Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0182 - The Buddha's Buddhism

This course serves as a thorough introduction to Buddhism through the life, times, and teachings of its founder: Siddhartha Gautama; the Enlightened One; the Buddha. We will read a selection of the Buddha's own discourses - the original Buddhist sutras/suttas - from the Pali canon on themes such as the human condition, karma and rebirth, the path to liberation, meditation, and mindfulness. In the course of these readings, all the core teachings of the Buddha's Buddhism will be examined, including the four noble truths, the eightfold path, the middle way, dependent co-origination, no-self, and nirva?a. The Buddha's life story will be read in detail, from his miraculous birth and wanton youth through to his renunciation of worldly pleasures and eventual realization. We will also read about his previous lives (the Jataka tales), during which the eventual Buddha attained each of the ten perfections required for traversing, and teaching, the path to enlightenment.

Culture, Humanities, and Languages Independent Work Multiple Cultural Perspectives Writing and Research Students are expected to spend 6-8 hours weekly in preparation and work outside of class time.