APA NEWSLETTER on Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

APA NEWSLETTER on Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies NEWSLETTER | The American Philosophical Association Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies SPRING 2019 VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 Asanga Tilakaratne FROM THE GUEST EDITOR Study of Buddhist Philosophy in Sri Lanka Rafal Stepien Buddhist Philosophy Worldwide: Shinya Moriyama Perspectives and Programs Buddhist Philosophy in Two Japanese Cross-Philosophical Approaches SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION He Huanhuan Sanskrit-based Buddhist Philosophy in China Today ARTICLES John Powers and Leesa S. Davis Zhihua Yao Buddhist Philosophy in Australian Teaching Buddhism as Philosophy Universities Joseph McClellan Roy Tzohar Preserving the Four Noble Truths at the Buddhist Philosophy, and Eastern Heart of Buddhist Pedagogy Philosophy in General, in Israel and Palestine Hari Shankar Prasad Sailing against the Current: The Buddha, Karin Meyers Buddhism, and Methodology Buddhist Philosophy in the Kathmandu Valley Jakub Zamorski Buddhist Philosophy in Poland: Legacy and Prospects VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 SPRING 2019 © 2019 BY THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL ASSOCIATION ISSN 2155-9708 APA NEWSLETTER ON Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies PRASANTA BANDYOPADHYAY, EDITOR VOLUME 18 | NUMBER 2 | SPRING 2019 constitute a solid bloc of scholarship on the practice of FROM THE GUEST EDITOR Buddhist philosophy worldwide. On the other hand, those contributions whose authors took a more evaluative or Buddhist Philosophy Worldwide: prescriptive approach likewise taken together comprise a well-rounded collection of articles, in this case one theorizing Perspectives and Programs contemporary Buddhist philosophical scholarship. Rafal Stepien In preparing the collection as a whole, I was particularly HEIDELBERG UNIVERSITY resolute that contributions cover a greater geographical span than that encompassed by the major centers in This is the first of two special issues of the newsletter Europe and North America. Interestingly, it so happens that dedicated to Buddhist philosophy. My initial intention as in all but two cases scholars working in European and North guest editor was to prepare a single issue of the newsletter American universities where the field’s center of gravity on the topic “Buddhist Philosophy Worldwide: Perspectives lies chose to concentrate on theoretical elaborations of and Programs.” The idea was to include descriptive and Buddhist philosophical practice; their contributions thus prescriptive/evaluative elements: On the one hand, scholars appear in the following issue. For the present survey working on Buddhist philosophy throughout the world were of “Buddhist Philosophy Worldwide,” my insistence on invited to provide a descriptive snapshot of the state of the a broad geographical coverage was motivated on the field in their geographical/disciplinary area; on the other, one hand by a methodological impetus to ensure as they could proffer an evaluative appraisal of how Buddhist comprehensive as possible a spectrum of perspectives philosophy has been carried out and/or a prescriptive be included, and on the other hand by the conviction that program of how they feel it should be carried out. This Buddhist philosophy, being a strikingly multi- and trans­ dual remit played out in a foreseeable manner, such that cultural phenomenon itself, could and should be studied, some authors composed largely descriptive pieces, while carried out, and put into practice most fruitfully from the others took a more methodologically oriented approach in widest possible range of vantage points. As such, I actively which they outline a vision of what the practice of Buddhist sought out contributors from a variety of countries in Asia, philosophy could or should entail, and/or how it can or where Buddhist philosophy has of course the longest of could contribute to the practice of academic philosophy intellectual pedigrees, as well as Australasia, Africa, South per se. America, and the Middle East in addition to Europe and North America. Unfortunately, I was unable to locate any Eventually, for both practical and programmatic reasons, scholars based anywhere in Africa, South America, or the the decision was taken to unweave these strands into Middle East outside of Israel willing to take