Instructor: Dr.
Office:
Phone: 280-3309
Email: jinmei@creighton.edu
Class Meetings: M W F 9:30-10:20 &
10:30-11:20; Room: L02
Office Hours: M W F: 10:30-12:30pm.,
and by
appointment
1. De Bary, W. M. Theodore, The Buddhist Tradition in
2. Rahula, Walpola Sri, What the Buddha Taught, Grove Press, Inc.,
3. Handouts: Chen, Kenneth K, Buddhism in
4. Watts, Alan, The Way of Zen, Vintage Books,
5. Paul Reps and Nyoogen Senzaki, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, Shambhala,
Course Description:
This course
will introduce the origin and
development of the basic doctrines and beliefs of Buddhism from historical and
philosophical points of view. We will discuss the contributions
from different Buddhist schools and the changes as Buddhism spread from
Three
comparisons will be involved in the class. Firstly, we will
compare Theravada Buddhism with Mahayana
Buddhism. This comparison will show us
the development of Buddhism’s basic doctrines.
Secondly, we will compare Indian Buddhism with Chinese traditions. It will clarify why Chinese culture allowed
itself to be influenced by Indian ways and Chinese contributions to the
Buddhist tradition. Thirdly, we will
compare Chinese Buddhism with Japanese Zen
Buddhism. It will help us to understand
how Buddhist teachings are practiced in daily life.
There is no good writing without passionate and
abundant reading. This course is,
therefore, reading and writing intensive.
1.
Students are
required to write 2 reading reports (1 page each). (2%)
2.
Students are
required to write three essays, two short ones (4 pages each) and one final (10
pages). Students are required to submit
their outline or first draft for the final essay and then re-write it. The requirement of each essay will be published
in my web-page. (Two short essay: 20%, One final: 20%)
3. Students need to do one oral presentation to report
their research. The instructor will give
the students a list of research topics at the fifth meeting. (10%)
For the oral presentation, the instructor’s evaluation will be based on:
a.
Good preparation
b.
Specific topic
c.
Good understanding and personal thinking
d.
Good skills of leading a discussion
e. Good
conclusion
The schedule for your presentation will be arranged
at the fifth class.
4. Two exams (one mid-term, 20% and one final, 20%) (40%)
5. Two unexpected quizzes (8%)
Grading:
Exams: (40%)
Exam1……………………………….100
points=20%
Exam 2………………………………100
points=20%
Written Assignments: (40%)
Two Short Essay……………….………………….20%
Final Paper…………………………………………20%
Activities/Participation: (20%)
Two
Quiz 1………………………….…………..25
points=4%
Quiz 2 (unexpected)..……………….……...25
points=4%
Presentation……….……………….………………….10%
90
above=A,
85—89
=B+,
80—84
=B,
75—79
=C+,
70—74
=C,
61—69 =D,
below
60=F
Academic honesty: Academic honesty is an important policy for this
class. No cheating is allowed in any
exams and quizzes, as well as your written assignments. Any paper or essay copied from internet will
not be accepted. I may use Turnitin.com as a resource
when I suspect that a student may have plagiarized a paper. For the University’s Policy on
Academic Honesty and the College’s procedures
you can look at http://puffin.creighton.edu/ccas/Students/students.html
Exams:
Exams must be
taken with the group. If you cannot take
an exam due to an excused absence, you will not be penalized. You need to take the make-up exam within a
week. “Travel Arrangements” are not acceptable excuses for missing an
exam. If you fail to take an exam for an
unacceptable reason, you will receive a zero for that exam.
Class
Attendance/Participation : The only way to succeed in college is to attend
class. Your attendance and participation in class are very important in this
class as much of the learning and application of concepts are conducted in
class. No more than two absences are allowed before your grade is affected.
Each absence thereafter will result in 0.5 % deducted from your final grade.
There may be exceptions at the discretion of the instructor for absences.
Missing
a quiz counts as missing two classes. There will be no make-up quiz.
If you have problems throughout the semester, please
contact me at the beginning of the semester. Instructor needs to be informed as
soon as possible if your absence is related to extreme circumstances (family
emergencies, hospitalization).
01/11 (W) Introduction to Buddhism Handout
01/13 (F) Buddhism in
The historical background—Vedic Theodore de Bary, pp.xv-15
01/16 (M) Gods in
01/18 (W) Buddha’s story Rahula, pp. xv-15
Buddhist ethics Theodore
de Bary, 15-23
01/20 (F) Four Noble Truths Rahula,
pp. 16-50
01/23 (M) Labor Day
01/25 (W) Four Noble Truths (cont.) Theodore de Bary, pp.15-54
01/27 (F) Four Noble Truths (cont.) Rahula, 92-105
01/30 (M) Four Noble Truths (cont.)
The first reading report due
02/01 (W) No-Soul and No-Self
Rahula, pp. 51-66
02/03 (F) Class discussion on Buddhist
“No-Self” Rahula,
pp.106-119
02/06 (M) Meditation Rahula, pp. 67-75, 119-125
02/08 (W) A way of salvation Theodore de Bary, pp.56-72,118-122
02/10 (F) The
Dhammapada Rahula, pp.279-284
02/13 (M) The difference
between
Theravada and Mahayana Theodore de
Bary, pp. 73-109
02/15 (W) Buddhism in
The historical
background Chen, pp.
57-93
02/17 (F) Daoism Handout
02/20 (M) Confucianism Handout
02/22 (W) Chinese Monks Chen, pp.94-144
02/24 (F) Chinese
Buddhist’s view on
Self, Dream and Death
02/27 (M) Exam I
03/01 (W) The monastic order Chen,
pp. 213-296
03/03 (F) The Schools of Chinese Buddhism I Theodore de Bary, pp. 142-196
Chen pp.213-226, 297-337
03/04-03/12 Spring
Break-no class
03/13 (M) The
second short essay due
The Schools of Chinese
Buddhism II Theodore de Bary, pp. 187-251 Chen
pp.338-364
03/15
(W) Film
03/17 (F) Class
discussion on the Film
03/20
(M) Tibetan Buddhism
03/22
(W) The relationship between Chinese Buddhism
and Japanese Buddhism Theodore de Bary, pp. 255-313
03/24 (F) Buddhism in
03/27
(M) The Rise and Development of Zen Theodore de Bary, pp. 355-365
03/29 (W) Film
03/31 (F) Zen
Principle and Practice
The first draft of the final essay due
04/03 (M) Zen Practice I
04/05
(W) Zen Practice II
Theodore de Bary, pp 365-398
04/07 (F) Za-zen and
the Koan
Watts, pp. 154-173
04/10 (M) Zen in the Art
The Second
reading report due
04/12 (W) Class discussion on Zen Buddhist Arts
04/13-04/17 Holy Thursday and Easter Monday
04/19 (W) Your own practice
Final paper due
04/21 (F) Film at Dr. Yuan’s
Residence
04/24 (M) Your own practice
04/26
(W) Your own practice
04/28 (F) Review
05/01-05/06 Final Exam Week.
Your exam is scheduled as following:
9:30-10:20 Class:
From 10:00 to 11:40, May 1,
Monday.
10:30-11:20 Class: From 8:00 to 9:40, May 5, Friday
I will
accept your final papers till May 5 by 5pm.
No comments for the late paper. I
will deduct 2% from your total grade if you paper is submitted after May 5.