Teaching Documents by James A Benn
Outline for graduate seminar in Buddhist Studies at McMaster University September 2017
This seminar will explore the variety of descriptions of the ideal figure of the bodhisattva foun... more This seminar will explore the variety of descriptions of the ideal figure of the bodhisattva found in Mahāyāna literature translated into Chinese. We will also look at attempts to lay out a path to bodhisattvahood in this literature and in Chinese commentaries. We will then go on to examine the representations (textual and visual) of some major Bodhisattvas in the East Asian tradition such as Guanyin/Kannon, Dizang/Jizō, etc. Students will be introduced to the use of specialised research tools for the study of East Asian religions such as dictionaries, concordances, indices and databases.
When I reviewed Robinet's Taoism Growth of a Religion in 1997, I noted there was no glossary. The... more When I reviewed Robinet's Taoism Growth of a Religion in 1997, I noted there was no glossary. Then I wrote to Robinet, who sent me her handwritten one, which I laboriously typed into Big5 encoding using Twinbridge (the cutting edge of CJK technology in the late 90s). Now here it is in glorious Unicode.
This is an assignment for a short essay (5-7 pages) on the Life of the Buddha. It has a styleshee... more This is an assignment for a short essay (5-7 pages) on the Life of the Buddha. It has a stylesheet and grading criteria attached.
4th year undergraduate seminar Fall 2015
This course examines the lives and careers of some figu... more 4th year undergraduate seminar Fall 2015
This course examines the lives and careers of some figures, both famous and obscure, mostly drawn from the East Asian Buddhist tradition. In particular we will focus on religious biography or hagiography (“the pious biography of saints”) and its social and cultural functions. We will also investigate some examples of autobiographical writing, such as travel diaries and dream diaries. Although the focus will be on East Asia, students with background or interest in materials from South or Southeast Asia (Hinduism or Jainism, for example) are encouraged to explore those traditions in this seminar.
The subject of our seminar this term will be the structure and contents of the Taoist canon (Daoz... more The subject of our seminar this term will be the structure and contents of the Taoist canon (Daozang 道藏). We shall begin with a basic orientation to the history of Taoism in China and the history of the study of Taoism in the West. We will survey the history of the canon’s formation and read selected texts from the canon in English translation. Students will also be introduced to the use of specialised research tools for the study of Taoism such as dictionaries, concordances, indices and databases. There is a vast body of scholarship on Taoism in European and Asian languages. We can read and discuss only a fraction of that work in this seminar; students are encouraged to put together their own working bibliographies that reflect their particular interests.
In this seminar we shall read and discuss major studies of topics in Chinese Religions produced i... more In this seminar we shall read and discuss major studies of topics in Chinese Religions produced in English over the last two or three years. In addition we shall survey trends in recent scholarship produced in other languages (Chinese, Japanese, French, German, etc.).
The subject of our seminar this term will be the structure and contents of the Taoist canon (Daoz... more The subject of our seminar this term will be the structure and contents of the Taoist canon (Daozang 道藏). We shall begin with a basic orientation to the history of Taoism in China and the history of the study of Taoism in the West. We will survey the history of the canon’s formation and read selected texts from the canon in English translation. Students will also be introduced to the use of specialised research tools for the study of Taoism such as dictionaries, concordances, indices and databases. There is a vast body of scholarship on Taoism in European and Asian languages. We can read and discuss only a fraction of that work in this seminar; students are encouraged to put together their own working bibliographies that reflect their particular interests.
The subject of our seminar this term will be the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka, 妙法蓮華經). We shal... more The subject of our seminar this term will be the Lotus Sutra (Saddharmapuṇḍarīka, 妙法蓮華經). We shall begin by exploring the content and structure of the scripture with especial attention to the translation into Chinese by Kumārajīva (Jiumoluoshi 鳩摩羅什, 344-413 or 350-409). In addition to a close reading of the scripture we shall discuss the influence of its ideas on the practice and doctrine of East Asian religions from medieval times (e.g., Tiantai/Tendai 天台, devotional practices, self-immolation) to the present (e.g., Japanese New Religions). We shall also consider artistic representations of the Lotus Sutra, especially those from Dunhuang. Students will be introduced to the use of specialised research tools for the study of East Asian religions such as dictionaries, concordances, indices and databases.