part. two separate newsletter issues, with the current spring 2019 issue remaining devoted to “Buddhist Philosophy Nevertheless, the present volume includes what I believe Worldwide: Perspectives and Programs,” and the ensuing is a hitherto unparalleled collection of texts detailing and fall 2019 one to be on “Buddhist Philosophy Today: appraising the state of the scholarly field of Buddhist Theories and Forms.” Practically, the total length of the philosophy around the world. It begins with an account of articles submitted by the nineteen authors I was able to “Buddhist Philosophy in Australian Universities” by John corral greatly exceeded that typical for a single issue of Powers and Leesa S. Davis, which provides a comprehensive the newsletter, and the subsequent realization that roughly survey of the field both as it currently stands and as it half of the authors had taken each of the two tracks I has evolved throughout the shifting Australian academic had laid led me and the APA to decide upon dividing the context. Roy Tzohar’s study of “Buddhist Philosophy, and articles accordingly. More substantively, upon reading Eastern Philosophy in General, in Israel and Palestine” the final products it became clear to me that we were details the historical permutations and present status of dealing here with two distinct and individually important the field in the shadow of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and sets of contributions to the study of Buddhist philosophy. the region’s tumultuous political context. Karin Meyers’s On the one hand, given that the more descriptive articles account of “Buddhist Philosophy in the Kathmandu Valley” preponderantly issued from non-Western cultural/ is similarly exhaustive, with special focus on the Rangjung national contexts underrepresented within the field at Yeshe Institute, the only educational institution in the area large, and given also that the descriptions provided by with accredited degree programs in Buddhist Studies these authors were typically accompanied by healthy specifically designed for international students. The doses of interpretation, I consider these contributions to following contributions on “Buddhist Philosophy in Poland: APA NEWSLETTER | ASIAN AND ASIAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHERS AND PHILOSOPHIES Legacy and Prospects” by Jakub Zamorski and the “Study supporting my suggestion as to the topic, and to my blind of Buddhist Philosophy in Sri Lanka” by Asanga Tilakaratne peer-reviewer for not only agreeing to be involved but for likewise examine the complex historical trajectories of producing such fine reviews at such a speedy rate. I also the field in these varied contexts before discussing its express my gratitude to the Berggruen Philosophy & Culture present situation and future prospects. In his article on Center for funding that enabled initiation of this work while “Buddhist Philosophy in Two Japanese Cross-Philosophical I was the Berggruen Research Fellow in Indian Philosophy Approaches,” Shinya Moriyama introduces the work and at Wolfson College and the Faculty of Philosophy of the evaluates the abiding influence of Hajime Nakamura University of Oxford, and likewise to the Alexander von (1912–1999) and Toshihiko Izutsu (1914–1993) on the field Humboldt Foundation for funding that enabled completion in Japan. Huanhuan He then provides a survey of “Sanskrit­ of this work while I was a Humboldt Research Fellow at the based Buddhist Philosophy in China Today,” a discipline Karl Jaspers Centre for Advanced Transcultural Studies of she observes has changed quite dramatically during the Heidelberg University. At Oxford and Heidelberg, Richard last two decades. Zhihua Yao, meanwhile, draws on his Sorabji, Jan Westerhoff, and Michael Radich stand out as direct experience “Teaching Buddhism as Philosophy” colleagues and mentors especially supportive of this and in Hong Kong to reflect on how to present Buddhism in like projects in and of Buddhist philosophy. Of course, I a way that is easily accessible to general philosophical reserve my most profound thanks to the contributors readers with the hope of making it better received by themselves, without whose energy and insight none of this them. Joseph McClellan’s article, “Preserving the Four could have come to fruition. Noble Truths at the Heart of Buddhist Pedagogy,” similarly draws on the author’s experience studying and teaching Buddhist philosophy, which in his case has taken place in