REL 101- Introduction to Buddhism: Is Buddhism a Religion?
Instructor: Rose Deighton
Class: Mondays and Wednesdays 1-2:30
Office Hours: Mondays 3-4, Wednesdays 3-5.
Office Phone – 404-727-5555
Course Description:
This course will explore the central teachings of Buddhism, the historical context of its emergence through the figure of the Buddha, and several of its permutations throughout history. Students will develop a foundational knowledge of Buddhism in diverse contexts and a sense of how its lay and monastic traditions operate and interact in society.
While the development of Buddhism and Buddhist doctrine will be emphasized in the first section of the class, its various branches and global varieties will be the focus of the second section. The third and final section of this class will look at some permutations of modern Buddhism, such as Tibetan Buddhism in the era of the 14th Dalai Lama, as well as questions of Buddhist approaches to science and gender.
This course is designed as an exploration of Buddhism in light of a single and central question: is Buddhism a religion? Materials focussed on modernity, orientalism, and the academic study of religion will help to problematize the category of “Buddhism” and question its relationship to religion. Students will build a foundation in the definitions and theories of religion and the world religions paradigm early in the course. They will also acquire an understanding of orientalism and its influence on the study of Buddhism and representations of Buddhism in the West. With these frameworks in place, students will explore multiple topics including Buddhist philosophy, meditation, and science, to determine how they reflect the religious or non-religious nature of Buddhism. The course materials, lectures, discussions, and assignments have been constructed to facilitate the students’ development of their own individual answer to the question, “is Buddhism a religion?”
Course Objectives: This course will examine one central question: “is Buddhism a religion?”
As an introductory course in the study of religion, this class aims to expose the student to foundational theoretical questions such as, “what is a religion?” “who defines religion?” and “is religion a universal phenomenon?” The role of colonialism and orientalist scholarship in bringing about the academic study of Buddhism will be explored and linked to broader questions about the nature of Buddhism and our ways of encountering it. Students will consider how the history of the academic study of Buddhism has affected our ways of defining it as a religious or non-religious phenomenon. They will also question how the encounter between colonial forces, Western academics and Buddhism continues to operate in the way we study Buddhism today. For instance, the popular characterization of Buddhism as a “philosophy” or “way of life” rather than a religion will be considered. We will ask if it must be one or the other – a philosophy or a religion? We will examine how Buddhism can mean different things to different people. Students will explore how Buddhism’s representations in the West reflect its value of rational, scientific, knowledge and juxtapose these images with those from its traditional cosmology, mythology, and ritual dimensions. Students will be exposed to Buddhists who claim their tradition to be a religion, and those who feel it is not religious at all. We will tie this to the question of modernity and consider how modernization and globalization have affected the consumption and representation of Buddhism in the West both in popular media and scholarly writing. Students will be expected to master six main competencies:
- Buddhist Studies Content: Foundational knowledge of the key terms, histories, texts, and concepts in Buddhism.
- Religious Studies Content: Knowledge of several theoretical strains in the study of religion, most importantly “orientalism,” “the religious studies paradigm” and the “invention of world religions.”
- Application: The capacity to ask theoretical questions about Buddhism and develop arguments about the nature of Buddhism which bring together knowledge and methods from religious studies and content from the Buddhist tradition.
- Creativity: The ability to synthesize and connect disparate strands of knowledge introduced in the course in order to develop a creative and informed answer to the question “Is Buddhism a Religion?”.
- Skills: The two paper assignments should help the students learn how to write both descriptive and argumentative essays in the discipline of religious studies.
- Exposure to Variety: Students should come away from this course with a personal experience in a Buddhist context (fieldtrip) and an understanding that Buddhism is a variegated and diverse tradition that takes on different meanings, appearances, and forms in the various contexts where it exists. Readings and projects are aimed to foster a sense of the vastness of Buddhist culture and inspire students to look beyond course materials when imagining what “Buddhism” means.
Required Texts:
Textbook: Peter Harvey: An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2013.
Scanned Readings on Canvas: Weekly readings including articles, book chapters, and occasional films will be provided on the Canvas website. Students should check the syllabus regularly and be sure to read all class materials.
