Humanities Arts Cultural Stu 0223 - Chinese Buddhist Philosophy

This course provides an introduction to the philosophical literature of Chinese Buddhism. It is structured around the four major Chinese Buddhist philosophical schools: Consciousness Only (Weishi), Flower Garland (Huayan), Heavenly Platform (Tiantai), and Meditation (Chan/Zen). Readings are predominantly drawn from the domains of Ontology, Epistemology, Phenomenology, Philosophy of Mind, and Philosophy of Language. Buddhist topics studied include: Suffering, No-Self, the Perfection of Wisdom, Emptiness, the Bodhisattva Path, Expedient Means, Totality, the Three Truths, and Suchness. Classical primary texts such as the Lotus Sutra, Platform Sutra, Awakening of Faith, Demonstration of Consciousness Only, and Record of Linji are read, as are scholarly articles aimed at providing students with the historical and philosophical contexts in which the classical literature arose. The course includes an introduction to the Indian Buddhist philosophical background and the transmission of Buddhist thought from India to China.

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.