Unit name | Death and Afterlife in Buddhism |
---|---|
Unit code | THRSM0112 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | M/7 |
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 |
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 practices dealing with such an event. The unit draws on textual sources and ethnographic data and 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.
On successful completion of this unit students will have
(1) developed a detailed knowledge and critical understanding of certain significant topics specific to a Buddhist tradition or practice;
(2) in-depth understanding of the nature of rituals related to death in a religious context;
(3) the ability to analyse and evaluate competing perceptions of the importance of death in Buddhism;
(4) demonstrated the ability to identify and evaluate pertinent evidence/data in order to illustrate/demonstrate a cogent argument.
Additionally (specific to level M), students will be expected to
(5) display high level skills in evaluating, analysing, synthesising and (where apt) critiquing images and ideas.
(6) apply existing analytical strategies to new evidence with flexibility and creativity
(7) demonstrate the capacity for independent research
10 x 2 hour seminars
One summative essay of 5000 words