Buddhism in South and Central Asia

The course deepens and complements the basic course RVI1040 Religions of South Asia, focusing in a detailed manner on the religious traditions of Buddhism in South (especially India, Sri Lanka), Southeast (especially Myanmar, Thailand) and Central Asia (especially Tibet), and on forms of religious practice. In addition, the course discusses the application of theoretical perspectives and research methods from the study of religions in Asian contexts.

According to the course curriculum, a candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome (defined as knowledge and skills):

Knowledge

The candidate

• has good knowledge of the religious traditions of Buddhism, in a translocal perspective
• has an analytical, critical understanding of Buddhist cultural formations and processes in South, Southeast and Central Asia
• has an understanding of the central concepts, tools and approaches of the academic study of religions and is able to apply them in a reflected way

Skills

The candidate

• is able to critically assess introductory and overview literature and to transcend it towards problem-, source-oriented studies focusing differentiation, plurality and contestedness
• is able to contextualize themes that are central to Buddhism from a historical, social, cultural point of view
• is able to classify and analyze translated sources
• is able to classify and analyze relevant secondary literature
• is able to discuss the problems related to the concept of 'Buddhism'
• is able to connect theory/concepts to data in the Buddhist contexts

Teaching consists of lectures and seminars. In order to be admitted to the final exam an obligatory activity must be approved. For more information on this activity, see Blackboard. The obligatory activity is only given the semester the course is taught, but is valid for this and the subsequent semester.