contexts as varied as the United States, Nepal, Myanmar, SUBMISSION GUIDELINES AND and Bangladesh, and notably included culturally Buddhist Bhutanese as well as Ismaili Muslim Pakistani students, INFORMATION whose reactions to the academic study of Buddhist philosophy McClellan discusses. Finally, in “Sailing against GOAL OF THE NEWSLETTER ON ASIAN AND the Current: The Buddha, Buddhism, and Methodology,” ASIAN-AMERICAN PHILOSOPHERS Hari Shankar Prasad presents an account of academic and non-academic perspectives on the study of Buddhism The APA Newsletter on Asian and Asian-American in contemporary India, before turning to more explicitly Philosophers and Philosophies is sponsored by the APA methodological considerations regarding such study. Committee on Asian and Asian-American Philosophers and Philosophies to report on the philosophical work of Asian As may transpire
Recommended publications
  • JACEK TRZEBUNIAK* Analysis of Development of the Tibetan Tulku
    The Polish Journal of the Arts and Culture Nr 10 (2/2014) / ARTICLE JACEK TRZEBUNIAK* (Uniwersytet Jagielloński) Analysis of Development of the Tibetan Tulku System in Western Culture ABSTRACT With the development of Tibetan Buddhism in Europe and America, from the second half of the twentieth century, the phenomenon of recognising a person as a reincarnation of Bud- dhist teachers appeared in this part of the world. Tibetan masters expected that the identified person will serve important social and religious functions for Buddhist communities. How- ever, after several decades since the first recognitions, the Western tulkus do not play the same important role in the development of Buddhism, as tulkus in China, and the Tibetan communities in exile. The article analyses the cultural and social causes of the different functioning of tulku institution in Western societies. The article shows that a different un- derstanding of identity, power and hierarchy mean that tulkus do not play significant roles in the development of Buddhism in this part of the world. KEY WORDS religious studies, Tibetan Buddhism, tulku, West INTRODUCTION Tulku (Tib. sprul sku) is a person in Tibetan Buddhism tradition who is recog- nised as a reincarnation of a famous Buddhist master. The tradition originated in the 13th century in the Kagyu (Tib. bka’ brgyud) sect when students of the Dusum Khyenpa (Tib. dus gsum mkhyen pa), after his death, found a boy and * Wydział Filozoficzny, Katedra Porównawczych Studiów Cywilizacji Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie, Polska e-mail: [email protected] 116 Jacek Trzebuniak recognised him as a reincarnation of their master1.
    [Show full text]
  • Studies in Buddhist Hetuvidyā (Epistemology and Logic ) in Europe and Russia
    Nataliya Kanaeva STUDIES IN BUDDHIST HETUVIDYĀ (EPISTEMOLOGY AND LOGIC ) IN EUROPE AND RUSSIA Working Paper WP20/2015/01 Series WP20 Philosophy of Culture and Cultural Studies Moscow 2015 УДК 24 ББК 86.36 K19 Editor of the series WP20 «Philosophy of Culture and Cultural Studies» Vitaly Kurennoy Kanaeva, Nataliya. K19 Studies in Buddhist Hetuvidyā (Epistemology and Logic ) in Europe and Russia [Text] : Working paper WP20/2015/01 / N. Kanaeva ; National Research University Higher School of Economics. – Moscow : Higher School of Economics Publ. House, 2015. – (Series WP20 “Philosophy of Culture and Cultural Studiesˮ) – 52 p. – 20 copies. This publication presents an overview of the situation in studies of Buddhist epistemology and logic in Western Europe and in Russia. Those studies are the young direction of Buddhology, and they started only at the beginning of the XX century. There are considered the main schools, their representatives, the directions of their researches and achievements in the review. The activity of Russian scientists in this field was not looked through ever before. УДК 24 ББК 86.36 This study (research grant № 14-01-0006) was supported by The National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow). Academic Fund Program in 2014–2015. Kanaeva Nataliya – National Research University Higher School of Economics (Moscow). Department of Humanities. School of Philosophy. Assistant professor; [email protected]. Канаева, Н. А. Исследования буддийской хетувидьи (эпистемологии и логики) в Европе и России (обзор) [Текст] : препринт WP20/2015/01 / Н. А. Канаева ; Нац. исслед. ун-т «Высшая школа экономи- ки». – М.: Изд. дом Высшей школы экономики, 2015. – (Серия WP20 «Философия и исследо- вания культуры»).
