B.A./M.A. Courses and Lecturers for the 2nd Semester 2009/2010 Academic Year
List of B.A. Courses and Lecturers for the 2nd Semester 2009/2010 Academic Year
1. SMT101 Special Topic: Open Source: Linux and Web Development; Dr Fa Qing; BA1,2
2. BP201 Early Buddhism: Basic Doctrine; Ven Dr Zhen Ping; BA1,2
3. BP205 Mahayana Buddhism: Basic Doctrine; Dr Krishna Ghosh Santina; BA1,2
4. BH401 History of Buddhist Thought in India; Dr Balee Buddharaksa, Ven Zhen Chan; BA1,2
5. PL201 Pali Grammar II; Ven Dr Dhammanandi; BA1,2
6. PL202 Pali Grammar III; Ven Dr Dhammanandi; BA3
7. BP313 Madhayamaka: The Buddhist Doctrine of Emptiness; Lopon Phuntsho Gyaltshen; BA3
8. BP315 Yogacara: The Buddhist Doctrine of Mind Only; Prof Kapila Abhayawansa; BA3,4
9. BP403 Buddhist Logic and Epistemology; Prof Tilak Kariyawasam; BA3,4
10. BP405 Buddhism, Upanisads and Advaita Vedanta; Prof Kapila Abhayawansa; BA3,4
List of M.A. Courses and Lecturers for the 2nd Semester 2009/2010 Academic Year (English Medium)
1. ME6102 Mahayana Buddhism; Prof Tilak Kariyawasam; Jan 4 – March 13, 2010
2. ME6103 History of Indian Buddhism; Prof Kapila Abhayawansa; Jan 4 – March 13, 2010
3. ME6205 A Survey of the Doctrines of the Abhidharma Schools; Prof Charles Willemen; Nov 30 – before Christmas
4. ME6217 Lamrim Chen Mo; Dr Andrey Terentyev; Nov 30 – Dec 29
List of M.A. Courses and Lecturers for the 2nd Semester 2009/2010 Academic Year (Chinese Medium)
1. MC6102大乘佛教; Dr Fa Qing; Jan 18 – March 13, 2010
2. MC6220佛学研究的特别论题(2): 南传阿毗达磨的内容与其修行方法; Ven. Dhammadipa 性空法师; Dec 16 – Jan 16, 2010
3. MC6210佛学研究的特别论题(3)：佛教知识论; Prof. Yao Zhihua 姚治华教授; Dec 20 – Jan 3, 2010
4. MC6219禅宗概论; Prof. Bai Yu Guo 白玉国教授; Jan 18 – Feb 6, 2010
B.A. Courses for the 2nd Semester of Academic Year 2009/2010 (November 30, 2009 – April 3, 2010)
Course Descriptions
SM106 Computer Literacy and Skills 3(2-2-3)
A study of the development of computer technology and its role in the future of society. An introduction to personal computing including topics such as hardware and software basics, word processing, Debase systems, electronic spreadsheets and Internet skills.
BP201 Early Buddhism: Basic Doctrines 3(3-0-6)
The purpose of the course is to identify and interpret the original doctrines of what is generally known as Early Buddhism. Therefore the course will be mainly based on the Buddhist discourses of the Pāli Canon. Topics of study will include Four Noble Truths, Three Signs of Existence, Dependent Origination, Analysis of the empiric individuality, theory and practice of moral life, and Nibbāna as the final goal of religious life.
BP205 - Mahayana Buddhism: Basic Doctrines 3(3-0-6)
The study will be mainly based on Mahāyāna literature (Sanskrit, Chinese and Tibetan) and is designed to provide an insight into the basic doctrines of main Mahāyāna schools. Attention will be focused on the following topics: Prajñā, prajñāpāramitā and dharmatā in the Prajñāpàramitā literature; the notion of ãūnyatā, tetra-lemma and the theory of two truths (saövýti and paramārtha) in Madhyamaka school; the Three Aspects (trisvabhāva), the theory of Representation Only (vijñapti-mātra), the notion of ālayavijñāna and the Path theory in the Yogācāra school; The tathāgatagarbha (the Buddha nature) theory; The critical Classification of Buddhism in T’ien-t’ai School and Hua-yen School (Avataösaka); Ch’an Buddhism from Buddhadharma to Hui-neng, and the Kung-an (Koan) in Ch’an practice; the theory and practice of Pure Land Buddhism.
