Stefan Sencerz (Philosophy); FC 261; 825-2392; Hours: M 2:15-2:45; 9:30 p.m-10:00 p.m; T 1-2; W 2:15-3:45, R 12:15-1:45 (at the UC  food court) and BA. E-mail sencerz@falcon.tamucc.edu; web: http://www.tamucc.edu/~sencerz/stefan.htm.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The Japanese word Zen(na) (Chinese Ch'an(na); Sanskrit Dhyana) refers to the unity of mind which can be obtained through the spiritual practice. One form of this practice involves motionless sitting -- zazen (sometimes referred to, in the West, as meditation). Other forms of Zen practice involve walking, chanting, or eating. In each case practitioners aim at transcending such dualistic distinctions as I/you, subject/object, or sacred/profane.

Historically speaking, Zen (and Ch'an as it is called when referring to its history in China) is the school of Mahayana Buddhism. Hence, we will focus in this class on Zen Buddhism. It is more important for me, however, to use Zen Buddhism as an introduction to religious life in the far East, in general, and to the meditative life, in particular. The philosophy, and practice of Zen will be studied in different historical and cultural contexts. We may explore, e.g., how meditative practice influenced various forms of art, including martial arts, calligraphy, the tea ceremony, haiku poetry, the Kabuki and No drama, and perhaps even the game of basketball and the process of improvisation in jazz. In addition, we will attempt to compare Zen practice with other spiritual paths; e.g. with contemplative practice within Christianity and Sufism.

This is, in part, a how-to-do-it course. So, please do not enroll (or do not stay enrolled) if learning how to meditate may not interest you.

REQUIRED TEXTS:

• Albert Low, The Iron Cow of Zen [hereafter, AL]
• D.T. Suzuki, Zen and the Japanese Culture [hereafter, DTS]
• Nancy Wilson Ross, The World of Zen [hereafter, NWR]
• Handouts and selections to be distributed or assigned in class [hereafter, H]

RECOMMENDED TEXTS:

• Lucien Stryk, The Awakened Self: Encounters with Zen (Kodansha)
• Aitken, Robert, A Zen Wave. 1982. 192 pp. Weatherhill. Tokyo, Japan. ISBN 0- 8348-0137-X. A collection of Basho's Haiku and writing on Zen translated by Aitken.
• Recommended additional readings.

HANDOUTS/OUTLINES

• If you miss a class, make sure that you have copies of any handout distributed in the class. Some required readings will be distributed in class in form of handouts. Make sure you will have them.
• There may be additional handouts are intended primarily as aids to the understanding of the lectures and readings. They do not cover all of the material, and they do not contain complete accounts of the topics they do cover. Merely memorizing the handouts will not enable you to pass the course.

COURSE ORGANIZATION : Class meetings will consist of presentations and discussions. We will allow ourselves to spend more time on an issue if we think it deserves the attention.

REQUIREMENTS

• Complete the assigned readings before the class for which they are assigned.
• Unless it is a case of demonstrable emergency, attend every class, arrive to class on time and remain in class until it is over.
• Complete all graded assignments.

GRADED WORK

• 10% -- A meditation paper (readings for this paper)
• 30% -- three short position papers
• 20% -- Two quizzes
• 15% -- Presentation
• 25% -- The research paper

Alternatives: You can substitute two day-long meditation retreats (or alternatives) for short papers, or a paper and a quiz. All papers must be typed using maximum 12pp with standard margins. Please do not attach cover sheets to any of your papers (let's us try to preserve the environment). A short paper should be about 5-6 pages long. Term paper about 10-12 pages long.

Grading will be on the standard scale: 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, etc.

THE FINAL RESEARCH PAPER...

• ...should relate material from our meetings and readings to some issue that interests you. I expect you will read at least one additional book about Zen when you do research for this paper. Here are some topic suggestions:
• Write an essay in which you apply the principles of Zen to something which you do. E.g.: "Zen in the Art of ...[fill in the blank]..."
• Write an essay in which you address the following issue: Can I be a Zen Buddhist and, at the same time, be a Christian (or a Jew, or a Moslem, or... [fill in the blank]..." Notice, writing such an essay would require you to define what is essential for being a Buddhist..., the problem that may be answered in several different ways.
• Explain and critically analyze the process of meditative training offered in one of the contemporary centers or monasteries (in the USA). Compare this process to the classic training typically offered in Japanese or Chinese monasteries. Alternatively, describe a meditative training conducted in one of the contemporary non-Buddhist temples or monasteries (e.g., a Christian training). Compare it with a typical Buddhist training.
• What is Shunyata. Compare Shunyata to some Western ideas about underling principles of the universe.

ATTENDANCE POLICY: You can miss 1 class with no penalty. You may excuse two additional absences by writing additional short paper 5-6 typewritten pages on the material discussed in class during the day you missed. In this papers you may offer a general summary of the assigned reading or,analyze some specific problem or view from this reading. Unless other arrangements are made, this paper must be turned in to the instructor at the beginning of the next meeting. Each additional unexcused absence will result in the automatic subtraction of 10 points from your overall grade. Coming to class significantly late, or leaving early, counts as ½ of missed class.

MAKE-UP TESTS AND INCOMPLETES: Unless it is a case of demonstrable emergency, all papers must be turned in on time. An incomplete for the course is possible only in cases where course work is nearly complete, and the student has a good excuse for not completing the course work by the end of the semester.

August 27:  General Introduction and Organization; Introduction to meditative practice:

NWR 321-331; Sheng Yen, Zen Meditation [H]; Meditation-instructions vailable on the web

September

• 05 Labor Day, no classes
• 12 What is Zen? [NWR, pp. 1-37; DTS 1-1-59]
  The "Zazen"-paper is due.
• 17The Essence of Zen [NWR 37-87]
• 24: Zen Koans [NWR 48-87, AL 9-64]
  The 1st short paper is due

October

• 01 Zen Koans Continue [AL 81-165; DTS 397-419]
• 08: Zen Painting and Calligraphy [NWR 89-100, additional readings TBA]
  The 2nd short paper is due
• 15 Zen and the Martial Arts [NWR 289-307; DTS 59-214]
• 22: Zen and Poetry [NWR 112-128; 318ff; DTS 215-268]
  The 1st Quiz
• 29 Zen and Poetry continued

November

• 05 Zen and the Art of Tea [NWR 129-138; DTS 269-328]
  The 3rd short paper is due
• 12 Love of Nature/Zen Gardens [DTS 329-396; NWR 100-112]
• 19 The No Drama [NWR 167-181; DTS 419-428]
  The 2ndQuiz
• 26 Zen in Psychology and Everyday Life [NWR 195ff]

December : Presentations, topics and Reading TBA.