RLA21 Buddhism

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2021
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Luboš Bělka, CSc. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Martin Špirk, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
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
Mon 10:00–11:40 G24
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 90 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/90, only registered: 0/90
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course Buddhism presents basic outline of the history of this religious tradition from its beginnings to modern times. Throught the work with various Buddhist texts, literature and iconographic material the students learn basic terminology of particular Buddhist schools. The course brings a basic overview of early Buddhism, Mahayana and Vajrayana, alos with reference to current forms of Buddhism.
Learning outcomes
The student will be able to:
- to describe key moments in the history of Buddhism from Buddha´s death until modern times;
- to practice basic Buddhist terminology in Sanskrit or Pali;
- to define basic terms of Buddhist teaching and understand difference among particular Buddhist schools;
- to recognize the most important sources to the study of particular Buddhist schools;
- to differentiate forms and (self)presentations of Buddhism in modern society
Syllabus
  • 0. Introductory lecture, sylabus, literature and requirements for the fulfillement of the course
  • 1. India at the time of Buddha, Buddha's life
  • 2. Buddha's life
  • 3. Dhammacakkapavattanasutta
  • 4. Pali canon and Buddhist councils
  • 5. Early sangha
  • 6. Spread of Buddhism outside India
  • 7. Beginnings of Mahayana
  • 8. Prajnaparamita and the principles of Mahayana philosophy
  • 9. Introduction to Tantric Buddhism
  • 10. Buddhism in China and Japan
  • 11. Buddhism in Tibet
  • 12. Buddhism in modern society.
Literature
    required literature
  • WILLIAMS, Paul and Anthony TRIBE. Buddhistické myšlení : úplné uvedení do indické tradice. Translated by Dušan Zbavitel. Vydání první. Praha: ExOriente, 2011, 301 stran. ISBN 9788090424685. info
  • Základní texty východních náboženství. Edited by Dušan Zbavitel. Vyd. 1. Praha: Argo, 2007, 188 s. ISBN 9788072038466. info
  • LOPEZ, Donald Jr. Příběh buddhismu. Průvodce dějinami buddhismu a jeho učením. Brno: Barrister and Principal, 2003. ISBN 80-86598-54-3. info
  • FIŠER, Ivo. Filosofická koncepce nejstaršího budhismu. 2. vyd. (v této podobě 1.). Praha: DharmaGaia, 1992, 59 s. ISBN 80-901225-0-7. info
    recommended literature
  • Diamantová sútra. Edited by Jiří Holba. Praha: DharmaGaia, 2014, 359 stran. ISBN 9788074360435. info
  • BĚLKA, Luboš. Buddha a jeho zobrazování (Buddha and His Depicting). 1. vyd. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 132 pp. ISBN 978-80-210-6545-1. Digitální knihovna FF MU info
  • MILTNER, Vladimír. Malá encyklopedie buddhismu. 2. vyd., V Libri 1. Praha: Libri, 2002, 287 s. ISBN 8072771116. info
  • MILTNER, Vladimír. Vznik a vývoj buddhismu. Vyd. 1. Praha: Vyšehrad, 2001, 373 s. ISBN 8070214104. info
  • Lexikon východní moudrosti :buddhismus, hinduismus, taoismus, zen. Translated by Jan Filipský. 1. vyd. Olomouc: Votobia, 1996, xi, 565 s. ISBN 80-7198-168-0. info
  • ZOTZ, Volker. Buddha. Translated by Eva Bosáková. Olomouc: Votobia, 1995, 130 s., [4. ISBN 80-85885-72-7. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, training of terminology, class discussion, commented readings from sources.
Assessment methods
Colloquim
Colloquim is recommended to students of other disciplines except of Religion studies. Requirements for colloqium is:
(a) written test
60% of correct answers is needed to pass.
Exam
Exam is compulsory for all students of Religion studies. Prerequisites for the exam are written test and two short written commentaries to a selected text. Commnetaries have to be delivered in time, 60% of point is needed. The exam is oral and is focused on:
(a) examining students knowledge according to given list of themes;
(b) examining students interpretation abilities within these themes.
In case of failure in test at the end of semester, it becomes a part of the exam.
Detailed schedule for the course, list of themes subject to the examination and list of recommended literature are published in the Study materials of the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
General note: Posluchači religionistiky povinně zapisují v 1. semestru studia.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020.
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