BH401 History of Buddhist Thought in India 3(3-0-6)
A continuous historical survey of Buddhist thought in India, focusing on the factors that led to the emergence of a wide variety of schools and interpretative traditions within the fold of Buddhism. The course will concentrate on the schools of Abhidharma, the rise of the Sautrāntika as a critical response to the Abhidharma, the Mahāyāna sūtra literature, Madhyamaka, Yogācāra, and Tantrayāna.
PL201 Pāli Grammar II
Prerequisite PL101 3(3-0-6)
A continuous survey of Pāli Grammar covering all forms of declension, conjugation, sandhi, samāsa (nominal compounds) and taddhita (secondary derivation). The extension of sentences with adjectives, adverbs and indeclinables with the correct observance of syntax. Simple extracts, both prose and verse, from Pali texts will be used for further clarification of syntax and for comprehension.
PL202 PÀli Grammar III
Prerequisite PL201 3(3-0-6)
The purpose of the course is to enable the student to utilize the grammatical rules and the vocabulary in composing sentences under a given topic. The course will also introduce the student to further structural patterns of sentences based on active and passive voices, participles (past, present and future).
BP313 Madhyamaka: The Buddhist Doctrine of Emptiness 3(3-0-6)
Prerequisite BT201 &BH201
The course will commence with a review, in historical perspective, of the antecedent doctrines which led to the emergence of the Madhyamaka. It will be followed up with an in-depth study of the philosophical position of the Madhyamaka. The study will be based on the subject-matter of the Mūlamadhyamaka-kārikā, which is authored by Nāgārjuna, the founder of the Madhyamaka School.
BP315 Yogācāra: The Buddhist Doctrine of Mind-Only 3(3-0-6)
Prerequisite BT201&BH201
The course is designed as an introductory study of the basic teachings of the Idealistic School of Buddhism, known as Yogācāra Vijñānavāda. It will commence with a review of the antecedent idealistic trends in the pre-Mahāyāna schools and will be followed up with an introduction to the very essence of the Vijñānavāda metaphysics and the spiritual discipline based on it.
BP403 Buddhist Logic and Epistemology 3(3-0-6)
Prerequisite BT201
The course is designed as a systematic study of the system of epistemological logic developed by Dignāga and Dharmakirti during the 6-7th century A.D. Topics of discussion will include: forms of syllogism, essence of judgment, impact of names and inference, theory of sense-perception, validity of knowledge, and the reality of the external world.
BP405 Buddhism, Upaniùads and Advaita Vedānta 3(3-0-6)
Prerequisite BP313, BP315
The course will review the historical relation between Early Buddhism and the pre-Buddhist Upanișads and examine the philosophical positions of the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism in relation to śaṇkara's interpretation of the Upaniùads as a non-dualist metaphysic. The course is specially meant to review the views expressed by modern scholars on this subject.
M.A. Courses for the 2nd Semester of Academic Year 2009/2010 (November 30, 2009 – April 3, 2010)
ME6102 Mahayana Buddhism 3 (3-0-6)
This course aims at students without previous knowledge of Mahayana Buddhism. It provides an introduction to Mahayana Buddhism in the widest sense. After a brief look at the development of Buddhism in India after the death of the Buddha, this course concentrates on the historical, philosophical and religious origins of Mahayana Buddhism in India. These include the Bodhisattva ideal; Buddhological developments; the philosophical systematizations of the Madhyamaka and Yogacara schools; the reasons for the dominant position of Mahayana Buddhism in China and an investigation on the features of the newly emerged Mahayana modernism (i.e., Japanese Buddhism).
