Intro Buddhism for Beginners

Buddhism for Beginners:

The Buddha, his Quest for Enlightenment, and the Rise of a Global Religion

• Be on time (and don't leave early)
• No phones, headphones, electronics in the classroom
• Go the the bathroom before class (only emergencies, please)
• Be respectful, listen, ask questions, participate.

• Name (Nickname? Pronoun?)
• Year:
• AOC:
• From:
• Why are you taking this class?
• Previous religion classes (if any)?
• Recent Book you read that you liked?
• Recent TV Show/Movie you liked?
• Music you like?
• Anything you want me to know about you?

Course Objectives

Manuel Lopez

• Knowledge of the Buddha, his life and teachings in their historical context.
• Familiarity with the main phases and developments in Buddhist doctrine and practice, as well as an understanding of the differences among the larger Buddhist traditions.
• An appreciation of the Buddhist textual tradition and its various literary genres (biography, hagiography, canonical texts, etc.).
• An appreciation for a different way of understanding and interpreting the world, which will, hopefully, also serve as a way to question and reflect on our own cultural and philosophical traditions.
• An understanding of the contemporary interaction between Buddhism and the West.
• Development of 3 CYC skills: Reading, Writing, and Intercultural Knowledge and Competence.

Bhutan Research Project

About Me

Next Class

Some Questions We will Explore this Semester

2001-2003

2003-2008

Since 2016

Lay and Monastic

1999-2001

2013

Who was the Buddha? What is a Buddha? Where is the Buddha? Can you become a Buddha?

Do all of your actions have moral consequences?

(if you took $20 from your roommate’s desk while s/he is away, and s/he did not even notice afterwards, are there any consequences to your action?)

Who are you? Yes, I am talking to you...

Do we have a permanent self? (and what is the self anyway?)

2009-2014

Field Visits

Required Texts

What is Meditation?

Do all (or even most) Buddhist Meditate?

What does it mean to be a Buddhist? Does Buddhism even exist? (or should we talk about Buddhisms?) Do all Buddhists share core beliefs?

(The answer is no!)

Is rebirth possible?

(and how about a rebirth as an animal, or a hungry ghost?).

Go Over Canvas Page

• Harvey, P. (2013). An introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, history and practices (Second ed.). New York: Cambridge University Press.

• Ñāṇamoli Bhikkhu, The Life of the Buddha, Pariyatti Publishing, 2003.

• The Dhammapada, translated by Valerie Roebuck (Published by Penguin)

• The Zen Teachings of Master Linchi, translated by Burton Watson.

• The Life of Milarepa, translated by Andrew Quintman.

There is a copy of all of these books (with the exception of The Life of the Buddha) in the Reserve section for this course at the Library. Additional readings for each class will be posted on CANVAS.

Ringling Museum

Thai Buddhist Temple,

Tampa