RELS226 Mahayana Buddhism

The origins of Mahāyāna Buddhism in India, its spread to Tibet and East Asia and its relationship to other forms of Buddhism, including Theravāda.

This paper explores Mahāyāna Buddhist understandings of the human condition and its visions of human flourishing. We cover the origins, history, doctrinal developments and major practices of Mahāyāna Buddhism, including its relationship to Theravāda, from the first centuries of the common era to the present.

By engaging sacred texts from the Buddhist canon as well as poetry, literature, autobiography and film, we consider how Mahāyāna Buddhism has changed and evolved as it spread from India to Central and East Asia and, more recently, throughout the world.

Key themes include the question of suffering, the nature of compassion, training the emotions, and the place of imperfection within Mahāyāna Buddhist visions of enlightenment. Throughout, we consider the relevance of class material to our own views and experiences of the world.

Paper title	Mahayana Buddhism
Paper code	RELS226
Subject	Religious Studies
EFTS	0.15
Points	18 points
Teaching period	Not offered in 2023 (Distance learning)
Domestic Tuition Fees (NZD)	$955.05
International Tuition Fees	Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website.

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Prerequisite

36 points

Restriction

RELS 326, RELX 226, RELX 326

Schedule C

Arts and Music, Theology

Notes

May not be credited together with RELS230 or RELS330 or RELX230 or RELX330 passed in 2009.

Contact

Dr Lina Verchery

More information link

View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion

Teaching staff

Dr Lina Verchery

Paper Structure

This course is divided into five modules:

• The Foundations of Early Indian Buddhism
• Early Mahāyāna Buddhism in India
• Mahāyāna Sūtras
• Ritual, Practice, and Devotion
• Transmissions and Transformations

The assessment at the 200 level comprises:

• Weekly Reflections 20%
• Essay Outline 10%
• Essay 1 (2,000 words) 35%
• Exam (three hours) 35%

Teaching Arrangements

The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught remotely.

For on-campus students there are two 1-hour lectures per week.
Distance students participate in fortnightly discussions online.

Textbooks

Robert A. Thurman, transl. The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti (University Park: Pennsylvania State University Press, 1976)

Heruka, Tsangnyön. The Life of Milarepa (East Rutherford: Penguin Publishing Group, 2010)

Recommended: Paul Williams. Mahāyāna Buddhism: the Doctrinal Foundations (London: Routledge, 2009)

A coursebook has also been developed for this paper.

Course outline

View sample course outline for RELS226

Graduate Attributes Emphasised

Global perspective, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Ethics, Research, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

• The origins and early development of Mahāyāna Buddhism in India
• The distinctive ideas and practices of Mahāyāna Buddhism
• The transmission of Mahāyāna to other parts of Asia

Skills:

• The ability to analyse critically the teachings of Mahāyāna Buddhism
• The ability to research topics using academic texts, journals and other media
• The ability to defend an argument using a variety of methods in writing

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