Undergraduate Course: Theravada Buddhism (REST10048)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores a major branch of Buddhism from its origins in 5th century BCE North India to its present-day manifestations in South and South-east Asia. |
| Course description |
Academic Description:
This course explores the branch of Buddhism known as Theraváda, which is prevalent in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, aiming to give students a thorough understanding of the major beliefs, practices and historical developments as well as allow more in-depth study of selected themes. The course covers the origins of Buddhism, the development of Theraváda as a distinct branch, the history of Theraváda, and key aspects of Theraváda Buddhist thought and practice. Students are expected to engage directly with primary sources, both textual and ethnographic, and to reflect upon the nature of these types of sources within the academic study of Buddhism.
Syllabus/Outline Content:
This course begins with the beginnings of Theraváda Buddhism, by exploring Theraváda representations of the life of the Buddha and traditional understandings of Theraváda history and identity. It then discusses key Buddhist ideas in their Theraváda formulations, the notion of scripture and the compilation of the 'P'li canon', monasticism as the basic Theraváda institution, meditation, ethics, ritual and devotional practices, and the role of Theraváda Buddhism in national identity and political debate. Throughout the course students are encouraged to explore variations in Theraváda perspectives, as well as to question both traditional and academic representations of Theraváda Buddhism.
Student Learning Experience Information:
The course has a two-hour class per week. The first hour is usually a traditional lecture format, albeit with interactive elements and an emphasis on student engagement with primary sources, whether in the form of text, film, image or sound. The second hour is a seminar discussion of the set reading for the week, which is provided in a course reader and consists of a mixture of scriptural extracts and ethnographic accounts. Students are expected to read the set seminar readings and produce a weekly short written response that gives a brief summary of the source, picks out one or two points of interest and raises a question for discussion. Students are also expected to follow up recommended readings relating to lecture themes. For essay 1 students must choose a primary text extract to research and write about, while essay 2 allows the students to study a key theme or question relating to Theraváda belief or practice in depth. Through all these activities students demonstrate their completion of the intended learning outcomes.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Describe the main Theravada beliefs, practices, and historical developments
- Interpret textual and ethnographic sources in the context of wider knowledge of Theravada Buddhism
- Assess the role of both textual and ethnographic sources in our understanding of the reception and practice of Theravada Buddhism
- Evaluate several key issues in Theravada literature, history, doctrine and practice using both primary and secondary sources
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Ability to gather, evaluate and synthesise different types of information
- Analytical ability and the capacity to formulate questions and solve problems
- Writing skills, including clear expression and citing relevant evidence
- Ability to engage critically with the meaning of documents and recognise that meanings may be multiple
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| Keywords | Religion,Buddhism,Theravada,South Asia,Southeast Asia. |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Naomi Appleton
Tel: (0131 6)50 8976
Email: |
Course secretary | Mr Jamie Smith
Tel: (0131 6)50 8913
Email: |
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