Tpcs Buddhist Tradtns of Japan

Catalog description

Taught by GTU. JAPANESE RELIGIOUS LANDSCAPE This course explores Japanese religious thought and practice through the theoretical lens of landscape. Topics will include: the influence of geography (islands, mountains, plains, oceans) on conceptions of kami (gods) in early Japan; ideas about landscape and space in Japanese Buddhism; how Buddhist doctrine is "taught" through landscape art; how landscape influences religious practice; the practical and theoretical roles of temple and shrine architecture, grounds, and gardens; pilgrimage as movement through religious space/landscape; and changing religious practices in the modern landscape. Prerequisites: Assumes some knowledge of Japanese religion, culture and/or language. Course format: Online discussion. Evaluation method: Participation/Term paper. [Auditors with faculty permission] SPRING 2018 TOPICS IN BUDDHIST TRADITIONS OF JAPAN: TEACHINGS OF ZEN MASTER DOGEN The writings of Dogen, 13th century Japanese Soto Zen founder, are a unique highpoint of Zen literature. Exploring profound Buddhist philosophical issues, Dogen creatively used poetic language and wordplay to evocatively express the meaning of practice/ enlightenment, and to train his students who successfully established Soto Zen in Japan. We will do textual study of a selection of Dogen's major writings, including teachings about meditation, nature mysticism, community life, koans (teaching stories), and Buddhist theories of temporality. After discussing background material on Dogen, and several of the essays from one of Dogen's major works, Shobogenzo (True Dharma Eye Treasury), we will focus on the short discourses to his students in Dogen's Extensive Record, which demonstrate his teaching style and humor. We will consider the impact of Dogen's various background sources, including the Chinese koan tradition, the Japanese poetic and aesthetic tradition, the East Asian Buddhist monastic tradition, and Mahayana sutras and bodhisattva lore. We will also explore how Dogen's challenging writings relate to modern spiritual issues. Prerequisite: Some Buddhist studies, including Mahayana. [Faculty Consent required; 15 max enrollment]