    [Show full text]
  • Searching for a Possibility of Buddhist Hermeneutics: Two Exegetic Strategies in Buddhist Tradition
    Searching for a Possibility of Buddhist Hermeneutics: Two Exegetic Strategies in Buddhist Tradition Sumi Lee University of California, Los Angeles One of the main concerns in religious studies lies in hermeneutics 1 : While interpreters of religion, as those in all other fields, are doomed to perform their work through the process of conceptualization of their subjects, religious reality has been typically considered as transcending conceptual categorization. Such a dilemma imposed on the interpreters of religion explains the dualistic feature of the Western hermeneutic history of religion--the consistent attempts to describe and explain religious reality on the one hand and the successive reflective thinking on the limitation of human knowledge in understanding ultimate reality on the other hand.2 Especially in the modern period, along with the emergence of the methodological reflection on religious studies, the presupposition that the “universally accepted” religious reality or “objectively reasoned” religious principle is always “over there” and may be eventually disclosed through refined scientific methods has become broadly questioned and criticized. The apparent tension between the interpreter/interpretation and the object of interpretation in religious studies, however, does not seem to have undermined the traditional Buddhist exegetes’ eagerness for their work of expounding the Buddhist teachings: The Buddhist exegetes and commentators not only devised various types of systematic and elaborate literal frameworks such as logics, theories, styles and rhetoric but also left the vast corpus of canonical literatures in order to transmit their religious teaching. The Buddhist interpreters’ enthusiastic attitude in the composition of the literal works needs more attention because they were neither unaware of the difficulty of framing the religious reality into the mold of language nor forced to be complacent to the limited use of language about the reality.
    [Show full text]
  • Hagiwara Sakutarô, Buddhist Realism, and the Establishment of Japanese Modern Poetry
    HAGIWARA SAKUTARÔ, BUDDHIST REALISM, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JAPANESE MODERN POETRY Roberto Pinheiro Machado1 Resumo: Este artigo aborda a obra do poeta Hagiwara Sakutarô (1886-1942) a partir de uma perspectiva comparativa que engaja filosofia e literatura. A dimensão filosófica da poesia de Sakutarô é analisada por meio de uma leitura intertextual entre a obra do poeta japonês e a epistemologia budista presente nos textos em sânscrito dos filósofos Dignāga and Dharmakīrti (século V). Essa análise comparativa é efetuada sob a perspectiva da influência do naturalismo europeu no surgimento da poesia japonesa moderna. Demonstrando a possibilidade de um realismo budista que compartilha importantes características estéticas com o naturalismo, o artigo enfatiza a dimensão budista da poesia de Sakutarô, a qual se desvela apesar da rejeição ao budismo operada pelo próprio poeta como passo necessário para o estabelecimento da modernidade nas letras japonesas. Palavras-chave: Hagiwara Sakutarô, Poesia japonesa, Budismo, Modernidade, Filosofia Abstract: This article approaches the works of poet Hagiwara Sakutarô (1886-1942) from a comparative perspective that engages philosophy and literature. The philosophical dimension of Sakutarô’s poetry is analyzed by means of inter-textual readings that draw on the tradition of Buddhist epistemology and on the texts of logicians Dignāga and Dharmakīrti (5th century). The comparative analysis is considered under the perspective of the influence of Naturalism and the use of description in the emergence of Japanese modern poetry. Pointing to the possibility of a Buddhist realism that shares some common characteristics with Naturalism, the article emphasizes the Buddhist dimension of Sakutarô’s poetry, which appears in spite of the poet’s turn to Western philosophy (notably 1.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019-20 Annual Report