1. Films: The Buddha, by David Grubin (Recommended)
2. The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom (available at the Library)
3. Zen the life of Zen Master Dogen
Assignments:
- Class Participation – 10% Students are expected to attend all lectures having read the course materials before arriving. Attendance will be recorded. Discussion will be a large component of our class environment and students are expected to participate meaningfully and considerately.
- Short Essay– 15 % Choose one of the foundational principles of Buddhism (for example, the four noble truths, the eightfold path, samsara and nirvana, karma, the six realms, etc.), and describe its meaning and function in the Buddhist tradition using materials from the readings. You may do extra research if you feel compelled. You should provide historical information where necessary and use citations to properly document the information you share to support your claims.
- Mini Quiz – 10 %
- Final Exam– 15% (To be scheduled during the university’s formal exam period)
- Field Trip and Write Up – 10 % Visit to a Buddhist Temple, Campus Buddhist Club or Meditation Center, or Guest Lecture on Buddhism and write a paragraph describing your experience.
- Final
Paper
(12-15 pages)- 40% To be
done
in
two
parts.
For this paper, you will
write a thesis
statement answering the question
“Is Buddhism a
religion?” If your answer
is yes, you
will need to
construct an argument that
includes a definition of
religion or the formal characteristics of what
might be included in a religion, and
explain where your concept
of religion comes
from. From there, you will proceed to argue why your concept of religion is applicable
to Buddhism. Be
considerate of the theoretical
works we have
consulted that problematize the
study of world
religions generally and the
study of Buddhism
specifically. If your answer
is no, you
will need to
construct an argument that
includes a definition of
religion or the formal characteristic of what
might be included in a religion, and
explain where your concept
of religion comes
from. Then,
demonstrate why it is
NOT applicable to
Buddhism. You
must use evidence
from the course materials concerning the
foundations of Buddhist belief
and practice as
well as historical
development and transformations in
geographical/cultural space to
prove your argument.
Please consult if you
have any questions.
- Submission
1: The
first submissions will
be reviewed by
the instructor within
two weeks, with
suggestions to be applied
and edited by
the student. Each
student will meet to
discuss their argument and
evidence with the instructor
and will make
the changes required
to strengthen the
argument, evidence, writing, and
style. Students will
resubmit their papers. The
first submission is
not a “rough
draft.” The student
should submit the essay
as though it
is their final
submission. The second submission
is provided so
that each student
can come away
from the class
with a fully
developed argument in the
field of religious
studies, a personal stance
on important theoretical
issues, and a critical
engagement with the subject
of Buddhism
- Developing your theoretical framework: Read the theoretical
texts from the
course and consult the
‘World Religions’ Paradigm’
podcast to determine historical
factors in the “study
of religion” that
inform your definition of
a religion. You
may use the
definitions offered by any
of the theorists
from these materials,
or use their
categories for examining religion
to develop your
own.
You
might ask if
“world religions” is
a Western concept
that doesn’t
apply to all
traditions? You might argue
that religion is a universal
phenomenon. You might come
up with your
own theory. You
do not need
to do external
research but it may
be helpful, since
many of the
thinkers mentioned in the
podcast offer rich theories
of religion that
might interest you
and bolster your
argument. For
instance, is Ninian Smart’s “dimensions of
religion” a paradigm for
investigation that you agree
with? Does Buddhism
have them? Does
the theory help
us understand the
nature of Buddhism in
an important or
unique way?
Write 5-7 pages outlining your argument in response to the question “is Buddhism a religion?” Include a formal thesis statement and introduction that outlines your paper. Keep in mind that you will use apply this framework to the study of Buddhism.
- Applying your framework to the study of Buddhism: Using evidence from Harvey, course materials including primary sources and/or films, and your own research, to prove the thesis you established in your theoretical framework. Show how your theoretical framework sheds light onto certain aspects of Buddhism that prove it is (or isn’t) a religion.
- Developing your theoretical framework: Read the theoretical
texts from the
course and consult the
‘World Religions’ Paradigm’
podcast to determine historical
factors in the “study
of religion” that
inform your definition of
a religion. You
may use the
definitions offered by any
of the theorists
from these materials,
or use their
categories for examining religion
to develop your
own.