ME6103 History of Indian Buddhism 3 (3-0-6)
The course gives a comprehensive coverage of Indian Buddhism from its origin to the decline and disappearance of Buddhism in India, with focus on the Nikaya Buddhism, the rising of Mahayana and its significance in the development of Chinese Buddhism.
ME6205 A Survey of the Doctrines of the Abhidharma Schools
3 (3-0-6)
The period of Abhidharma Buddhism is of great importance for a proper perspective of the development of Indian Buddhism in general. It was essentially in this period that Buddhist ‘philosophy’ first evolved. Traditionally, there were said to be eighteen Abhidharma schools, sometimes also referred to as the Hīnayāna schools. This course will begin with an outline of the historical evolution of these schools, highlighting the doctrinal controversies that led to the schism at different schools. This will be followed by a survey of the fundamental doctrines of the more important schools in the northern tradition, particularly the Sarvāstivāda, the Sautrāntika, the Mahāsāṃghika and the
Sāṃmitīya.
ME6217 Lam Rin Chen Mo: The Path to Enlightenment in the Tibetan Tradition 3 (3-0-6)
In all Tibetan Buddhist schools - Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug ñ practices are basically classified into Sūtra and Mantra paths. All four schools have instructive literature to both Sūtra and Mantra. The present course will survey the most elaborate Guide on Sūtra: Lam rim Chen mo (“A Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path”) produced by the founder of the Gelug School, Tsongkhapa Lobsan Drakpa (1357-1419), with references to the corresponding literature of other schools. This text covers practices for 3 scopes of persons (lesser, middling and great) in 3 parts, and separately treats shamātha and vipashyana.
M.A. (Chinese) Courses for the 2nd Semester of Academic Year 2009/2010 (November 30, 2009 – April 3, 2010)
BT6102C/MC6102 大乘佛教 3学分
这门课程主要是对针那一些对大乘佛教尚无了解的学生。它给学生提贡一个对大乘佛教的最广泛意义的介绍。在通过对佛灭度后佛教在印度发展的一个扼要回顾后，这个课程集中介绍大乘佛教在印度的历史，哲学和宗教的起源。这包括菩萨的理念，佛陀观的发展，中观和唯识宗的哲学体系化，大乘佛教在中国占据主导地位的原因以及对新兴大乘现代化（日本佛教）的一些特点的分析。
CB6219C/MC6219 禅宗概论 3学分
这门课程将从大的历史发展进程来了解最具有中国特色的佛教宗派之一的禅宗，它将包括禅法的初传，宗派的创立，禅系的分化等大的传弘转折期。还将从总的方面来论述各个时代以及各禅系的禅法特色，并对各阶段的代表性人物作相应的介绍，包括他们的生平、禅法（思想与接机手法）、影响等，而相应的时代背景，如政治、经济等也应该有相应的介绍。
ST6220C/MC6220 佛学研究的特别论题 (2): 南传阿毗达磨的内容与其修行方法 3学分
本课程将以《阿毗达磨概要精解》为基础，介绍「南传阿毗达磨论」，并强调阿毗达磨为修行的方便。课程之内，亦会讲解一些与阿毗达磨方法有关的经典，例如《中部尼阿耶》的《足迹经》(Anupada Sutta：M.111) 、《大象跡喻经》 (Maha-hatthipadopama Sutta：M.28)等等，以说明修行的次第，并进一步阐述怎么用阿毗达磨的分析去深入止观的过程。另外，亦会讲解一些唯识的道理，并比较唯识与阿毗达磨的相似和不同之处。
ST6210C/MC6210 佛学研究的特别论题 (3) ：佛教知识论 3学分
本课程以专题形式讨论六、七世纪陈那和法称的认识论学说，所讨论的题目将包括：量、现量、自证、非认识、遮余、比量、空词项。同时也会兼顾与西方认识论的比较。