BUDDSTD C215 Readings in Indian Buddhist Texts 2 - 4 Units

Description

This graduate seminar focuses on reading a wide spectrum of Indian Buddhist texts in the Sanskrit (or Pali) original introducing the students to different genres, and different aspects of Indian Buddhism. The students taking the course for two units (rather than four) will be expected to prepare thoroughly every week for the reading of Buddhist texts in the original. They will also be expected to read all related secondary literature that is assigned to supplement the study of the primary source material. In contrast to the students taking the course for four units, they will not be expected to write a term paper or to prepare special presentations for class.

Spring 2026:

In this term, we will continue to read hymns dedicated to Buddhist deities composed in Sanskrit by the 17th century Nepalese King Pratāpa, inscribed onto stone and installed in situ at the concerned temples. We will use this so as to probe into how this (nominally Hindu) king related to Buddhism, examining whether a narrative of appropriation does justice to his poetic compositions.

For a change of scene, we may in the course of the term move away from these materials so as to read an early Mahayanasutra entitled Bhavasankranti. We would do this by reading across the surviving versions in Sanskrit, in Tibetan translation and in Chinese translations; we might supplement this by including the rich attached exegetical literature.

Repeat rules: Course may be repeated for credit without restriction.

Also listed as: S ASIAN C215