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| Unit name |
The Practice of Tibetan Religion |
| Unit code |
THRS30021 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
H/6
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Emeritus Professor. Williams |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
|
| Co-requisites |
None |
| School/department |
Department of Religion and Theology |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit examines some of the key figures, processes and difficulties involved in the second Transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, key forms of Buddhist doctrine and practice, and the legends that have been important in the later history of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan self-understanding.
The aims of the two complementary units The Coming of Buddhism to Tibet and The Practice of Tibetan Religions are straightforwardly to give you sufficient grounding in the orientation, main doctrines and practices of Tibetan religions for it to:
- serve as a detailed study of Mahāyāna Buddhism as it occurs in one rather fascinating country and culture; and particularly to
- enable you to find your way around in an informed and scholarly way the doctrines and practices (and indeed rhetoric) of Tibetan Buddhism (and Bon) as they can be met with in the contemporary world and particularly contemporary Dharma practice in this country and abroad.
The specific aims of the unit The Practice of Tibetan Religions are to:
- Give an outline of the lives of some key figures, teachings, and disputes associated with the bKa’ brgyud, the bKa’ gdams, the dGe lugs, and Bon traditions;
- To introduce Tibetan perspectives on monastic life, debate, death, oracles and divination, and the role of women.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon completing the second of the two units in Tibetan religions, The Practice of Tibetan Religions, students will be expected to have:
- Acquired knowledge of some of the figures, processes and difficulties involved in the second Transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, acquired knowledge of some forms of Buddhist doctrine and practice, and some legends, that have been important in the later history of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan self-understanding, and acquired some knowledge of practices of the Tibetan religious world that they might hear about and see in visiting cultures influenced by Tibetan Buddhism;
- Developed an ability to assess critically in the light of contemporary scholarship claims concerning these topics, such as Bon, made by traditional Tibetan historians. Students will have gained some further awareness of the extent to which later Tibetan interest in the earlier period often reflects their contemporary doctrinal and institutional concerns;
- Students will have developed some ability and confidence in understanding contemporary forms of Buddhism, and Buddhist Centres in the West, associated with the bKa’ brgyud and particularly the dGe lugs pa traditions;
- They will have acquired skills through discussions, and through an examination, in presenting, analysing and evaluating complex ideas and arguments.
- In addition, students who are considering further work in Buddhist Studies will find that having taken both units in Tibetan religions, along they will have received a good introductory grounding in Tibetan religions which can ser
Teaching Information
1 x weekly Lecture plus 1 x weekly Seminar
Assessment Information
1 essay of 3000 words plus 1 unseen exam of 2 hours (each worth 50% of the overall mark)
Reading and References
- J. Powers, (1995) Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
- D. Snellgrove (1987) Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
- D. Snellgrove and H. Richardson (1968) A Cultural History of Tibet
