readings and Lectures

Sept. 27

Imagining Buddhism

Oct. 2

Setting the Scene: Buddhism and the Religions of India

Reader #1, #2, #3, #4

Oct. 4

A Buddha in the Making: Lifetimes of Wisdom and Compassion

Reader #5, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #11
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 112-119

click here to review images of the Wheel of Existence

Oct. 9

Sakyamuni Buddha's Life

Reader #12
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 7-27

Oct. 11

The First Sutra

Reader #13
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 59-84

Oct. 16

Sakyamuni Teacher, Sakyamuni Trickster

Reader #14, #15, #16, #17
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 133-162, 202-223

Oct. 23

Fire

Oct. 25

Fire

Oct. 30

Bodily Discipline, Social Discipline: The Institutionof the Sangha

Reader #18
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 85-111

Nov. 1

Religious Ideology, Social Practice, Buddhist Nuns

Manimekhalai (I will not assign specific pages for eachclass, but make sure to finish the book by the midterm. You can skip pp.152-162)

Nov 6. 25

The Quintessence of Buddhist Civilization

Manimekhalai

Nov. 8	The Varieties of Meditative Practice Reader #19, #20, #21 Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 163-201
	first essay due

Nov. 13

Disputes, Councils, Schisms, and Nastiness of All Sorts

Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 35-58

Nov. 15

Origins of the Mahayana

Reader #22
Foundations of Buddhism, pp. 224-237

Nov. 20

The Mahayana Bodhisattva: Compassion and Skillful Means

Vimalakirti (I will not assign specific pages for each class, but make sure to read the entire book.)

Nov. 22

Thanksgiving

Nov. 27

The Mahayana Multiverse

Vimalakirti

Nov. 29

Tantrayana: Doctrinal Formulae

Reader #23, #24, #25, #26

Dec. 4

Tantric Power and Practice

Reader #27, #28

Dec. 6	The End of Buddhism in India Reader #29
	second essay due

Dec. 10

FINAL EXAM, 3:00 - 4:00 pm in Peterson 104