    PRINCETON UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT AND PROGRAM OF EAST ASIAN STUDIES Annual Report 2019-2020 1 COVER: The wooden doors to 202 Jones. Photo taken by Martin Kern. 2 Annual Report 2019-20 Contents Director’s Letter 4 Department and Program News 6 Language Programs 8 Undergraduates 11 Graduate Students 14 Faculty 18 Events 24 Summer Programs 26 Affiliated Programs 29 Libraries & Museum 34 3 Director’s Letter, 2019-20 In normal years, the Director’s Letter is a retrospective of the year in East Asian Studies—but where to begin? Annual disasters and upheavals are standard topics in traditional East Asian chronicles. By June of 2020 (a gengzi 庚子 year), we had already lived through more than our share: the coronavirus pandemic, severe economic downturn, government inaction and prevarication, Princeton’s shift to online teaching, dislocation of undergraduate and graduate life, shuttering of libraries and labs, disruption to travel, study, and research for students, staff, and faculty, the brutal murder of George Floyd, and the international renaissance of the Black Lives Matter movement. invigorate campus intellectual life, completing book This spring semester, the usual hum of summer manuscripts, or starting new projects. The heaviest burden, programming and plans for next academic year grew no doubt, fell on our language instructors. The faculty quiet, and many EAS projects were cancelled, postponed, in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean innovated non-stop to shifted online, or put on hold. As this Annual Report goes insure that, in the era of Zoom, students would remain fully to press, plans for undergraduate residence on campus engaged in all four language skills of speaking, listening, and the format for classes in fall of 2020 are still being reading, and writing.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Buddhist Philosophy
    A HISTORY OF B U D D H IS T P H ILO S O P H Y Continuities and Discontinuities * DAVID J. KALUPAHANA A HISTORY OF BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY Continuities and Discontinuities David J. Kalupahana MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED • DELHI Reprint: Delhi, 2006 First Indian Edition: Delhi, 1994 © 1992 University of Hawaii Press First Published by the University of Hawaii Press, 1992 ISBN: 81-208-1191-7 MOTILAL BANARSIDASS 41 U A Bungalow Road, Jawahar Nagar, Delhi 110 007 8 Mahalaxmi Chamber, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, Mumbai 400 026 236, 9th Main III Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560 011 203 Royapettah High Road, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004 Sanas Plaza, 1302 Baji Rao Road, Pune 411 002 8 Camac Street, Kolkata 700 017 Ashok Rajpath, Patna 800 004 Chowk, Varanasi 221 001 For sale in India only Printed in India BY JAINENDRA PRAKASH JAIN AT SHR1JAINENDRA PRESS, A-45 NARAINA, PHASER, NEW DELHI 110 028 AND PUBLISHED BYNARENDRA PRAKASH JAIN FOR MOTILAL BANARSIDASS PUBLISHERS PRIVATE LIMITED, BUNGALOW ROAD, DELHI -110 007 This work, completed three days before an accident that left our youngest son, Milinda, paralyzed, is dedicated to our friends and well-wishers, at home and abroad, especially my colleagues Eliot Deutsch and Larry Laudan, whose gracious support lessened the trauma for both Milinda and the family. CONTENTS Introduction ix Abbreviations xv Part One: Early Buddhism I Indian Philosophy and the Search for Ultimate Objectivity 3 II Life of the Buddha 22 III Knowledge and Understanding 30 IV Experience and Theory (Paficcasamuppana and Pa(iccasamuppclda)
    [Show full text]
  • Back Copies of Buddhist Studies Review
    Vol. 15, 1 Buddhist Studies Review 1998 CONTENTS Frontispiece Buddhist Studies Review and the UK Association for Buddhist Studies.. .. ~ ..... 1 The Trials of Yasodhara and the Birth of Rahula: A Synopsis of Bhadrakalpavadana II-IX — Joel Tatelman .. 3 A Critical Examination of Nanavira's 'A Note on Paticcasamuppada' (I) — Bhikkhu Bodhi .. 43 -ft i 4- — tr. * $ Ekottaragama (XXIII) Thich Huyen-Vi and % Bhikkhu Pasadika 65 Obituaries; Jean Boisselier, Albert Le Bonheur, Walter Couvreur, Wtadysiaw Misiewicz, Bhikkhu Nanajlvako 71 Letter to the Editor 79 Review Article: Abhidhamma Studies at the British Buddhist Association and A Comprehensive Manual of Abhidhamma — A. Haviland-Nye .. 81 Book Reviews 100 ISSN 0265-2897 © 1998 Buddhist Studies Review Buddhist Studies Review is the semi-annual journal of the U K Association for Buddhist Studies and is sponsored by the Inst i tut de recherche bouddhique Linh-Sdn Advisory Committee: Ven. Thich Huyen-Vi (Spiritual Adviser) Eric Cheetham J.W. de Jong Hubert Dun K.R. Norman G.C. Pande Charles Prebish Peter Skilling Paul Williams Editor. Russell Webb Assistant Editors: Bhikkhu Pasadika, Sara Boin-Webb N. American Representative: Charles S, Prebish For editorial addresses and subscription details,' see inside back cover. Vol.15, 1 BUDDHIST STUDIES REVIEW 1998 Frontispiece: the calligraphy in Sino-Vietnamese characters (Norn) by Ven Thich Huyen-Vi reads: Buddhist Studies Review and the UK Association for Buddhist Studies As of 1998, Buddhist Studies Review has been endorsed as the Mental phenomena are preceded by mind, have journal of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies. All paid up mind as their leader, are made by mind.
