A critical discussion of Buddhist teachings relating to politics and good governance in order to evolve a Buddhist political philosophy. The cakkavatti ideal of universal government will take a central place in the discussion. The course will conclude with the relevance of Buddhist social thought to a diagnosis of contemporary political problems and the responses expected from Buddhist doctrines in regard to the needs and challenges of the present era.
A study of Buddhist meditation as an integral part of the Buddhist religious doctrine which is directed to mental purification and liberation. The study will involve Buddhist meditational practices in the three Buddhist traditions of Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna, the therapeutic effects and psychological aspects of Buddhist meditation, and the higher reaches of mind in Jhanic experience and their relevance to Buddhist spiritual life.
This course will present the major sociological theories (Max Weber, Nicholas Luhmann etc) and selected field of studies of any selected religion. Examples of Buddhist social organization - its processes, institutions, structures and systems - will be explained in the light of these approaches.
The course seeks to examine the corpus of disciplinary laws governing and regulating the Buddhist monastic order from the perspectives of modern legal philosophy which in this context is the study of general principles underlying the law. The course will make a special study of the ten basic principles which lay down the reasons for the promulgation of the Vinaya rules in the light of the broad principles of modern law as imparting of justice, arising of legal rights and duties, attachment of legal liability and legal responsibility.
It is often that Buddhism and other religions are examined from a modern scientific viewpoint. This course, however, is designed to view science from a Buddhist standpoint. The course begins with a discussion of the philosophical and attitudinal changes which influenced and transformed the European enterprise of science and its subsequent developments in knowledge and technique, Darwinism and the secularization of the concept of self, materialism and the reductionist philosophies which emerged from them.
The purpose of this course is to highlight the social dimension of Buddhist teaching. The main areas of study will include the Buddhist critique of the Brahmanical social hierarchy, Buddhist teaching on the origin and evolution of society, arises of human species, interpersonal relation, and Buddhist perspective of law, justice and punishment. The course will conclude an examination from Buddhist perspective of the contemporary social issues and problems.
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.
The course is intended as a comparative study of Buddhism in relation to Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. The primary focus of the course will be on the world-view of each religion and the spiritual life based on it. The purpose of the course is to promote inter-faith understanding among contemporary world-religions.
It is often that Buddhism and other religions are examined from a modern scientific viewpoint. This course, however, is designed to view science from a Buddhist standpoint. The course begins with a discussion of the philosophical and attitudinal changes which influenced and transformed the European enterprise of science and its subsequent developments in knowledge and technique, Darwinism and the secularization of the concept of self, materialism and the reductionist philosophies which emerged from them.
A historical survey of the geographical expansion of Buddhism in the subcontinent of India and Sri Lanka and in the countries of South East Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. The survey will focus on the role played by Buddhist monks and laity in the dissemination of the new faith and its consequent adaptation by the indigenous people. A general acquaintance with the religion and culture of each country prior to the introduction of Buddhism should form a background to this part of the study.