Buddhist Studies 160 - The Buddha

Offered as REL 160 and BUS 160. Who was the Buddha? For some, he was an ordinary being who achieved awakening and became a teacher. For others, he was a savior and an enduring cosmic presence. And who is he now for the millions of Buddhists worldwide? This course examines how the figure of the Buddha has been understood, represented, and revered across Buddhist cultures. It explores depictions of the historical Buddha and conceptions of Buddhahood; asking what constitutes awakening; how exemplary lives shape communities; and how texts, art, and ritual create religious authority. Materials include scriptural sources, biographies, philosophical writings, painting, sculpture, film, and modern scholarship. (E)