    [Show full text]
  • J. W. De Jong Bibliography 1949–1986, Hokke Bunka Kenky∑ 14 (1988), Pp
    J. W. de Jong Bibliography ( 1949 – 2000) 1 Abbreviations ALB = Bulletin of the Adyar Library AM = Asia Major AS = Asiatische Studien Bespr. = Besprechung BSOAS = Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) CAJ = Central Asiatic Journal CR = Compte rendu FEQ = Far Eastern Quarterly HJAS = Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies IBK = Indogaku Bukkyøgaku Kenky∑ (Journal of Indian and Buddhist Studies) IIJ = Indo-Iranian Journal JA = Journal Asiatique JAOS = Journal of the American Oriental Society JIABS = Journal of the International Association of Buddhist Studies JIP = Journal of Indian Philosophy OLZ = Orientalistische Literaturzeitung TP = T’oung Pao ZAS = Zentralasiatische Studien ZDMG = Zeitschrift der deutschen morgenländischen Gesellschaft * This Bibliography is based on J. W. de Jong Bibliography 1949–1986, Hokke bunka kenky∑ 14 (1988), pp. 1–63. J. W. de Jong Bibliography 1987–1997, Hokke bunka kenky∑ 25 (1999), pp. 1–63. Minoru HARA,J. W. de Jong hakase no chøsei o itamu, Tøhøgaku, no. 100, 2000, pp. 301-309. 2 1949 l. Cinq chapitres de la Prasannapadå (= Buddhica. Documents et Travaux pour l’étude du Bouddhisme. Collection fondée par Jean Przyluski, publiée sous la direction de Marcelle Lalou, première série: Mémoires, tome IX). Paris: Paul Geuthner, 1949; XVI + 167 pp. [Ph.D. thesis, University of Leiden]. 2. Contributions à Bibliographie bouddhique, IX-XX, Paris, 1949. 1950 3. Le problème de l’absolu dans l’école Madhyamaka, Revue philosophique de la France et de l’étranger, Paris, 1950; pp. 322-327. [Cf. no. 200] 1951 4. Suggestions for a Polyglot Buddhist Dictionary, Våk, I (Poona, Dec. 1951), pp. 5-7.
    [Show full text]
  • Moonshadows: Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy
    Moonshadows This page intentionally left blank Moonshadows Conventional Truth in Buddhist Philosophy T HE C OWHERDS 2011 Oxford University Press, Inc., publishes works that further Oxford University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education. Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offi ces in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Copyright © 2011 by Oxford University Press, Inc. Published by Oxford University Press, Inc. 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 www.oup.com Oxford is a registered trademark of Oxford University Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of Oxford University Press. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Cowherds (Authors) Moonshadows : conventional truth in Buddhist philosophy / the Cowherds. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-0-19-975142-6; ISBN 978-0-19-975143-3 (pbk.) 1. Truth—Religious aspects—Buddhism. 2. Buddhist philosophy. I. Title. BQ4255.C69 2011 121.088′2943—dc22 2009050158 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper Preface This is an unusual volume. It is neither an anthology nor a monograph. We prefer to think of it as a polygraph— a collectively written volume refl ecting the varying views of a large collection of authors.
