RLB55 Buddhism in the West

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2020
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Tereza Menšíková (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
each odd Thursday 8:00–9:40 D51
Prerequisites (in Czech)
Základní znalosti o buddhismu v rozsahu kurzu Buddhismus, eventuálně Buddhismus I a II.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to offer an insight into the history and the current state of various Buddhist streams in the West, i.e. mainly in Europe and America. The course follows up the introductory courses dedicated to the fundaments of Buddhist doctrine. Its aim is to identify the main characteristic features of the Western Buddhist.
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will be able: - to understand te historical circumstances of the arrival of Buddhism to the Western societies - to orientate oneself among the main Buddhist streams and schools, which were succesfuly established in the West - to identify and analyse the characteristic features of modern Buddhist religiosity - to interpret the main influences of western Buddhism upon the Asian Buddhism
Syllabus
  • 1. introduction 2. methods of the study of Buddhism in the West, approaches, classification, terms 3. Western encounters with Buddhism I 4. Western encounters with Buddhism II 5. Buddhism as philosophy - non-religious interpretations of Buddhismu 6. Theravada Buddhism in the West 7. Mahayana Buddhism in the West 8. Tibetan Buddhism in the West 9. Buddhism of the migrants 10. final discussion
Literature
    required literature
  • Westward Dharma : Buddhism beyond Asia. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Martin Baumann. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2002, xi, 425 s. ISBN 0-520-22625-9. info
    recommended literature
  • Buddha's daughter : teachings from women who are shaping Buddhism in the West. Edited by Andrea D. Miller. 1st ed. Boston: Shambhala, 2004, viii, 289. ISBN 9781590306239. info
  • Teaching Buddhism in the West : from the wheel to the web. Edited by Victor Sōgen Hori - Richard P. Hayes - James Mark Shields. 1st pub. London: RoutledgeCurzon, 2002, xxvii, 234. ISBN 0700715576. info
  • Engaged Buddhism in the west. Edited by Christopher S. Queen. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2000, xi, 544. ISBN 0861711599. info
  • Buddhism and human rights. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Wayne R. Husted - Damien Keown. Richmond: Curzon Press, 1998, xxi, 239. ISBN 0700709541. info
  • The faces of Buddhism in America. Edited by Charles S. Prebish - Kenneth Ken'ichi Tanaka. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998, viii, 370. ISBN 0520213017. info
  • Buddhism : a modern perspective. Edited by Charles S. Prebish. 2nd printing. University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1978, xv, 330. ISBN 0271011858. info
Teaching methods
lectures, seminars, discussions.
Assessment methods
For the successful completion of the course it is required: a) 2 written commentaries to the reading, submitted during the course, 2 pages. b) an essay (6-7 pages long).
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2004, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2014.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
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