You
might ask if
“world religions” is
a Western concept
that doesn’t
apply to all
traditions? You might argue
that religion is a universal
phenomenon. You might come
up with your
own theory. You
do not need
to do external
research but it may
be helpful, since
many of the
thinkers mentioned in the
podcast offer rich theories
of religion that
might interest you
and bolster your
argument. For
instance, is Ninian Smart’s “dimensions of
religion” a paradigm for
investigation that you agree
with? Does Buddhism
have them? Does
the theory help
us understand the
nature of Buddhism in
an important or
unique way?
- Submission #2: The Final Paper: Review comments provided by the instructor, meet and discuss your essay, and then re-write and edit the paper wherever necessary. Ensure there are no errors in spelling, language, or style. This is a presentation of your original thoughts. Present this paper as though you are a professor of religion submitting research to a professional conference. Follow a citation practice consistently and be sure to offer proper sources for all of your evidence. Be confident in your assertions, be creative and express your thoughts as clearly as possible.
- Submission
1: The
first submissions will
be reviewed by
the instructor within
two weeks, with
suggestions to be applied
and edited by
the student. Each
student will meet to
discuss their argument and
evidence with the instructor
and will make
the changes required
to strengthen the
argument, evidence, writing, and
style. Students will
resubmit their papers. The
first submission is
not a “rough
draft.” The student
should submit the essay
as though it
is their final
submission. The second submission
is provided so
that each student
can come away
from the class
with a fully
developed argument in the
field of religious
studies, a personal stance
on important theoretical
issues, and a critical
engagement with the subject
of Buddhism
Course Calendar and Assigned Readings:
Unit 1: Studying Buddhism
Unit 1: Studying Buddhism
| Week 1, Class 1 | What is Buddhism? | Harvey (Introduction 1-8) Tomoko Masuzawa, The Invention of World Religions, (Introduction, 1-14) Total Reading: 22 pages | Discussion: First Impressions and the Philosophy vs. Religion debate. |
| Week 1, Class 2 | Who is the Buddha? | Harvey. (Chapter 1. The Buddha and His Indian Context 8-32) Total: 24 pages | Discussion: Geography, History, and Context. |
| Week 2, Class 3 | The Religious Studies Paradigm |
The
World Religions Project Podcast: The World Religions Paradigm http://religiousstudiesproject.com (approximately 1 hour) J.Z. Smith. “Religion, Religions, Religious” in Critical Terms for Religious Studies, 269-281 Total: 12 pages + podcast | Discussion: Developing a framework for understanding Buddhism. What is a religion? What is religious? Where do these ideas come from? |
| Week 2, Class 4 | Orientalism and the Study of Buddhism | Edward Said. Orientalism. 1-15. Orientalism and Religion, Chapter 7 “Orientalism and the Discovery of ‘Buddhism’” (141-161). Total: 35 pages | Discussion: How have colonialism and orientalism shaped how we study Buddhism? |
| Week 3, Class 5 | Shakyamuni Buddha, Lives and Legends | John Strong. Buddhisms: An Introduction. (Chapter 2. 39-84) Total: 45 pages | Discussion: The Four Sights, The Jatakas. |
Unit 2: The Foundational Tenets of Buddhism
| Week 3, Class 6 | Rebirth and Karma |
Harvey.
(Chapter 2, Rebirth
and Karma, 32-46).
