Unit information: Death and Afterlife in Buddhism in 2015/16

Unit name	Death and Afterlife in Buddhism
Unit code	THRS30101
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Langer
Open unit status	Open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Religion and Theology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will examine the issues relating to death in Buddhist theory and practice. Students will get acquainted with perspectives on death as formulated in the Buddhist textual tradition, but also with ritual practises dealing with such an event. Themes covered will include 'deathlessness' (nirvana); various kinds of death and the associated rites, renunciation and ordination as a form of 'symbolic death'; relic cults; death and the regeneration of life and post-mortem rituals.

Aims:

• to develop an overall sense of the importance of death in Buddhism;

• to gain an in-depth knowledge of certain significant topics specific to a Buddhist tradition or practice;

• to encourage reflection on the nature of rituals related to death in a religious context;

• to develop skills in the researching, reading and presentation of complex material;

Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the unit students will be expected to have:

• an overall sense of the importance of death in Buddhism;

• an in-depth knowledge of certain significant topics specific to a Buddhist tradition or practice;

• developed reflection on the nature of rituals related to death in a religious context;

• skills in the researching, reading and presentation of complex material

And additionally (specific to Level H) to:

• Incorporate a consistently strong grasp of detail with respect to content

• Argue effectively and at length (including an ability to cope with complexities and to describe and deploy these effectively)

• Display to a high level skills in selecting, applying, interpreting and organising information, including evidence of a high level of bibliographical control

• Describe, evaluate and challenge current scholarly thinking

• Discriminate between different kinds of information, processes, interpretations

• Take a critical stance towards scholarly processes involved in arriving at historical knowledge and/or relevant secondary literature

• Engage with relevant theoretical, philosophical or social constructs for understanding relevant works or traditions

• Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and an ability to conceptualise

• Situate material within relevant contexts (invoking interdisciplinary contexts where appropriate)

• Apply strategies laterally (perhaps leading to innovative results).

Teaching Information

A one-hour lecture given by the unit tutor followed by an hour seminar discussion of primary sources in smaller seminar groups with individual seminar presentation by students.

Assessment Information

One summative coursework essay of 3000 words (50%) and one unseen examination of two hours comprising 2 questions out of 6 (50%).

Reading and References

• Bryan J. Cuevas and Jacqueline I. Stone (eds). The Buddhist Dead: Practices, Discourses, Representations, Honolulu: University of Hawai'I Press 2007.

• Doniger O'Flaherty, W. (ed.) 1980. Karma and Rebirth in Classical Indian Traditions, Berkeley, University of California Press

• Allen Klima, A. 2002. The Funeral Casino: Meditation, Massacre, and Exchange with the Dead in Thailand, Princeton, Princeton University Press, 2002.

• Langer, R. 2007. Buddhist Rituals of Death and Rebirth: A study of contemporary Sri Lankan practice and its origins, Abingdon: RoutledgeCurzon.

• Donald S. Lopez, Jr., Buddhism in Practice, Princeton U.P., 1995.