ZEN BUDDHISM
EAS 357 ・ REL 357
Fall 2006 Class No. 14869

Class Time and Location: MW 5:45–7:05 in HU 133
Instructor: Mark Blum
Office: HU 254e
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday 1:00–2:00
Phone: 442-4183
e-mail: mblum@albany.edu

Required Textbooks & Other Readings
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki (Shambhala, 1973)
Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism by Dale Wright (Cambridge U., 1998)

The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, rev. ed. tr. by Philip Yampolsky (Columbia U., 1978)
ERes selections available online at university library Electronic Reserve section.

Prerequisites
This is a survey course with no prior knowledge of Buddhism, China, or Japan required.

General Education Categories
This course fulfills no General Education requirements.

Course Description
Zen means mediation, and Zen Buddhism is a meditation-centered form of religion and religious expression which arose in China in the Sixth century and grew to dominate Buddhist thought in China, Korea, Japan, and Viet Nam. Today it has made profound inroads into the cultural landscape and religious thought in the West as well. This course will examine the literary, philosophical and historical traditions of Zen or Chan in China and Japan. The name Zen means “meditation” and the course will also bring the student through an experience of the type of Zen meditation practice that is found throughout the history of Zen Buddhism. We will begin with an overview of how the Buddhist religion defined itself in India, then carefully read a translation and critical studies of one representative Zen texts from the Tang dynasty in China, and conclude with a series of philosophical investigations into the paradoxical nature of Zen, Zen literature, and Zen practice. Throughout the course we will also read and discuss a short essays from a modern work by a Zen master about the process and purpose of meditation. Students will be asked to follow the instructions in that book and begin to meditate on a regular basis and keep a journal of their experience; this will be something like keeping a dream diary.

Grading
Attendance is mandatory for all classes except for reviews, or as indicated by the instructor. However, there may be a field trip to a Zen monastery in the area that will be optional. Students will be graded in three areas:
a) class preparation, participation, and homework assignments — 10%
b) performance on three written assignments, each 3 pages in length (typed) — 15% each
c) meditation journal — 5%
c) midterm exam — 20%
d) final exam — 20%

Class Schedule
Reading source abbreviations: ERes = Electronic Reserve, PS = The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, ZM = Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, PM = Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism.

Date Topics Readings

Sept 6 Introduction to the course and course materials

Sept 11 What is Zen to Buddhism, to China, to Japan, to us. ERes 1
Sept 13 The Buddha’s enlightenment, Buddha as teacher ERes 2

Sept 18 Mahāyāna Readings I – Diamond Sūtra ERes 3
Sept 20 Mahāyāna Readings II – Vimalakīrti Sūtra, Nirvana Sūtra ERes 4 & 5

Sept 25 Zen History up to the Sixth Patriarch Huineng ERes 6, PS 1-23,
Sept 27 The Platform Sutra I PS 111-133

Oct 2 No Class — Holiday
Oct 4 The Platform Sutra II. Homework #1 due. PS 133-146

Oct 9 The Platform Sutra III PS 146-162
Oct 11 The Platform Sutra IV PS 162-189

Oct 16 Meditation and Englightenment I ZM 1-24
Oct 18 Meditation and Englightenment II ZM 25-46

Oct 23 MIDTERM.
Oct 25 Textuality as part of the fabric of Zen ERes 7; PM ch. 1; ZM 49-52

Oct 30 How to read Zen PM ch. 2; ZM 53-63
Nov 1 Understanding enlightenment via another’s experience PM ch. 3; ZM 64-68

Nov 6 Zen ways of using language. Homework #2 due. ERes 8; PM ch. 4; ZM 69-80
Nov 8 Rhetorical strangeness of Zen PM ch. 5; ZM 81-83

Nov 13 Zen as history PM ch. 6; ZM 84-94
Nov 15 Freedom: the practice of constraint PM ch. 7; ZM 95-99

Nov 20 guest lecture ZM 100-112
Nov 22 No Class — Holiday ZM 115- 122

Nov 27 Transcendence and transmission PM ch. 8; ZM 123-132
Nov 29 Mind PM ch. 9; ZM 133-141, 169

Dec 4 Enlightenment. Homework #3 due. PM ch. 10; ZM 142-155
Dec 6 Zen in theory and practice PM 207-216; ZM 156-168
Dec 11 Review ERes FINAL REVIEW

Dec 18 (Mon) FINAL EXAM from 5:45AM to 7:45PM in same room