Course Outline: BP205 Mahāyāna Buddhism: Basic Doctrines, 2011/2012, Semester 2

Basic Data
Program: 
Bachelor of Arts (Buddhist Studies)
Semester: 
Second Semester (December 05, 2011–April 07, 2012) Academic Year 2011/2012
Subject: 
BP205 - Mahāyāna Buddhism: Basic Doctrines
Credit / status: 
3 credits / Core Subject
Recommended Texts: 
  • Anacker, S. Seven Works of Vasubandhu. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1998.
  • Santina, Peter Della. Causality and Emptiness: The Wisdom of Nagarjuna. Singapore: Buddhist Research Society, 2002.
  • ----. The Tree of Enlightenment. (chapters 14 – 21) California: Chico Dharma Study Foundation, 1997.
  • Dutt, Nalinaksha. Mahāyāna Buddhism. Delhi,: Bharatiya Kala, 2008.
  • Garfield, Jay L. The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way. New York: Oxford University, 1995.
  • Nakamura, Hajime. Indian Buddhism: A Survey with Bibliographical Notes. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 2007.
  • Nagao, G. M. Madhyamika and Yogācāra. Delhi: Sri Satguru, 1992.
  • Warder, A.K. Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.
  • Williams, Paul. Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundation. London: Routledge, 2004.

This will be supplemented by selected readings from some of the major Mahāyāna Sūtras and from the works of Nāgārjuna and Vasubandhu.

Course Organization: 
  • Lecture 1 Origins of the Mahāyāna: Preliminary conditions.
  • Lecture 2 Buddhist councils and the emergence of the schools.
  • Lecture 3 Traces of Mahāyāna in the Pali Canon.
  • Lecture 4 Sadddharmapūṇḍarīka Sūtra.
  • Lecture 5 Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya Sūtra.
  • Lecture 6 Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra.
  • Lecture 7 Major Mahāyāna Schools: Madhyamaka andYogācāra.
  • Lecture 8 Pratītyasamutpādahṛdayakārikā.
  • Lecture 9 Midterm Examination.
  • Lecture 10 Mūlamadhyamakakārikā.
  • Lecture 11 Viṃṥatikā.
  • Lecture 12 Trisvabhāvanirdeṥa.
  • Lecture 13 The developments of Mahāyāna Philosophy.
  • Lecture 14 Mahāyāna Buddhism in Practice.
  • Lecture 15 The Schools of Chinese Buddhism & Revision.
Course Requirements: 

All students are expected:

  • 1. To attend minimum of 80% of the schedule classes to be eligible to sit for the final examination.
  • 2. Students are required to write an essay not less than 1500 words.
  • 3. Class Participation.
  • 4. Midterm written examination.
  • 5. Final written examination.
  • 6. For essay writing related helpful guide: http://ibc.ac.th/faqingessayguide
Allocation of Marks: 
  • 1. Class participation 5 %
  • 2. Essay assignment 15 %
  • 3. Midterm Examination 20 %
  • 4. Final Written Examination 60 %
Course Objectives: 

By the end of the course, the students should gain a sound understanding of the basic doctrines of the Mahāyāna and their textual foundations represented by the major Mahāyāna schools: the Madhyamaka and the Yogācāra. They should also develop an appreciation of the role played by the Mahāyāna in the evolution of Buddhist schools in China.

Grading: 

All tests, assignments and examinations are graded as follows with grade point and numerical marks:

Grade Performance Grade value Percentage Equivalence
A+ Excellent 4.0 90-100
A Almost Excellent 3.75 85-89
A- Fairly Excellent 3.5 80-84
B+ Very Good 3.25 75-79
B Good 3.0 70-74
B- Fairly Good 2.75 65-69
C+ Fair 2.5 60-64
C Satisfactory 2.25 55-59
C- Minimum Satisfactory 2.0 50-54
D+ Fairly Poor 1.5 40-49
D Poor 1.0 30-39
F Fail 0.0 29 or less
I Incomplete
W Withdrawn
WF Withdrawn because of failure
AU Audit