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Buddhist Philosophy in China

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Phl 387: Topics in Asian Philosophy Buddhist Philosophy in China

Prof. Franklin Perkins (fperkins@depaul.edu) office hours: Mon 4:30-5:30; Thu 1:00-2:00


Description and Objectives


The foundation of Buddhism is the claim that life involves suffering, that the cause of suffering is desire, and that we can free ourselves from suffering if we free ourselves from desires. Freedom from desire releases us from the cycles of karma and reincarnation (sa sāra) so that we achieve nirvana. Supporting this practical orientation is the idea of “impermanence,” that all things are always in flux. This impermanence applies even to our selves – because of impermanence, there can be no constant self, ego, or ‘I’. Much of Buddhist philosophy arose in an attempt to radically think through the idea of impermanence and how to reconcile it with our everyday experience of the world as composed of individual things. In Mahāyāna Buddhism (and thus in Chinese Buddhism), a key concept introduced to address these problems is emptiness or void (śūnyatā /kōng ). Emptiness appeared as an attempt to think a middle course between the denial of our experience (nihilism) and the belief that our experience is founded in things that are independently real. Realizing emptiness allows for a kind of radical phenomenology, so that we see that world not as things acting on each other but rather as a flux of qualities or phenomena. Seeing the world in this way is nirvana – to take nirvana as some other place to which we go is to mistakenly make it permanent and substantial. Thus one has the famous Mahāyāna claim: sa sāra is nirvana. The goal of Buddhist practice and insight is not to achieve some other condition but rather to radically change the way we experience the world in front of us. Nirvana is in accepting things as they are in their impermanence.

We will begin the first third of the course by setting the context with Indian Buddhism, with an introduction to early Buddhism, readings from the two main Mahāyāna schools (Mādhyamika and Yogācāra), and then the Heart Sutra. We will next examine two of the main schools of Chinese Buddhism (Huáyán and Tiāntái) and then focus more comprehensively on Chán (Zen). We will conclude with some readings on questions of ethics and practice. One goal will be to achieve an understanding of key elements of Buddhist philosophy and to develop the skills needed to read further Buddhist texts. Our primary goal, though, is philosophical – to think through the various philosophical problems that arise in taking seriously the radical impermanence of the world and ourselves and in connecting that impermanence to attachment and suffering. No previous knowledge of Buddhism is required, but students should have some background either in philosophy or in Chinese thought.


Course Requirements

Reading: Buddhist writings are extremely difficult to understand, so you must read them slowly and carefully, reading the texts at least once before class discussion and at least one more time after our class discussion. Discussion Papers: Every class I will give you a question to focus on, and seven to eight times through the quarter I will assign a short (one full typed page) paper on that question. These will be due at the start of class. The discussion papers will be worth 20 points of your final grade.

Passage Explications: Two short papers (2 pages) will be required, explicating a passage from the text. The paper should discuss the meaning of the passage and its overall significance. Each explication will be worth 10 points. Paper: Half of the grade for this class will come from a final paper, 10-15 pages long. The paper can be on any theme from the class. If you prefer to write two smaller papers, consult with me.

Participation and Attendance: This is a small class and I expect discussion and participation, which will count for ten points of your final grade. If you are having trouble participating, talk to me about it. Prompt attendance is required and more than 2 unexcused absences or repeated lateness will affect your grade.

Grade Distribution

Discussion Papers 2 Explications Participation Final Paper

20 points 20 points 10 points 50 points

Required Texts

Buddhist Philosophy: Essential Readings, edited by Edelglass and Garfield (Oxford, 2009).

The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, by Hui Neng; trans. by Yampolsky (Columbia, 1978).


Recommended Texts Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience, by Donald Mitchell (Oxford, 2007). Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki (Shambala, 2011).


