GESM 120g (35348R): Buddhist Literature—From the Buddha to Black Buddhism Units: 4 Fall, 2020—T, Th—11 am–12:20 pm Location: Online Instructor: Prof. Jessica Zu Office Hours: T 11 am–12:20 pm (PDT) or by appt Also: Thursdays 15 min before and 15 min after the synchronous session Contact Info: xzu@usc.edu Please allow 36 hours for replying to emails. IT Help Website: https://dtssupport.usc.edu E:  ts@dornsife.usc.edu P:  213-740-2775 F:  213-740-5534 Hours:  M–F, 9:00am–5:00pm  Blackboard help: blackboard@usc.edu  Course Description This course surveys diverse classical texts and textual practices in major Buddhist traditions around the globe. We will explore different oral, literary, and ritual cultures ranging from the early Indian monastic communities to the contemporary USA. Sample texts include classical writings such as Therīgāthā: Poems of the First Buddhist Women and Divine Stories (early Indian Buddhism), The Lotus Sūtra and The Platform Sūtra (East Asia), Tantric Treasures and Songs of the Sixth Dalai Lama (Tibet), modern Buddhist writings such as Beat poetry, and contemporary writings by black Buddhists such as Charles Johnson and angel Kyodo williams. We will look at different genres of Buddhist texts and seek to understand what makes them Buddhist and what makes them literary. We will investigate who set up those standards, for what purpose, and for whose benefit. In doing so, we will go far beyond popular perceptions of Buddhism as “meditation-centered,” “philosophical,” “a way of life,” “a religion of love,” and “not a religion,” and instead encounter Buddhism as a historically situated and socially embodied religious tradition. No prior knowledge about Buddhism is required. We will address new terminology and difficult philosophical concepts as we encounter them through the readings. Learning Objectives Through active participation in the course, by the end of this semester, you will: Acquire essential knowledge about major oral, textual, and ritual cultures of Buddhism Learn how to use some of the essential online Buddhist databases, dictionaries, and sources Learn how to close read a Buddhist text Master a toolkit of analytical methods and critical terms for further learning of different religions and cultures Learn how to make a convincing argument Learn how to use imagination to sharpen your analytical thinking and enhance the persuasion of your argument Be able to reflect upon, analyze, and revise/sharpen your arguments Course Notes Online course. All weekly class readings (other than the textbook) are posted on Blackboard in the respective weekly modules. Asynchronous sessions: Please finish all listed tasks in each week according to the order listed. These may include weekly pre-recorded lectures, assigned readings, linked videos, or podcasts. Please submit weekly blackboard postings (post by Tuesday 5 pm) and comments by Wednesday 5 pm PDT (Pacific Daylight Time). Study Time: USC Dornsife requires that for each unit of in-class contact time, the university expects two hours of out of class student work per week. This course “meets” in-class for three hours: 1.5 hr for asynchronous lectures and videos and 1.5 hr for synchronous sessions on Thursdays. Your weekly out-of-class study time should be six hours. Roughly speaking, two-thirds of the time (~ 4 hrs) will be spent on assigned readings, and one-third of the time (~2 hrs) will be spent on writings or commenting. In the weeks when you have a writing assignment due, you will naturally spend more time on writing rather than reading. Here is a video on how to read actively and efficiently. Synchronous sessions: Thursday 11:00 am–12:20 pm You can find the links in Blackboard “Zoom Meetings.” All Synchronous sessions will be recorded and posted on Blackboard. You can also find copies of lecture slides on Blackboard, in their respective weekly modules. Technological Proficiency and Hardware/Software Required Access to Blackboard required; Wi-Fi access during Thursday synchronous sessions. Required Readings and Supplementary Materials Textbook: Harvey, Peter An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History, and Practices. 2nd ed. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2013. (Kindle version OK) All other required readings and supplementary materials are posted on Blackboard in each week’s modules. Course Assignments The content assignments are designed to help you master essential concepts of Buddhism Weekly discussion board postings Due Tuesdays 5 pm (PDT) A paragraph (150–350 words) of reflections and/or what you learned in the pre-recorded lectures and required readings. Each week, you will find a few discussion questions to guide your writing. Or you can raise and answer your own questions about the assigned readings and videos. Due Wednesdays 5 pm (PDT) Brief comments on two of your peers’ postings (~ 100 words each). The writing assignments are designed to emphasize transferable skills in critical inquiry, argument, and research methods. Précis and revision A précis is a close reading of a primary text (3–4 pages each; double-spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman). I will teach essential close reading skills pertinent to religious texts in class. This assignment will be graded twice, the first draft, and the revision. You will also participate in peer review. Through these individual and group exercises, you will practice and hone your skills in academic research and writing, e.g., how to do a close