Postgraduate Course: The Origins of Buddhism in India (ASST11079)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course is intended to introduce students thematically to some of the main factors (cultural, historical, intellectual and religious) involved in the creation and maintenance of Buddhist civilisation in the course of its early history in South Asia. It will involve an
investigation of the Buddhism of the Pali Canon (i.e. the oldest complete textual account of the tradition preserved in an Indian language) and will provide an overall understanding, based as much as possible on primary texts, of the teachings and civilisation of early
Buddhist tradition. |
| Course description |
1. A introductory critical analysis of some approaches to the study of Buddhism.
2. A introduction to the early narrative tradition relating to the life of the Buddha and the background from which he emerged.
3. An introduction to early Buddhist teachings as they relate to self, causation, moral action, meditation and nirvana.
4. An introduction to the development of early Buddhist monastic institutions.
With the exception of week I the course will be taught by reference to Buddhist texts (sutta) supported by critical assessment of relevant secondary literature.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
The purposes of the course are:
( 1 ) to enable students to form a mature understanding of South Asian Buddhism in its early history and to appreciate how its cultural and religious insights can interact with the modern world;
( 2 ) to foster an appreciation of Buddhism as a unique human endeavour which at the same time overlaps with other religions and cultures;
( 3 ) to examine critically basic assumptions of the discipline of Religious Studies.
( 4 ) to strengthen skills in analysing and assessing primary and secondary sources
( 5 ) to develop the ability to apply and test theories in specific case studies.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
Jointly taught with UG [ASST10099 - Buddhism 3A] |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Jointly taught with UG |
| Keywords | OoBiI |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Paul Dundas
Tel: (0131 6)50 4175
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Iain Sutherland
Tel: (0131 6)51 3988
Email: |
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