Eastern Philosophy and Religion 45.348 201 MW 1:30-2:45 pm

Spring Semester 2006

(general education humanities, ethics, and diversity)

DHARMA AND THE DAO: PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION IN INDIA, CHINA AND JAPAN

DESCRIPTION

Have you ever wanted to learn what non-western peoples have thought about the basic questions of life or think differently about things and get out of the usual box? Do you want to begin to understand the ancient and enduring religious and philosophical traditions of South and East Asia? In this course, we will explore the early and classic philosophical and religious traditions of India, China, and Japan. In particular, we will investigate some of the primary interpretations of Dharma in Indian thought and Dao (Tao) in Chinese thought. We will read selected works on truth, wisdom, liberation, yogic discipline, spiritual devotion, and liberation, awakening, and enlightenment in Hindu and Buddhist thought in India as well as works on wisdom, virtue, self-cultivation, ritual propriety, nature, and wandering free and at ease in Confucian and Daoist thought in China. Some of the issues that we will examine are the roles of emptiness, language, and nature in Buddhism and Daoism; the debate between "orthodox" (astika) and "unorthodox" (nastika) movements in India: arguments for and against moralistic and naturalistic conceptions of human life in China; and the significance of virtuous action, ritual, and duty in Hinduism and Confucianism. Finally, we will also examine some of the poetic, practical, and philosophical writings of Japan's greatest Zen masters and Buddhist philosophers, Eihei Dogen.

PREREQUISITES

None, but this will be a reading and thinking intensive course. You should plan to spend a few hours reading and reflecting on the texts for each class. You should also be open to learning about different cultures and ideas.

ASSIGNMENTS

The final grade will depend on three elements:

1. 20% of the final grade will depend on good attendance and active participation. Missing classes and not participating in class and group discussions will result in a lower grade or failure. There will be oral and written, individual and group, in-class assignments and take-home assignments based on the readings and class-discussion.

2. 20% x 2 of the final grade will be based on one examination and a midterm paper (4-6 pages).

3. 40% of the final grade will be based on a Final Research paper (9-10 pages in length).

Need help? Feel free to contact me or check out some of the following resources:

Richard Field, A Brief Guide to Writing Philosophy Papers: http://info.nwmissouri.edu/~rfield/guide.html

Garth Kemerling, Guide to the Study of Philosophy: http://www.philosophypages.com/sy.htm

if you have any suggestions, questions, or concerns, feel free to talk with me after class or during my office visiting hours. I will also be available at other times by appointment.

If you have a disability that will present a difficulty in this class or experience problems that will interfere with success in this class, please discuss this with me immediately.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
1. Professionalism: students are required to adopt a professional attitude toward class conduct and fellow students. Please be on time and leave when the class is over. Please do not engage in discussions that are unrelated to class material and distract your fellow students. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off and calls should be taken after class is over except in cases of extreme emergency such as imminent mortality or imprisonment.
2. Work should be done on time. Late or missed work will be penalized by being lowered a whole grade for each day. Missed in-class assignments cannot be made up because they are part of the attendance/participation grade which requires that you attend class.
3. Attendance is mandatory and not an option. Students who do not regularly attend class will be dropped or receive an F.
4. You are expected to keep up with the reading and participate in class discussions. Consistent failure to keep up with the readings will seriously compromise your ability to succeed.
5. If you have any suggestions, questions, problems, or concerns, feel free to talk with me after class or during my office visiting hours. I am available at other times by appointment.
6. Plagiarism, cheating, and all other forms of academic dishonesty are considered serious violations of personal and educational integrity and will result in automatic failure.
7. Grading Policy: This will be a reading, thinking, and writing intensive class. The grade of “A” will only be given to excellent work that shows that you understand and can work with the question in your own voice. Answers should be accurate, clear, consistent, complete, and involve a thoughtful response to both the readings and class-discussion.
8. If you have a disability that presents a difficulty for you in this class or are experiencing problems that are interfering with your work in this class, please discuss this with me immediately and we will attempt to come up with an appropriate solution.

REQUIRED TEXTS

1. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom: The Yoga Sutra Attributed to Patanjali. Bantam, ISBN: 0553374281. Tr. Barbara Miller
2. The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna's Counsel in Time of War. Bantam Classics, ISBN: 0553213652. Tr. Barbara Miller
3. In the Buddha's Words : An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Teachings of the Buddha). Wisdom Publications, ISBN: 0861714911. Ed. and Tr. Bhikkhu Bodhi
4. Santideva, The Bodhicaryavatara. Oxford University Press, ISBN: 0192837206
5. Philip J. Ivanhoe, Bryan W. Van Norden, Readings in Classical Chinese Philosophy. Hackett, ISBN: 087220703X
6. Eihei Dogen, Moon in a Dewdrop : Writings of Zen Master Dogen. North Point Press, ISBN: 086547186X
 

SCHEDULE

III. Dao as Ritual Propriety: rujia and the way of virtue

17.-18. March 29 and April 3: Introduction to Ancient China and "Confucianism". Read Confucius (Kongzi 孔子), The Analects (Lunyu), pp. 3-50

19.-20. April 5 and 10: Mencius. Read Mencius (Mengzi 孟子), pp. 111-153

IV. Dao as Spontaneity: daojia and the way of nature

 道可道非常道 / The Dao that can be spoken of is not the enduring Dao

21. April 12: Introduction to Daoism. Reading: Laozi (老子), Daodejing, pp. 157-180

22. April 17: Patriot’s Day (University Closed)

23. April 19: Laozi (老子), Daodejing, pp. 180-200 and

24. April 24: Zhuangzi (莊子), pp. 203-220

25. April 26: Zhuangzi (莊子), pp. 220-240. Questions for paper assignment.

V. Following the Way: Shinto and Zen Buddhism in Japan

26. May 1: Introduction to Zen Buddhism and Eihei Dogen (道元 禅師): (1) Dogen on how to do Zazen and Dogen's Poetry: Read Dogen, Moon in a Dewdrop, pp. 29-30, 213-219.

Zen Meditation anyone? See: How to do Zazen (Zen meditation). Also Visit the Virtual Zen Master!

27. May 3: The Zen Chef. Reading: Moon in a Dewdrop, pp. 31-66.

28. May 8: Time and the Everyday and The Poetics of Natural Images, Read Moon in a Dewdrop, Pages 69-86, 97-113.

The final paper (Assignment  IV) is due before 5pm on Friday, May 19!