reading, how to make a convincing argument, how to structure the evidence to support the argument. Short paper and revision This short paper will be 5–7 pages. This assignment will be handed in twice, the first draft, and the revision. The exercises and learning goals are similar to the précis of close reading, with one crucial new addition. The additional element is that you must apply a theoretical lens to analyze the primary text and learn how to engage in a scholarly conversation critically. Final Paper The final paper is designed to hone your research and writing skills. It consists of three components: 1) A paper proposal and an annotated bibliography; 2) A research paper (8–10 pages); 3) A brief online presentation. As usual, in the second component, you will need to hand in a draft, peer-review one of your classmates’ essays and get your essay reviewed, get the professor’s developmental feedback on your draft, and the hand in the revision. Online presentation of the final paper The online presentation is designed to hone your skills in public speaking. You can find the assignment descriptions and several grading rubrics in the folder “Assignments.” Extra credits: During the Thursday synchronous sessions, there will be occasional Kahoot quizzes. Whoever rank top two in any of the quizzes will gain an additional .25% toward their final grade. These Kahoot quizzes are tools to help you master basic terms in Buddhism such as dukkha/duḥkha, anicca/anitya, anatta/anatman. Trust me, once you master these terms, your understanding of Buddhist texts will leapfrog to another level.  Grading Breakdown Grading Scale (Example) Course final grades will be determined using the following scale A 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62 F 59 and below Assignment Rubrics You can find the grading rubric of each assignment in the Blackboard folder “Assignments.” There are five grading rubrics in this course: Précis grading rubrics Short paper and final paper grading rubrics Peer review grading rubrics Online posting grading rubrics Final presentation grading rubrics Assignment Submission Policy All discussion board postings, comments on postings, and written assignments (weekly postings, précis, short paper, final paper) must be submitted through Blackboard. Finish weekly tasks, including discussion board postings (post by Tuesday 5 pm) and comments by Wednesday 5 pm (PDT, PT after November). Précis First draft due Week 3, Wed, Sep. 2 by 5 pm (PDT) Revision due Week 5, Wed, Sep. 16 by 5 pm (PDT) Short paper First draft due Week 7, Wed, Sep. 30 by 5 pm (PDT) Revision due Week 9, ed, Oct. 14 by 5 pm (PDT) Final paper Annotated Bibliography due Week 10, Wed, Oct. 21 by 5 pm (PDT) First draft due Week 11, Wed, Oct. 28 by 5 pm (PDT) Revision due Week 14, Tue, Nov. 24 by 5 pm (PT). No exceptions. Grading Timeline In Weeks 3, 5, and 11, we will workshop the drafts during the Thursday Synchronous sessions. You can expect the Instructor’s feedback within a week of submission. Please expect the final grades of each written assignments by the following dates Précis: Mon, Sep. 21 by 5 pm (PDT) Short paper: Mon, Oct. 12 by 5 pm (PDT) Final grade: Thursday, Dec. 10 by 5 pm (PT) Classroom norms Sharing our writings with others and opening ourselves to critique (or peer feedback) can be a vulnerable process. To model the expectations of a professional work environment in our field and promote a respectful classroom environment, we agree to the following. Do not interrupt when someone else is speaking Critique writings and ideas, not people Support critique with evidence, or speak from personal experience Allow everyone to critique (i.e., do not dominate or remain silent) Keep a positive tone when offering critique and responding to it Accept critique in the positive spirit with which it is given as a means of development Zoom decorum Food, yoga, stretches, OK. If too distractive to others, please be sure that you are muted & turn off the camera for the duration. Please try to listen attentively. Please silence your smart-phone and leave other unnecessary electronics in a different room. Late Submissions and Missed Synchronous Sessions Thursday Synchronous sessions: every gets a freebie (no questions asked). If you miss the Thursday sessions a second time or more, please email the instructor (xzu@usc.edu) to work out a best plan to assist your learning. Late assignments and late Discussion Board Postings: Please email the instructor, if you need extensions due to factors outside your control. Late Submissions and Missed Synchronous Sessions Thursday Synchronous sessions: every gets a freebie (no questions asked). If you miss the Thursday sessions a second time or more, please email the instructor (xzu@usc.edu) to work out a best plan to assist your learning. Late assignments and late Discussion Board Postings: Please email the instructor, if you need extensions due to factors outside your control. Course evaluation Student feedback is essential to making this course the best it can be. Students will have an opportunity to submit comments on the mid-semester evaluation and the standard USC course evaluation survey at the end of the semester. Course Schedule: A Weekly Breakdown Topics/Daily Activities Readings and Homework Assignment Due Dates Week 1 Topic: What is Buddhism? Who is the Buddha? Lesson objective: Students will learn basic facts about Buddhism Havey, “The Nature and the Style of the Buddha’s Teaching,” pp. 29–31. Blackboard