View
the interact Map of Samsara and Learn the 6 realms of existence:
http://languagecenter.emory.edu languages/tibetan_samsara/ Daniel Pals. Nine Theories of Religion. Chapter 7 “The Reality of the Sacred: Mircea Eliade” 233-237. Total: 18 pages + view map and read all sections | Discussion: Why do intentions matter in the system of karma? How do the cosmology and mythology of Buddhism affect your perception of the tradition? Is anything “sacred” in Buddhism? |
| Week 4, Class 7 | The Four Noble Truths | Harvey. (Chapter 3 The Four Truths for the Spiritually Ennobled 50-87). “Yes Buddhism is a Religion” By Scott Mitchell. Lions Roar (November 19, 2017) (3) https://www.lionsroar.com/yes-buddhism-is-a-religion/ Total: 40 pages |
Class Discussion: Read The First Sermon Together. What is Suffering? |
| Week 4, Class 8 | Classifying Buddhism as a Religion: The Case for Buddhist Origins or “Pure” Buddhism | Masuzawa. (Buddhism, a World Religion, 120-146 ) M. Orru. “Durkheim, Religion, and Buddhism.” Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 31: (1992): 47-61. Total: 40 | Class Discussion: Exploring early claims that Buddhism is a philosophy. Where did this idea come from? |
| Week 5, Class 9 | The Four Noble Truths Continued: Are they religious? | Stephen Batchelor. Buddhism Without Beliefs: A Contemporary Guide to Awakening. 3-45 Total: 42 pages | Class Discussion: Are the Four Noble Truths Religious or a “Way of Life?” |
Unit 3: The Development and Spread of Buddhism
| Week 5, Class 10 | The Establishment and Character of the Early Buddhist Community | Strong. (Chapter 6, 161-198.) Total: 37 pages | Discussion: How are lay and monastic Buddhism different? |
| Week 6, Class 11 | The Spread of Buddhism | Harvey. (Chapter 7, The Later History and Spread of Buddhism 194- 236) Total: 42 pages | **First Paper Due in Class |
| Week 6, Class 12 | Buddhism in Sri Lanka Continued: Modern Contexts and Religious Extremism |
BBC:
The Darker Side of Buddhism
http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32929855
New
York Times: “Why Are We Surprised When Buddhists Are Violent.” By Dan Arnold and Alicia Turner. March 5, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com William Dickson. “Religion as Phantasmagoria: Islam in the End of Faith.” Total: 22 pages | Discussion: How do instances of societal struggle and extremism pertaining to religion reflect on the nature of Buddhism? How is Buddhist extremism/violence viewed differently from its Islamic counterpart? |
Unit 5: Varieties of Mahayana Buddhism: Spiritual Beings and Philosophy
| Week 7, Class 13 | Mahayana, Vajrayana, Pure Land | Harvey. (Chapter 6, Mahayana Holy Beings and Tantric Buddhism, 151-193) Total: 42 pages | **Quiz |
| Week 7, Class 14 | Mahayana and The Way of the Bodhisattva | Shantideva’s Bodhisattva Prayer (scan). Melford Spiro. Culture and Human Nature. (Chapter 8 “Religion: Problems of Definition and Explanation.” 187-198.) (Definition, Supernatural Beings). Strong, 219-231. Total: 25 pages | Discussion: How does the notion of a “bodhisattva,” as a spiritual being invested in the liberation and salvation of all sentient beings, furnish our understanding of Buddhism? How does Spiro’s definition of religion and supernatural beings help us understand the bodhisattva prayer? |
| Week 8, Class 15 | Mahayana and Emptiness | Harvey. (Chapter 5. Mahayana Philosophies: The Varieties of Emptiness, 114-151) Total: 37 pages | Discussion: Is Buddhist Philosophy Religious? Is All Philosophy Religious? Is all philosophy non–religious? Can it be both? |
| Week 8, Class 16 | Nagarjuna and Madhyamaka. | Mark Siderits. Nagarjuna’s Middle Way: Mulamadhyamakakarika. (Introduction 1-11., Chapter 18. An Analysis of the Self, 193-207.) Total: 25 pages | Discussion: The two truths, anatman, and dependent co-origination – what does it all mean? |
| Week 9, Class 17 | Madhyamaka and No Self | Rupert Gethin Podcast: Buddhism and the Self (33 mins) https://historyofphilosophy.net Jay Garfield, “If Philosophy Won’t Diversify, Let’s Call it What it Really Is.” https://www.nytimes.com Lion’s Roar: “Is Buddhism a Religion.” By Charles Prebish, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, and Joan Sutherland. August 19, 2016. (7 pages) https://www.lionsroar.com/is-buddhism-a-religion-november-2013/ Total: 15 pages | Discussion: Is the exclusion of “eastern” philosophy from Western academic departments the exclusion of “religion” or the exclusion of “the east”? Can Buddhist philosophy be read both as religious and non-religious? Should this dichotomy matter? |
