RES 230G - Buddhism

What is suffering? How do we face the suffering in our lives? Is it possible to conceive of a life without suffering? In this course, we will travel through two-and- a-half millennia, across the globe through Asia, Europe, and the Americas to study how people of diverse ethnicities, languages, and cultures have sought answers to these questions through the Buddhist tradition. We will take two perspectives: an overview of the whole tradition and a more focused study of four sub-traditions, Theravada Buddhism, Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, and Zen Buddhism. These four traditions together not only represent well the variety of Buddhism’s forms, but they are also the four traditions that have gained the most popularity in the West. We will examine the doctrines, practices, rituals, and sacred arts of these traditions. Readings will be in primary texts and secondary sources and supplemented by films. The format will be a combination of lecture and discussion. Course Codes: BR. Prereq: RES.Q 101. Multicultural Studies minor course. International Studies course.

Prerequisites & Notes
Course Codes: BR. Prereq: RES.Q 101. Multicultural Studies minor course. International Studies course. Term offering cycle: Variable. Typical yearly cycle: Irregular offering.

Credits: 3