MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) Centre of Buddhist Studies The University of Hong Kong Master of Buddhist Studies Course Outline (2008-2009) BSTC6061 Early Buddhism (Foundation Course) Lecturer Prof. Y. Karunadasa Rm216, 2/F, May Hall Tel: 2241-5019 Email: [email protected] Schedule: 1st Semester; Monday 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Class Venue: T4, Meng Wah Complex Course Description This course will be mainly based on the Pali Sutta Pitaka and is designed to provide an insight into the fundamental doctrines of what is generally known as Early Buddhism. The course will begin with a description of the religious and intellectual milieu in which Buddhism originated and the nature of the Buddhist response to it. Attention will be focused on the following themes: early Buddhist view of individual existence in the light of the doctrine of dependent origination, the threefold analysis into khandha, ayatana and dhatu, and the three signs of sensient existence; Buddhist diagnosis of the human condition and Nibbana as the Buddhist ideal of emancipation, Buddhist psychology and its relevance to mental culture, theory and practice of the moral life, Buddhist ethics and the arahant ideal, undetermined questions, epistemological standpoint and the Buddhist psychology of ideologies. The course will be concluded with an inquiry as to whether Early Buddhism is a religion, philosophy, both, or neither. Assessment 4 essays (40%) written examination (60%) Recommended for reference Venerable Walpola Rahula, What the Buddha Taught (Bedford 1959) A.K. Warder, Indian Buddhism (Delhi 1980) Peter Harvey, Introduction to Buddhism (Cambridge: 1990) D.J. Kalupahana, History of Buddhist Philosophy: Continuities and Discontinuities 1 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) (Honalulu 1996) Peter Harvey, An Introduction to Buddhist Ethics (Cambridge: 2003) W.S. Karunaratne, Buddhist Theory of Causality (Colombo 1985) Rune Johansson, Dynamic Psychology of Early Buddhism (London 1985) K.N Jayatilleke, Early Buddhist Theory of Knowledge (London 1963) Rune E. A. Johansson, Psychology of Nirvana (London 1969) (Course details to be confirmed by teacher) BSTC6002 Mahayana Buddhism (Foundation Course) Lecturer Ven. Dr. Jing Yin Rm 206, 2/F, May Hall Tel: 2859-2847 Email: [email protected] Schedule: 2nd Semester; Wednesday 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Class Venue: To be confirmed Course Description This course aims at students without previous knowledge of Mahayana Buddhism. It provides an introduction to Mahayana Buddhism in the widest sense. After a brief look at the development of Buddhism in India after the death of the Buddha, this course concentrates on the historical, philosophical and religious origins of Mahayana Buddhism in India. These include the Bodhisattva ideal; Buddhological developments; the philosophical systematizations of the Madhymaka and Yogacara schools; the reasons for the dominant position of Mahayana Buddhism in China and an investigation on the features of the newly emerged Mahayana modernism (i.e., Japanese Buddhism). Assessment Participation in tutorial section (10%) (Signed up). Presentation (20%). 4 short essays with 800 words each (30%). written examination. (40%) 2 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) Schedule of Classes Lecture 1 Origin and Development Buddhism in India (Reading: Williams Ch. 9 (185-197); Strong 5.5; C. H. S. Ward Ch.4-6 Buddhism, Volume two-Mah āyāna by (1952:London:the Epworth press); Bapat, P. V. 2500 Years of Buddhism. (1987:New Delhi: Indian Government.) Lecture 2 Origin, Development and Disappearance of M āhay āna Buddhism in India (Reading: Williams Ch. 1 (1-36); Strong 4.1; (Hirakawa) Lecture 3-4 Dialogue between Therav āda and M āhay āna Buddhism (Reading: Walpola Rahula; The Heritage of the Bhikkhu ; (New York, Grove Press, 1974); pp. 100, 1137-138 印順法師佛學著作集》—初期大乘佛教之起源與開展-第一章 序說-第一節 大 乘所引起的問題: 第一項 大乘非佛說論) Lecture 5 Madhyamaka ( 中觀) & San-lun School ( 三論宗) (Reading: Williams Ch. 3 (55-76); Strong 4.3.1) Lecture 6 Textual Study: The Heart Sutra Lecture 7 Yogacara ( 瑜伽) and the Consciousness-only School 唯識 (Readings: Williams Ch. 4 (77-95); Strong 4.3.2-4.3.3) Lecture 8 Textual Study: Verses on the Structure of the Eight Consciousnesses 《八識規矩 頌》 Lecture 9 Main teachings of Chan (Reading: Dumoulin, Heinrich (1963) A history of Zen Buddhism . New York : Pantheon Books. Humphreys, Christmas (1984) Zen Buddhism . London. Suzuki, D. T. (1970) Essays in Zen Buddhism . London : Rider. Suzuki, D. T. (1991) An introduction to Zen Buddhism . London : Rider. 