RELI388 - Socially Engaged Buddhism

[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2005/2006

Socially Engaged Buddhism - East and West
RELI 388 SP

For several decades, a new movement within Buddhist communities has been emerging that aims at joining various forms of activism -involving social, political, economic and ecological concerns-- with the tenets and practice of the tradition. Termed "socially engaged Buddhism", this phenomenon and perspective can be seen throughout Asia-- in examples such as the work of Thich Nhat Hanh in Vietnam, Sulak Sivaraksa in Thailand, the Dalai Lama for Tibetans living in exile, and Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma as well as, more recently, in various forms throughout the West. This course will explore this emerging phenomenon in some depth.

MAJOR READINGS

Aung San Suu Kyi, THE VOICE OF HOPE
Tenzin Gyatso (the 14th Dalai Lama), ETHICS FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM
Thich Nhat Hanh, FOR A FUTURE TO BE POSSIBLE
Ken Jones (ed.), THE NEW SOCIAL FACE OF BUDDHISM
Chan Khong, LEARNING TRUE LOVE: HOW I LEARNED & PRACTICED SOCIAL CHANGE IN VIETNAM
Christopher Queen (ed.), ENGAGED BUDDHISM: BUDDHIST LIBERATION MOVEMENTS IN ASIA
Christopher Queen (ed.), ENGAGED BUDDHISM IN THE WEST
Donald Rothberg, "Responding to the Cries of the World: Socially Engaged Buddhism in North America," from Prebish & Tanaka (ed.) THE FACES OF BUDDHISM IN AMERICA
Mary Tucker and Duncan Williams (eds.), BUDDHISM AND ECOLOGY
Kobai Scott Whitney, SITTING INSIDE: BUDDHIST PRACTICE IN AMERICA'S PRISONS

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Two short essays plus a 10-15 page final research paper.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Fulfills a "Religion in Society" requirement in the Religion Department.

COURSE FORMAT: Seminar

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: HA RELI Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: [RELI242 or EAST242]

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Willis,Janice D.

Times: .....F. 01:10PM-04:00PM; Location: RSCSEM;

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 20)

SR. major: 2 Jr. major: 4

SR. non-major: 3 Jr. non-major: 3 SO: 8 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Ethical Reasoning, Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-30-2006