5. Buddhism in India
« Global Awareness: Online Learning Companion | Posted on 02/12/2010 03:58 pm by Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II
The Spectrum of Philosophies among the Earth’s Religions….
The profundity of human thought through moving sight and sound
Edited by Dr. James K. Powell II – Introduction
Buddhism – part one
PowerPoint:
Readings
It is expected you will have read the texts below by week two of class and watched the accompanying videos. The answers to the online quiz can be found among the texts and the videographies below, as well as lectures in class.
Textbook
Readings
It is expected you will have read the texts below by week two of class and watched the accompanying videos. The answers to the online quiz can be found among the texts and the videographies below, as well as lectures in class.
Introductory Readings:
Read the following with these concerns in mind:
1. What is the overall social and perspectival backdrop for Buddhism?
2. Who was the historical Buddha? (Not the obese Chinese gentleman in the Chinese restaurant – he is a Buddhist Santa Claus)
3. What is the meaning of “no-self”? Is it nihilistic? How is it connected with inter-relationship?
4. Society: How does the Saṃghā or those who “strike” towards nirvana, change society? What is the role of women? How does the old Hindu (Sanātanadharma) caste (varṇaśrama – “color-code”) system fit or not fit into the Buddha’s new social arrangements?
5. What is the Noble Eightold Path? What are the three jewels? What are the three characteristics of existence?
6. Whence does the Buddha image derive? (See videography)
7. What are the differences between the two main sectsTheravāda the “Elder’s Doctrine” and Mahāyāna “The Magna Vehicle”?
8. Who was Ashoka? How did the Third Council of Buddhism globalize this perspective?
Quick, definitional readings (wiki)
The Human Buddha: Gautama Siddhartha Śākyamuni
Two sects: Theravāda the “Elder’s Doctrine” and Mahāyāna“The Magna Vehicle”
The Insider’s View:
Past student documentaries
2007
Jataka: The Rebirth Narratives of the Buddha’s Past Lives
by Deadman, Nast and Weinman through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This thiry minute chronicle of highlights found in the tales of the Buddha’s past lives is always entertaining for young and old. We hear of Buddha’s live as a prince helping a starving tigress to eat him up for her children’s welfare, of his life as a rabbit offering himself on the fire of hungry hunters and on an on. A classic of Buddhist literature
by Hoang through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This clear explanation of the complex notion of karma as the ethical undergirding for Buddhist ethics will aid the beginner to enter an understanding of Buddhism in a general way.
Samatha (pron. Shamataa): Calming the Mind in Buddhism
by Thubten Tenzin through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org
This nice work by a Tibetan introduces the centrality and the nature of calming the mind, “unraveling” thoughts through breathing and other forms of meditation. This is a very competent introduction to the subject.
Anguttara Nikaya: The “Connected” Sayings of the Buddha
by Bohl through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This piece is another fine offering affording a glimpse into the early Buddhist tradition. We hear again why the Buddha is the Buddha – as the Theravadins will tell you: there is only one Buddha – at least only one known to human history
Itivuttaka Sutra: The Buddha’s Own Words
by Tsuffis through Professor Rev. Dr. James Kenneth Powell II, opensourcebuddhism.org This fine presentation of an early discourse containing what are presented to be the Buddha Siddhartha’s own words on a variety of topics in the form of short sayings. As our Theravada friends affirm, “There is only one Buddha” and from these early treasures we know why he is famous. Good for Mahayana Buddhists too: always timely to remember the source man for all the later fruits off the Buddha tree, Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions all stem from “The Man”.