PHIL 4390: EASTERN SPIRITUALITY AND WESTERN THOUGHT
FALL  2002, CCH 260, M 7:00-9:30

INSTRUCTOR AND OFFICE INFORMATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION

  • What is the nature of reality? What are the relationships between reality and mind? Does the self survive through time? Is science the only legitimate way to cognition? Is spiritual practice an alternative to science? Does such practice lead to genuine cognition?
  • These topics appear to have been treated differently in the East and the West. Eastern philosophical and spiritual traditions tend to assume that reality is mind-dependent -- they seem to lean towards some versions of idealism. Western schools of thinking tend to assume that reality is mind-independent -- they seem to display realist leanings . Eastern traditions seem to put emphasis on meditation and spiritual practice. In the West we tend to put emphasis on science and intellectual quest.
  • Are these differences real and fundamental or only apparent?
  • In the course we will attempt to address this issue by studying the points of view of both Eastern and Western philosophy. We will focus on the various schools of Mahayana Buddhism -- especially Zen Buddhism and Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism. The readings will include the classic Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan texts, as well as some writings by contemporary practitioners and scholars.

TEXTS

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 both lectures /presentations and discussions. Questions, discussions, disagreements and arguments is expected and strongly encouraged at any time. Thus, we will allow ourselves to spend more time on an issue if we think it deserves the attention.

OBJECTIVES

  • Content: You should acquire some level of understanding of a variety of issues in Eastern and Western philosophy
  • Skill: The course should develop a degree of proficiency in recognizing, evaluating and constructing arguments on more than one side of an issue.
  • Motivation: I hope you will acquire an interest in moral thought and problems, which will lead you to continue thinking about philosophical issues, and develop your own views on a variety of moral issues.

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

  • 15% -- A meditation paper (readings for this paper)
  • 20% -- Two quizzes
  • 30% -- three short position papers
  • 10% -- presentation/facilitation
  • 25% -- The research paper
  • Alternatives: You can substitute two day long meditation retreats (or alternatives) for two 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 4-5 pages long. Term paper about 10-12 pages long.
  • Grading will be on the standard scale: 90-100% = A, 80-89% = B, etc.

PRESENTATION: Each person enrolled in the class will lead a discussion on one of the topic discussed in class. If more than one person is interested in a topic, you may lead the discussion as a group.

THE FINAL RESEARCH PAPER...
...should relate material from our meetings and readings to some issue that interests you. Here are some topic suggestions:

  • Write an essay in which you apply the principles of Zen (or some other system we discussed in class) 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 Buddhist, Hindu, Taoist 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.
  • Is there in the East any concept that might correspond to Western Concept of God. Is there a concept that correspond to the concept of Trinity. How are these concepts different.
  • What is Shunyata. Compare Shunyata to some Western ideas about underling principles of the universe.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

  • You can miss 1.5 class with no penalty. You may excuse two additional absences by writing additional short papers 5 typewritten pages on the material discussed in class during the day you missed. In this paper 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 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.

SCHEDULE

August 29:  General Introduction and Organization; Introduction to meditative practice:
Readings Sheng Yen, Zen Meditation [H]; Meditation-instructions vailable on the web

September

  • 09 Mystical map ["A Mystical Map" in G, 20-50]
    HINDUISM. Readings: "Hinduism" in G, 50-62; IP, pp. 1-34. (additional readings TBA]
    The meditation paper is due.
  • 16 The Historic Buddha -- basic teachings. [Readings, G, 62-83, IP 34-57, B, 1-63]
  • 23 The Development of Schools of Hinduism [IP, 57-84, 107-136]
    The first short paper is due [Hinduism]
  • 30 The Development of Schools of Buddhism [B, 63-141]

October

November

  • 04 Zen Buddhism continues [B, 141-175, G 118ff]
    The Third Short paper is due
  • 11-18 Ethics East and West [readings to be determined]
  • 25 TBA
    Quiz #2

December

  • 02-09 TBA
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