Unit 5: Global Buddhisms: Spotlight on Tibetan Buddhism in the era of the 14th Dalai Lama
| Week 9, Class 18 | Who is the Dalai Lama? | Strong, Chapter 13, (363- 388) Donald Lopez. Prisoners of Shangri–La. (Introduction 1-13. ) Total: 38 pages | In class video: The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom |
| Week 10, Class 19 | Narratives of Tibetan Buddhism: The Dalai Lama’s 3 commitments | Visit HHDL Website: https://www.dalailama.com/ and read the sections “Birth to Exile” and “Commitments”. What are the 3 commitments he holds? How to Practice: The Way to a Meaningful Life 1-25. Total: 25 pages plus website | In class video: The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom |
| Week 10, Class 20 | Tibetan Buddhism in the West: Science | The Universe in a Single Atom. (Chapter 3. Emptiness, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics 41-70) Scientific American: “Is Buddhism the Most Science-Friendly Religion?” Total: 35 pages | Are the Dalai Lama’s 3 commitments secular? Who is the audience of the book? How does this change what is being offered as “Buddhism”? **Final Paper first submission due |
| Week 11, Class 21 | The Dalai Lama, Buddhism, and Science | Lopez. Buddhism and Science: A Guide for the Perplexed. (Introduction 1-37.) Total: 40 pages |
UNIT 6: Varieties of Buddhist Meditation
| Week 11, Class 22 | Meditation and Cultivation | Peter Harvey: An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices ( 318-360) Total: 42 pages | |
| Week 12, Class 23 | Meditation and Modernity | McMahon: Meditation and Modernity, 183-214 Lopez. Buddhism and Science. Chapter 5. The Meaning of Meditation. 187-200. Total: 44 pages | Guest Lecture: Tenzin Negi on Buddhism and CBCT |
|
Week
12, Class 24 | Mindfulness | McMahon. (Mindfulness, Literature, and the Affirmation of Ordinary Life 215-240) Lopez. Buddhism and Science. Chapter 5. The Meaning of Meditation. 200-11.) Total: 36 pages | **Final Paper revisions handed back |
| Week 13, Class 25 | Tara Brach: Buddhism and Modern Psychology | Tara Brach. Radical Acceptance: Heal your Life with the Heart of the Buddha. 9- 22, 42-53. Total: 24 pages | Smile Meditation Video. Is this Buddhism? Is it religion? Does it matter? How does Brach’s “Buddhism” differ from Chodron’s or Willis’? |
| Week 13, Class 26 | So You Think You Can Meditate | Peter Harvey: An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Zen Meditation 361-376) Strong “Sudden and Gradual”, “Disagreements over the Nature of the Oath: Debate at Samye” 292-296 Strong “Direct Experience: Chan/Zen” 310- 317 Total: 26 pages | Field Trip to Buddhist Meditation Center |
Unit 7: Buddhism and Gender
| Week 14, Class 27 | Buddhism and Gender | Rita M. Gross. Buddhism After Patriarchy: A Feminist History, Analysis, Reconstruction. (Chapter 2 “Orientation to Buddhism” 7-17, Chapter 4 “Sakhyadita, Daughters of the Buddha: Roles and Images of Women in Early Buddhism.” 29-54.) Total: 35 pages | In Class Movie: Zen the life of Zen Master Dogen ***Write up about field–trip due |
|
Week 14, Class 28 | Buddhism and Gender | Rita M. Gross. (Chapter 11 “Gender and Egolessness: Feminist Comments on Basic Buddhist Teachings. 157-173. Chapter 13 “Gender and Buddha Nature. 185-209.”) Total: 40 pages | In Class Movie: Zen the life of Zen Master Dogen |
| Week 15, Class 29 | American Buddhist Women: Jan Willis and Pema Chodron | Jan Willis: Jan Willis, “Buddhism and Race: An African American Baptist Buddhist Perspective,” in Buddhist Women on the Edge, pp. 81-91 “Bikhuni Ordination: Buddhism’s Glass Ceiling.” By Mary Talbot. Tricycle. Fall 2016. “Recently Under the Bodhi Tree” by Janet Gyatso Tricycle. Winter, 2017 https://tricycle.org/magazine/bhikkhuni-ordination-modern-buddhism/ Total: 20 pages | Discussion: Buddhism and Identity. How do hyphenated identities prove the religious or non–religious nature of Buddhism? Does being a woman change an individual’s experience of Buddhism? |
| Week 15, Class 30 | Pema Chodron | Pema Chodron – When Things Fall Apart. 1- 45 Total: 45 pages | How does the female voice influence the message of the Buddhist teachings included in this book? Is the book religious? Who is the audience and why does this matter? |
Dr. Rose Deighton-Mohammed 