This seminar will explore the variety of descriptions of the ideal figure of the bodhisattva foun... more This seminar will explore the variety of descriptions of the ideal figure of the bodhisattva found in Mahāyāna literature translated into Chinese. We will also look at attempts to lay out a path to bodhisattvahood in this literature and in Chinese commentaries. We will then go on to examine the representations (textual and visual) of some major Bodhisattvas in the East Asian tradition such as Guanyin/Kannon, Dizang/Jizō, etc. Students will be introduced to the use of specialised research tools for the study of East Asian religions such as dictionaries, concordances, indices and databases.
In this seminar we will examine representations of health and accounts of disease in a variety of... more In this seminar we will examine representations of health and accounts of disease in a variety of Chinese religions. We will explore the various vectors of disease, including the so-called “winds” and various types of demonic infestation. We will identify modes of
healing that employ therapies such as mineral, animal, and vegetable drugs, exorcism, talismans and spells, acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, breath control, and gymnastics.
The course will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on the medieval period.
All readings for this seminar are in English.
In this seminar we shall read and discuss a selection of recent important works on Buddhism (in E... more In this seminar we shall read and discuss a selection of recent important works on Buddhism (in English). Topics covered will include Buddhism and science, material culture, death, relics, art and architecture of Buddhist sites. In addition we shall survey trends in recent Buddhist Studies scholarship produced in other languages (Chinese, Japanese, French, German, etc.). Students will be required to write regular, short (1–2 page), critical responses to the readings in addition to a longer essay that reflects on the state of the field of Buddhist Studies.
This departmental seminar is required of all incoming students and offers a forum for the discuss... more This departmental seminar is required of all incoming students and offers a forum for the discussion of issues central to the field of Religious Studies. This year, there will be two sections, one taught by myself and the other by Dr Anders Runesson. Since Religious Studies might best be considered a field rather than a discipline, its theories, methods and issues can be extremely diverse. In the seminar we will consider the following questions from a variety of perspectives: What do we think we are studying when we study religions? Why do we think this is a worthwhile endeavour? How do we study religions?
In this seminar we shall read and discuss major studies of topics in Chinese Buddhism
(and relate... more In this seminar we shall read and discuss major studies of topics in Chinese Buddhism
(and related fields such as Taoism) produced in English over the last ten years or so. In addition
we shall survey trends in recent scholarship produced in other languages (Chinese, Japanese,
French, German, etc.). Students will be required to write regular, short 1-2 page), critical
responses in addition to a longer essay on the state of the
field.
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Teaching Documents by James A Benn
This course examines the lives and careers of some figures, both famous and obscure, mostly drawn from the East Asian Buddhist tradition. In particular we will focus on religious biography or hagiography (“the pious biography of saints”) and its social and cultural functions. We will also investigate some examples of autobiographical writing, such as travel diaries and dream diaries. Although the focus will be on East Asia, students with background or interest in materials from South or Southeast Asia (Hinduism or Jainism, for example) are encouraged to explore those traditions in this seminar.
healing that employ therapies such as mineral, animal, and vegetable drugs, exorcism, talismans and spells, acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, breath control, and gymnastics.
The course will focus primarily, but not exclusively, on the medieval period.
All readings for this seminar are in English.
(and related fields such as Taoism) produced in English over the last ten years or so. In addition
we shall survey trends in recent scholarship produced in other languages (Chinese, Japanese,
French, German, etc.). Students will be required to write regular, short 1-2 page), critical
responses in addition to a longer essay on the state of the
field.