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Religion 350-16 : Yoga and Mysticism in Indian Religions ... |
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Religion 350-16
Yoga and Mysticism in Indian Religions
Spring 2004
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Course Objectives ... |
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Indian yogis, monks, and ascetics pursue extraordinary paths of yoga and mysticism in the pursuit of salvation, physical self-discipline and supernatural powers. This course introduces students to the teachings on spiritual training and methods of self-cultivation in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions of India. We study the Classical and Tantra yoga traditions of Hinduism, the Budhhist meditation method of Theravada monks, and the mendicant paths of Jain monks. Our main objectives are to explore these different yoga and meditation traditions, and to learn the ways in which these traditions are developed as disciplines of salvation, as ways to mystical awareness and as methods for obtaining superhuman powers.
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Readings ... |
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The following required readings for the course are available for purchase at Chicago Book Store. In addition, a Sourcebook is available for purchase at Quartet Copier.
- Mircea Eliade, Yoga: Immortality and Freedom, trans., W.R. Trask.
- Patanjali, Yoga Sutra, Barbara Stoler Miller, trans. Yoga: Discipline of Freedom.
- Patrick Olivelle, trans., Upanishads.
- Paramahansa Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi.
- Agehananda Bharati, The Ochre Robe: An Autobiography.
Sourcebook (referred to as SB in the class schedule).
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Class Schedule ... |
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Week 01 |
02/05 |
Introduction
Yoga and Mysticism: Paradigms and Terminology |
Week 02 |
02/12 |
Hinduism: A Historical Review
SB1 Carmody (“Hinduism”)
SB16 “The Science of Meditation” Time |
Week 03 |
02/19 |
Upanishadic Teachings on Reality and Self
Olivelle, Upanishads, Introduction and pp.13-17, 34-58, 148-164, 190-191, 202-206 |
Week 04 |
02/26 |
Yoga Principles: Self-Control of Body, Breath, and Mind
Olivelle, Upanishads, 21-22, 58-68, 130-135, 169-170, 179-184, 212-213, 230, 232-247, 253-256
Response 1 Body, Breath and Mind |
Major Systems of Yoga in Hinduism
Week 05 |
03/04 |
Patanjala Yoga (Raja Yoga)
Eliade, Yoga, chapter 1(“The Doctrines of Yoga”)
Yoga Sutra, Part 1 |
Week 06 |
03/11 |
Patanjala Yoga
Eliade, Yoga, chapter 2 (“Techniques for Autonomy”)
Yoga Sutra, Parts 3-4
Response-2 Eight-limbed yoga |
Week 07 |
03/18 |
Tantric Yoga
SB11 Andre Padoux (“What Do We Mean by Tantrism?)
Eliade, Yoga, chapter 6 (“Yoga and Tantrism”)
SB 12 Andre Padoux (“The Tantric Guru”)
SB10 Gavin Flood (“Purification of the Body”) |
Week 08 |
03/22-28 |
Spring Break
Midterm essay due 3/28 |
Week 09 |
04/01 |
Yoga Masters in Modern Times
Yogananda, Autobiography of a Yogi
Agehananda Bharati, The Ochre Robe: An Autobiography |
Week 10 |
04/08 |
Buddhas’s Middle Way
SB2 Carmody (“Buddhism”)
SB3 Wm. Theodore de Bary (“The Life of the Buddha as a Way of Salvation”)
SB4 Richard Gombrich (“The Sangha’s Discipline”) |
Week 11 |
04/15 |
Buddhist Meditation and Discipline
SB5 Melford E. Spiro (“Monasticism I: The Normative Structure”)
SB6 Winston L. King, Theravada Meditation, pp. 41-50, 64-77, 82-115
Response-3 Vipassana meditation |
Week 12 |
04/22 |
The Jain Monks
SB7 P. Jaini (“Mahavira and the Foundations of Jainism”)
SB8 P. Jaini (“The Mendicant Path and the Attainment of the Goal”) |
Week 13 |
04/291 |
Jain Monks and Society
SB9 Lawrence A. Babb, Absent Lord, Chapters 1 and 3 |
Week 14 |
05/06 |
Women and Ascetic Practices
SB13 Susan Murcott, The First Buddhist Women, pp. 39-73.
SB14 Lynn T. Denton (“Varieties of Hindu Female Asceticism”)
SB15 P. Jaini, (“Introduction” to Gender and Salvation) |
Week 15 |
05/13 |
Examinations
Research Paper Due 5/13 |
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Teaching Method ... |
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- This course is conducted in a seminar-style with lectures and at least one hour of class discussion every week.
- Lectures are designed to give you a broader perspective of course themes and some background knowledge to major issues/concepts of the readings for the week.
- The class will be divided into groups and these groups will take turns in initiating the class discussion of major ideas and issues of the readings for the week.
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Course Evaluation ... |
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Class attendance is mandatory. This is a 300-level intensive course, which involves reading and reflecting of course materials as well as raising questions and writing thoughtful responses and papers.
| Weekly one-page responses to readings and in class discussion |
25% of Final Grade |
| A 5-page take-home midterm exam essay |
25% of Final Grade |
| A 10-page research paper |
40% of Final Grade |
| A 10-minute oral presentation |
10% of Final Grade |
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Source Book Contents ... |
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| SB 1 |
Denise and John Carmody, “Introduction” and “Hinduism” in Mysticism: Holiness East and West, pp. 28-59. |
| SB 2 |
Denise and John Carmody, “Buddhism,” in Mysticism: Holiness East and West, pp. 60-100. |
| SB 3 |
“The Life of the Buddha as a Way of Salvation,” in The Buddhist Tradition, edited by Wm. Theodore de Bary, pp. 55-72. |
| SB 4 |
Richard Gombrich, “The Sangha’s Discipline,” in Theravada Buddhism, pp. 87-117. |
| SB 5 |
Melford E. Spiro, Buddhism and Society, Chapter 12 “Monasticism I: The Normative Structure”. |
| SB 6 |
Winston L. King, Theravada Meditation, pp. 41-50, 64-77, 82-115. |
| SB 7 |
“Mahavira and the Foundations of Jainism,” in P. Jaini, The Jain Path of Purification, pp. 1-41. |
| SB 8 |
“The Mendicant Path and the Attainment of the Goal,” in P. Jaini, The Jain Path of Purification, pp. 241-273. |
| SB 9 |
Lawrence A. Babb, Absent Lord, Chapters 1 & 3, (“Victors” “Magical Monks: A Ritual Subculture”). |
| SB 10 |
Gavin Flood, “Purification of the Body,” in David White, Ed. Tantra in Practice, pp. 509-522. |
| SB 11 |
Andre Padoux, “What Do We Mean by Tantrism? in Katherine Harper and Robert Brown, Eds. The Roots of Tantra, pp.17-36. |
| SB 12 |
Andre Padoux, “The Tantric Guru,” in Ed. David White, Tantra, pp. 41-51. |
| SB 13 |
Susan Murcott, The First Buddhist Women, pp. 39-73. |
| SB 14 |
Lynn T. Denton, “Varieties of Hindu Female Asceticism” in Julia Leslie, ed., Roles and Rituals for Women, pp. 211-231. |
| SB 15 |
Padmanabh Jaini, “Introduction” to Gender and Salvation, pp. 1-30. |
| SB 16 |
“The Science of Meditation” Time. |
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