    [Show full text]
  • Central Asia in Xuanzang's Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western
    Recording the West: Central Asia in Xuanzang’s Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions Master’s Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master Arts in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Laura Pearce Graduate Program in East Asian Studies Ohio State University 2018 Committee: Morgan Liu (Advisor), Ying Zhang, and Mark Bender Copyrighted by Laura Elizabeth Pearce 2018 Abstract In 626 C.E., the Buddhist monk Xuanzang left the Tang Empire for India in a quest to deepen his religious understanding. In order to reach India, and in order to return, Xuanzang journeyed through areas in what is now called Central Asia. After he came home to China in 645 C.E., his work included writing an account of the countries he had visited: The Great Tang Dynasty Record of the Western Regions (Da Tang Xi You Ji 大唐西域記). The book is not a narrative travelogue, but rather presented as a collection of facts about the various countries he visited. Nevertheless, the Record is full of moral judgments, both stated and implied. Xuanzang’s judgment was frequently connected both to his Buddhist beliefs and a conviction that China represented the pinnacle of culture and good governance. Xuanzang’s portrayal of Central Asia at a crucial time when the Tang Empire was expanding westward is both inclusive and marginalizing, shaped by the overall framing of Central Asia in the Record and by the selection of local legends from individual nations. The tension in the Record between Buddhist concerns and secular political ones, and between an inclusive worldview and one centered on certain locations, creates an approach to Central Asia unlike that of many similar sources.
    [Show full text]
  • Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, Revised Edition
    REVISED EDITION John Powers ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 1 Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 2 ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 3 Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism revised edition by John Powers Snow Lion Publications ithaca, new york • boulder, colorado ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 4 Snow Lion Publications P.O. Box 6483 • Ithaca, NY 14851 USA (607) 273-8519 • www.snowlionpub.com © 1995, 2007 by John Powers All rights reserved. First edition 1995 Second edition 2007 No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Printed in Canada on acid-free recycled paper. Designed and typeset by Gopa & Ted2, Inc. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Powers, John, 1957- Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism / by John Powers. — Rev. ed. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-282-2 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-55939-282-7 (alk. paper) 1. Buddhism—China—Tibet. 2. Tibet (China)—Religion. I. Title. BQ7604.P69 2007 294.3’923—dc22 2007019309 ITTB_Interior 9/20/07 2:23 PM Page 5 Table of Contents Preface 11 Technical Note 17 Introduction 21 Part One: The Indian Background 1. Buddhism in India 31 The Buddha 31 The Buddha’s Life and Lives 34 Epilogue 56 2. Some Important Buddhist Doctrines 63 Cyclic Existence 63 Appearance and Reality 71 3. Meditation 81 The Role of Meditation in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism 81 Stabilizing and Analytical Meditation 85 The Five Buddhist Paths 91 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Asian Religious Traditions Spring 2015 MWF 1:00 - 2:05 PM Kenna Hall 308
    RSOC 10: Asian Religious Traditions Spring 2015 MWF 1:00 - 2:05 PM Kenna Hall 308 Instructor: Prof. David Gray Office: Kenna Hall 300F Phone: x4343 email: [email protected] Office Hours: Wed. 2:15-3:15 PM, and Fri. 11 AM-12 noon, or by appointment COURSE DESCRIPTION This course, which fulfills the RTC 1 requirement for the core curriculum, will introduce students to the history, major teachings, and practices of the major Asian Religious traditions of South, Central, East, and Southeast Asia, namely Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoism. It will do so from an historical perspective, and will also explore the development of key theological and religious/philosophical doctrines as well as associated practices. COURSE GOALS 1. Students will gain a basic understanding of the Asian Religious Traditions. 2. Students will engage in critical and comparative reflection on these traditions, and will seek to understand the relevance of their teachings and practices to the practitioners of these traditions. DEPARTMENT GOALS 1. Students will be introduced to diverse materials and perspectives. 2. Students will demonstrate the use of formal practices of inquiry and reflection that enable them to go beyond simple typologies to fuller engagement. The Religious Studies departmental learning goals are embedded in the course goals. CORE CURRICULUM LEARNING GOALS AND OBJECTIVES This course fulfills Santa Clara’s Core Requirement Religion, Theology, and Culture 1. Core Learning Goals: Knowledge of Global Cultures and Habits of Mind and Heart: Complexity, Critical Thinking, Religious Reflection Core Learning Objectives: 1. Students will be able to describe and compare the central religious ideas and practices from several traditions or within one, and from at least two globally distinct regions.
    [Show full text]