(= A REL 357) Zen Buddhism

Catalog description

An introduction to the religious, philosophical, and artistic tradition of Zen Buddhism in China, Korea, Japan, and the West. This course looks at the birth and subsequent historical evolution of the Zen or Ch’an school of Buddhism in East Asia. We will look at the intersection of Buddhist and Chinese presumptions about spirituality that gave rise to this unusual religious form, discussing precisely what is and is not iconoclastic about its tenets. The experience of American Zen communities will also be considered. Only one version of A EAS 357 may be taken for credit.