article Blackboard videos Initial Course Survey Initial Interview (optional) Initial Survey due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit I Week 2 Topic: Monastic Ideal, Karm and Rebirth, Sūtra (Discourse/sermon) Lesson objective: Student will learn: 1) fundamental doctrines; 2) how to use Buddhist dictionaries Harvey, Ch 2 & 3 Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit I Week 3 Topic: Monasticism and Family Matters, Vinaya (monastic discipline) Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) the gap between ideal and reality 2) how to do close reading and give useful feedback Harvey, Ch 10 Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments First draft of précis Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments & the first draft of précis due: By Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit I Week 4 Guest Speaker: Susanne Kerekes Topic: What are a Gift and the Social Function of Gift, Avadāna and Jātaka (stories of rebirth) Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) Story-telling, its genre, and social function; 2) how to revise based on feedback Harvey, Ch 4, selections Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit I Week 5 Topic: the Bodhisattva Ideal and the Rise of Mahayana Buddhism Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) new features of Buddhism; 2) how to read against the grain Harvey, Ch 5 & 6 selections Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Revision of the précis Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments & the revision of précis due: By Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit II Week 6 Topic: the Celestial Buddhas, Mahayana Buddhism in East Asia, sūtra as metafiction Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) basic Mahayana teachings; 2) how to analyze a metafiction Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit II Week 7 Topic: Buddhism and Gender Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) female Buddhas, gender norms; 2) how to analyze the gender dynamics in a sūtra Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments First draft of short paper Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments & the first draft of short paper due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit II Week 8 Topic: Chinese Buddhism, Chan meditation Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) meditation in Buddhism, basic teachings in Chan; 2) how to analyze the tension between the universal and the particular in identity formations Harvey, Ch. 11 selections Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit III Week 9 Topic: Tantric Buddhism Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) basic teachings in Tantric Buddhism; 2) how to analyze the relation of spiritual technology and social hierarchy Harvey, Ch. 6 & 11 selections Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Revision of short paper Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments & the revision of short paper due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit III Week 10 Topic: Tantra as a genre, buddhas as Siddhas Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) primary genres in esoteric Buddhism; 2) how to analyze tantras and esoteric teachings Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Annotated bibliography of the final paper Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments and annotated biblio due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit IV Week 11 Topic: Beat Buddhism, Black Buddhism; Buddha the Therapist & the Black Buddha Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) sūtra as a genre of world literature; 2) the unknow history of Black Buddhism Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments First draft of the final paper Posting due: By Tuesday 5 pm (PDT); Comments & the first draft of the final paper due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Unit IV Week 12 Guest Speaker: Ann Gleig Topic: The Intersection of Anti-Asian and Anti-Black Racism in American Buddhism & Buddhist Strategies to overcome Racism Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) how “spiritual equality” became “social justice”; 2) psycho therapy for racial trauma Blackboard articles Discussion board posting: Please submit two questions for our guest speaker based on the assigned readings Guest lecture on Thursday Nov. 5. Eligible Voters: Please remember to vote on Nov. 3. Posting due: Wednesday 5 pm (PDT) Please continue revise your final paper & prepare for in-class presentation Unit IV Week 13 Topic: Black Buddhism, the engaged Sangha Lesson objective: Students will learn 1) the merging of an engaged Sangha and a belove community; 2) America’s racial karma Optional: Review of the course (optional) Blackboard articles Blackboard videos Discussion board posting and comments Student presentation of final paper Postings optional! Please focus on you Final Paper! Optional Review Session Mon, Nov. 16, 10:45 am – 12: 45 pm Final Exam Week 14 Self-study Revision of the Final Paper Revision of Final paper due: By Nov, 24, Tue, 5 pm (PT) Academic Conduct: Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Part B, Section 11, “Behavior Violating University Standards” policy.usc.edu/scampus-part-b. 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Provides overall safety to USC community. dps.usc.edu Syllabus for GESM 120g: Buddhist Literature, Page ? Fall, 2020 Buddhist Literature 1