RLB250 Hinduism in the West

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Milan Fujda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Lucie Čelková
Timetable
each even Tuesday 15:50–17:25 L32
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those 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, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to give students a brief overview of "Hindu" traditions present in Western societies and to provide a historical account of the acculturation of Hinduism in the West. After passing the course students should understand how and in what particular conditions an interest in Hinduism in the West developed, and how and in what particular conditions the need for missionary activity developed in modern India. On this background students should understand certain peculiarities of the "Western Hinduism" and should be able to discusse critically the methodological possibilities in the study of "Western Hinduism" as well as the relevance of the field for the scientific study of religions in general.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory seminar
  • 2. An Interest in India in the West: The Beginnings
  • 3. Osho Sugama Centre in Lažánky: The Meeting
  • 4. Osho Sugama Centre in Lažánky: Methodological Discussion
  • 5. Sai Centre in Brno and Prague: The Meeting
  • 6. Yoga in Daily Life: The Meeting
  • 7. Sai Centre and Yoga in Dail Life: Methodological Discussion
  • 8. Students' Presentations I
  • 9. Sri Chinmoy: The Meeting
  • 10. Sri Chinmoy and Sri Aurobindo: Methodological Discussion and the Student's Presentation
  • 11. Students' Presentations II
  • 12. Students' Presentations III
  • 13. Final Discussion
Literature
  • DE MICHELIS, Elizabeth. A History of Modern Yoga. Patanjali and Western Esotericism. London - New York: Continuum, 2005. ISBN 0826487726. info
  • SWAMI, Tathagatananda. Journey of the Upanishads to the West. New York: The Vedanta Society of New York, 2002. info
  • AVELING, Harry. The laughing swamis : Australian sannyasin disciples of Swami Satyananda Saraswati and Osho Rajneesh. 1st Ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass publishers, 1994, xviii, 221. ISBN 8120811186. info
  • FINGER, Joachim. Gurus, Ashrams und der Westen. Eine religionswissenschaftliche Untersuchung zu den Hintergründen der Internationalisierung des Hinduismus. Frankfurt am Main – Bern – New York...: Peter Lang, 1987. info
  • HUMMEL, Reinhart. Gurus in Ost und West. Hintergründe – Erfahrungen – Kriterien. Stuttgart: Quell Verlag, 1984. info
Assessment methods
Contents of the semester:
Lectures, class discussions, meetings and discussions with movements' representatives.
Requirements for colloquium:
1. Two position papers on the prescribed reading.
2. Student's presentation on the prescribed topic.
3. Final discussion on the theoretical and methodological issues related to subjects presented in the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught once in two years.
Teacher's information
https://is.muni.cz/auth/elearning/warp.pl?fakulta=1421;obdobi=4463;kod=RLB250;qurl=%2Fel%2F1421%2Fpodzim2008%2FRLB250%2Findex.qwarp
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2008.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2011/RLB250