Course Outline: ME 6220 Special topic in Buddhist studies (3): Tibetan Buddhism, 2010/2011, Semester 2

Basic Data
Program: 
Master of Arts (Buddhist Studies)
Semester: 
Second Semester (December 06, 2010 – April 09, 2011) Academic year 2010/2011
Subject: 
ST6220/ME6220 - Special topics in Buddhist studies III
Credit / status: 
3 credits / Elective subject
Recommended Texts: 
  • Amipa, Sherap Gyaltsen. A Waterdrop from the Glorious Sea: A Concise Account of the Advent of Buddhism in General and the Teachings of the Sakyapa Tradition in Particular. Rikon: Tibetan Institute, 1976.
  • Banerjea, Suresh Chandra. Tantra in Bengal, a study in its origin, development and influence. Calcutta: 1978.
  • Bell, Ch. Tibet: Past and Present. Oxford: 1924.
  • Beyer, S. The Cult of Tàrà: Magic and Ritual in Tibet. Berkeley, 1978.
  • Buston. History of Buddhism. Tr. from Tibetan by E.E. Obermiller. Pt.1, 2. Heidelberg,1931-1932.
  • Cozort, D. Highest Yoga Tantra. New Yoke: Snow Lion, 1986.
  • Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso) – 'The World of Tibetan Buddhism'.Tr. & ed. by J.Hopkins. Snow Lion, Ithaca, New York, 1975 (and all other his books on Tibetan Buddhism).
  • Dudjom Rinpoche. The Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism. 2 vols. London: Wisdom, 1991.
  • Guenther, H.The Tantric View of Life. Berkeley and London: Shambhala, 1972.
  • Guenther, H. The Dawn of Tantra. Boston: Shambhala, 1975.
  • Guenther, H. Matrix of Mystery: Scientific and Humanistic Aspects of rDzogs-chen-Thought. Shambhala, 1984.
  • Hopkins, J. Meditation on Emptiness. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1983.
  • Karmay, S. General Introduction to the History and Doctrines of Bonn. Tokyo: 1975.
  • Lessing, F.D., Wayman, A. Introduction to the Buddhist Tantric Systems. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1978.
  • Powers, John. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. New York: Snow Lion, 1995.
  • Roerich G. The Blue Annals. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, 1976.
  • Ruegg, D. S. Three Studies in the History of Indian and Tibetan Madhyamaka Philosophy. Wien, Part 1. 2000.
  • Snellgrove, D. Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. Boston: Shambhala, 1987, Vols. I,2.
  • Snellgrove D., Richardson H. A Cultural History of Tibet. New-York: Frederick A. Praeger, 1968.
  • Stearns, S. The Buddha from Dolpo. Albany: State University of New-York Press, 2000.
  • Tsong-kha-pa. The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment. Tr. by The-Lamrim Chenmo Translation Commitee, ed. by J. Cutler. Vol. 1-3. New York: Snow Lion Publications. 2001-2004.
  • Tsong-kha-pa. The Great Exposition of Secret Mantra. Tr. and ed. by J. Hopkins as “Tantra in Tibet”. London: George Allen & Unwin, 1977.
  • Tucci, G. Tibetan Painted Scrolls. Rome, 3 vols. 1949.
  • Waddel, A. The Buddhism of Tibet, or Lamaism. London: 1894. (Reprint: New Delhi: Aryan Books International, 1996.) www.berzinarchives.com
Course Organization: 

The course will be organized based on lectures, assessed based on assignment, an interview with the instructor and a final written examination. Class participation and discussion is essential. A suitable amount of time will be allocated at the end for review and examination preparation. The 45-hour course will be spread over fifteen 3-hour blocks of lectures as follows:

  • 1.Mahāyāna and Vajrayana, Problems of authenticity and common misinterpretations, and Brief Survey of Tibetan Buddhist Studies.
  • 2.The early Tibetan History, Bon. First religious kings, Introduction of Buddhism into Tibet, Shantarakshita and Padmasambhava, Samye Debate, and Destruction of Dharma by Langdarma.
  • 3."The 2nd wave" of dissimination of Dharma in Tibet. Atisha and Kadam school.
  • 4.Tantras and their classification. "Old" and "New" Tantras. Kalacakra Tantra. Documentary: 'Yogis of Tibet'.
  • 5.Compilation of Kagyur and Tengyur, The schools of Zhi-zhed, Chod, and Shang-pa.
  • 6.Tibetan Astrology and Medicine.
  • 7.The schools of Sakya (the 'path-result' doctrine) and Jonang ('other-emptiness' doctrine).
  • 8.Kagyu and its lineages. Mahamudra and the 'Six Yogas of Naropa'.
  • 9.Nyingma and Dzogchen.
  • 10.Tibetan Buddhist Art and Iconography.
  • 11.1Gelug school: message of Je Tsonkhapa; Lineages of Dalai- and Panchen-lamas.
  • 12.Rime ('Nonsectarian') movement, Bon as the 5th Tibetan Tradition and some conclusions.
  • 13.Tibetan Buddhism outside Tibet: China and Mongolia.
  • 14.Tibetan Buddhism outside Tibet: Russia.
  • 15.Tibetan Buddhism in the modern World.
Course Requirements: 

Students should be present in a minimum of 80% of the scheduled classes to be eligible to sit for the final written examination. All students will be required:

  • To complete an essay assignment;
  • To sit for a final written examination.
Allocation of Marks: 
  • Class participation: 5%
  • Essay assignment: 30%
  • Final written examination: 65%
Course Objectives: 

To gain general understanding of the history, specific features and some of the basic doctrines of Tibetan Buddhism as one of the major world Buddhist Traditions.

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
B+ Very Good 3.5 80-89
B Good 3.0 70-79
C+ Fairly Good 2.5 60-69
C Fair 2.0 50-59
D+ Poor 1.5 40-49
D Very Poor 1.0 30-39
F Fail 0.0 29 or less
I Incomplete
W Withdrawn
WF Withdrawn because of failure
AU Audit