Tentative Schedule of Assignments

[these may change and we will probably fall behind]

M 3/28 Introduction – are mountains mountains?
W 3/30 Basics of Buddhism I
 
Read: “The Teachings of the Buddha” (Mitchell, 33-63) (online)
M 4/4 Basics of Buddhism II
 
Read: “Introduction,” “Metaphysics and Ontology,” in Buddhist Philosophy (BP) 3-12
W 4/6 The Madhyamika (Middle Way) School: Emptiness
 
Read: Nāgārjuna BP 26-34; further selections (online)
Optional: Williams, “Madhyamika
M 4/11 The Madhyamika (Middle Way) School (continued)
W 4/13 The Yogācāra School: Mind-only
 
Read: Vasubandhu BP 35-45
Optional: Williams, “Yogācāra
M 4/18 The Heart Sutra
 
Read: Heart Sutra (online)
Explication I Due
W 4/20 Huayan: Classifying Doctrines
 
Read: Zongmi BP 138-148
M 4/25 Huayan: Perspectivalism
 
Read: Dushun BP 73-82
W 4/27 Tiantai: World, Truth, and Delusion
 
Jingxi Zhanran BP 238-250
M 5/2 Tiantai: Mental Activity
 
Zhi Yi BP 334-347
W 5/4 Chan: The Platform Sutra
 
Read: Platform Sutra,
Explication 1 Due
M 5/9 Chan: The Platform Sutra
 
Read: Platform Sutra,
W 5/11 Chan: The Platform Sutra
 
Read: Platform Sutra,
M 5/16 Chan: Meditation
 
Read: Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind (excerpts online)
W 5/18 Chan: Poetry
 
Read: selected poems (online)
M 5/23 Confucian Criticisms of Buddhism
 
Read: Cheng Yi and Cheng Hao (online)
W 5/25 The Limits of Ethical Precepts
 
Read: Wŏnhyo BP 409-418
Optional: Park, Wŏnhyo and Derrida (online)
M 5/30 Engaged Buddhism
 
Read: Thich Nhat Hanh BP 419
W 6/1 Concluding Discussion


Plagiarism

Students are expected to be familiar with DePaul’s “Academic Integrity Policy.” Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s ideas or words as if they were your own. I will punish plagiarism as severely as possible, no matter how trivial the assignment. Don’t do it. You do not have to use any readings other than those assigned for class, but if you do, you must cite them, even if you do not quote them. I encourage you to discuss ideas with others, but the construction, organization and wording of any assignment must done individually. If you have any questions about what counts as plagiarism, ask me.

Internet: I advise you not to use any sources written for the internet unless approved by me. Too many are unreliable and confusing. If you do read any in relation to an assignment, you must cite them, giving the URL.


Writing Tips

Nearly all of your grade for this class will depend on writing philosophical arguments. Time spent improving your writing now will without doubt bring benefits later. Here are a few tips:

Take a narrow focus
Philosophical questions are often broad and it is up to you to choose a narrow focus, which you can consider deeply and thoroughly in the space and time allowed. Get to the point. Avoid general, obvious statements, as "Buddha was a great sage."

Explain your terms
Philosophical texts are often ambiguous, but it is up to you to show that you understand the terms you use and in which sense you use them. Be clearer than the author you write about. Define terms clearly. When you quote the text, explain the quotation and its relevance. Don’t try to hide lack of understanding with lack of clarity.

Support your opinions
While philosophical questions rarely have one right answer, they do have wrong answers and better or worse answers. You must show why your interpretation of the text is reasonable (cite the text itself as evidence) and why your arguments should be believed. This support is particularly necessary if your interpretation seems to conflict with the text or class lectures.
 
Use the text
You must cite and quote the texts you are writing about. Citing the texts will also help you be more specific and force you to support your opinions.

Proofread
Using "spell check" is not enough. If your essay contains obvious careless mistakes, it will seem that you put little care or effort into the essay as a whole.
 
Get help
Good writing is a skill that must be learned. I am happy to meet with you to discuss the texts or your paper. DePaul’s Writing Center (5-4272) is also an excellent resource. Meet with me, particularly for the final paper.
 
Save Resources
Be aware of your use of paper. Double side things if possible, or print on the back of used paper, as long as it is neat and readable. Do not use cover pages. Do not "extend" your papers with big margins or fonts. But I cannot accept papers submitted electronically.


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