3 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) Thich Nhat Hanh (1995) Zen Keys . New Yek.) Lecture 10 Textual Study: The Six Platform Sutra Lecture 11 The devotional practice in M āhay āna Buddhism (Readings: Williams Ch. 10 (215-276); Strong 5.2, 5.4) Lecture 12 Presentation Lecture 13 Presentation Reading Two books are required and available in the HKU bookstore: Paul Williams. M āhay āna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations. London and New York: Routledge, 1989. John S. Strong. The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations. Belment: Wadsworth Publishing Company, 2002. The following are recommended, not required, and also on reserve in HKU main library: Étienne Lamotte. History of Indian Buddhism: from the origins to the Saka era; translated from French by Sara Webb-Boin under the supervision of Jean Dantinne. Louvain-la-Neuve: Université catholique de Louvain, Institut orientaliste, 1988. Hirakawa Akira. A history of Indian Buddhism: from Sakyamuni to early M āhay āna; translated and edited by Paul Groner. [Honolulu]: University of Hawaii Press, 1990. K. Warder. Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1970. Hajime Nakamura. Indian Buddhism: a survey with bibliographical notes. Hirakata: KUFS Pubns., 1980. Nathan Katz. Buddhist images of human perfection: the arahant of the Sutta pitaka compared with the Bodhisattva and the Mahasiddha. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1982. 4 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) H. Dayal. The bodhisattva doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit literature. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1975, c1932. Ian Charles Harris. The continuity of Madhyamaka and Yogacara in Indian Māhay āna Buddhism. Leiden: E.J. Brill, 1991. G.M. Nagao. Madhyamika and Yogacara: a study of M āhay āna philosophies; edited, collated, and translated by L.S. Kawamura in collaboration with G.M. Nagao. Albany: State University of New York Press, c1991. Sallie B. King. Buddha nature. Albany: State University of New York Press, c1991. Paul Williams with Anthony Tribe. Buddhist Thought: A complete introduction to the Indian tradition. London and New York: Routledge, 2000. Yinshun. The Origin and Development of Early M āhay āna Buddhism (In Chinese). Taipei, 1992 (1981). BSTC6006 Counselling and pastoral practice Lecturer Dr. S.H. Ma Rm215, 2/F, May Hall Tel: 2859-2847 Email: [email protected] Schedule: 2nd Semester; Sunday 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. (except as stated in italics below) Class Venue: To be confirmed Course Description This course aims at providing students with basic knowledge and understanding of the application of Buddhist theory and practices to counselling and personal transformation. It covers from the Buddhist perspective the psychology of perception, emotions and thoughts; basic skills and concepts in counselling; recent development and research in psychotherapy, and insights into caring for the dying and their carers. The course comprises lectures, seminars, exercises and Buddhist practices. Students should be prepared to participate in the practices and exercises in class in order to acquire an experiential as well as intellectual understanding of the subject. 5 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) Course Outline Lectures Time Topics 18 Jan 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Goals of Buddhist Psychotherapy 1 Feb 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Models of Mind and Dependent Origination 8 Feb 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Five Skandhas as a Process 15 Feb 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Self or Not-self in Buddhist Psychotherapy 22 Feb 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Application of Mindfulness 1 Mar 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Application of the Eightfold Path 8 Mar 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Dharmma Therapy (Ven. Hin Hung) 14 Mar 2009 (Sat) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Care for the Dying 22 Mar 2009 (Sun) 2:30pm – 5:30pm Care for Carers and the Bereaved 29 Mar 2009 (Sun) 2:00pm – 5:30pm Workshop on Transforming Anger 5 Apr 2009 (Sun) 2:00pm – 5:30pm Practicum 12 Apr 2009 (Sun) 9:30am – 5:30pm Students’ presentation Details for the reading for each class are available on WebCT. Class participation Most classes consist of a lecture, experiential exercises and a tutorial. In order to acquire an experiential as well as intellectual understanding of the subject, students are encouraged to participate as fully as possible in class activities. The emphasis of class participation is not on performance, but rather on the willingness to explore, learn and contribute at a level that is appropriate for the individual as well as the class. As experiential exercises form an important part of the course, students are expected to attend, at a minimum, 80% of the classes. Assessment Book Review (30%) Each student is to submit through WebCT a book review consisting of 1,500 to 2,500 words on or before 2nd March 2009 . The review can be on any book in the Reading List. Marks will be deducted for late submission. Presentation (10%) Each student is to give a 15-minute presentation to the class and respond to questions or comments from the class at the end of the presentation on 12 th April, 2009 . The list of presentation topics is available on WebCT. 6 MBS Course Outline 08-09(Updated on Oct 8, 2008) Essay (60%) Each student is to submit through WebCT an essay consisting of 3,500 to 4,500 words, excluding bibliography and appendices, on or before 26 th April 2009 .