Download Buddhism and Psychology - NYU Gallatin School of Individualized

Buddhism and Psychology
K20.1211
Once the Blessed One was staying at Kosambi in the Simsapa forest. Then,
picking up a few simsapa leaves with his hand, he asked the monks, “What do
you think, monks: Which are more numerous, the few simsapa leaves in my
hand or those overhead in the simsapa forest?
The leaves in the hand of the Blessed One are few in number, lord. Those
overhead in the forest are far more numerous.”
In the same way monks, those things that I have known with direct knowledge
but haven‟t taught are far more numerous [than what I have taught]. And why
haven‟t I taught them? Because they aren‟t connected with the goal, don‟t relate
to the rudiments of the holy life, and don‟t lead to disenchantment, to dispassion,
to cessation, to calm, to direct knowledge, to self-awakening, to Unbinding.
That‟s why I haven‟t taught them.
And what have I taught? „This is stress…This is the origination of stress…This is
the cessation of stress…This is the path of practice leading to the cessation of
stress‟: This is what I have taught. And why have I taught these things?
Because they are connected with the goal, relate to the rudiments of the holy life,
and lead to disenchantment, to dispassion, to cessation, to calm, to direct
knowledge, to self- awakening, to Unbinding. This is why I have taught them.
Samyutta Nikaya LV1.31
Gallatin School of Individualized Study
Spring Semester, 2011
Tuesday and Thursday 9: 30-10:45
Dr. Lee Robbins
[email protected]
Office hours: T and Th. 11-12
Course Requirements
Texts
The Foundations of Buddhism-Rupert Gethin
The Buddha-John Strong
Unlimiting Mind- Andrew Olendzki
The Heart of the Universe-Mu Soeng
Thoughts without a Thinker-Mark Epstein
In the Buddha’s Words- Bhikku Bodi
The Mind Like Fire Unbound-Thanissaro Bhikku
Source Book (Unique Copy Center)
Handouts
Helpful websites
Accesstoinsight.org
Dharma.org
Assignments
Three in class Reflections (40% of grade)
Response paper (15% 0f grade)
Class Presentation (10% of Grade)
Final Project—d-esigning and presenting a conference on Self/No-self -the aggregates (35% of grade)
Attendance, participation and engagement
Your attendance and participation are crucial to the success of the course. Excessive
absence (more than two) and non-participation will subtract 10% from your final
grade.
Cell Phones and Computers are to be turned off and personal notes and texting to
fellow students during class time is highly discouraged as is eating breakfast in class!
Standards for written work and evaluation
Evaluation of Written Work:
All written work should be submitted on time; this includes papers and exams. Late
work submitted without written documentation of a medical or personal emergency
will automatically be penalized. Written work must be typed or word-processed,
double-spaced with 1” margins. You many not email your papers. Written work will be
assessed according to the following scale.
A=Outstanding work distinguished by a high degree of originality, clarity, detail and
depth of analysis. Secondarily, “A” work is also well written, without obvious
grammatical and spelling errors, and well organized.
B=Above average work which is original, clear and well conceived. Secondarily, “B”
work is well written, but may contain some grammatical errors and awkwardness.
C=Average and competent work which is well written and clear. “C” work is not
substandard work, but may be lacking in originality and depth of analysis.
D=Substandard work which does not fully answer a given question or grapple with a
topic on an appropriate level. “D” work is generally not well written and organized.
Anyone receiving a “D” should make and appointment to meet with the instructor to
discuss outside referrals to academic or writing tutors.
F=Work which fails to meet Gallatin standards in terms of content and or presentation.
Any student receiving an “F” must make an appointment with the instructor. Failure
to submit any written work will result in an automatic “F”.
“I” (Incomplete) are strenuously discouraged, but can be arranged should a personal or
medical emergency arise. The appropriate forms must be obtained from the Assistant
Dean’s office and signed by the instructor.
_______________________________________________________________________
First Week
Jan. 25 Introduction to the Course
Buddha’s”Discourse to the Kalamas”
Jan.27 Indian civilization before and at the time of the Buddha
(H) A.K. Warder: “Indian Civilization Before the Buddha”, 17-26
(H) Sue Hamilton: “The Indian Context” in Early Buddhism: A New Approach, 33-48
(H) Robinson, et al: The Buddhist Religion 1-4
Andrew Olendski: Unlimiting Mind. 25-28,
Part 1
Second Week
Feb. 1 Buddha –Fulfillment of Primordial Archetype
(SB) Joseph Campbell: Hero with a Thousand Faces, 30-40, 55-58,190-193, 245246,361-364
(H) C.G. Jung: Memories Dreams Reflections, 274-280
Bhikku Bodi: In the Words of the Buddha 19-25, 43-46, Text I,2 (2), I,4(1) and (2)
Feb.3 Buddha’s, Previous lives, Ancestry, Conception , Birth, Quest, Renunciation
John Strong: The Buddha 1-48
In the Buddha’s Words, Text II.2, II.3.(1)
Third Week
Feb. 8 The Awakening-Karma
The Buddha, 49-76
Buddhist Religion, 9-12
Foundations of Buddhism, 112-126
In the Words of the Buddha, Text II.3.(2)
Feb. 10 FIRST REFLECTION ON READING AND CLASS DISCUSSION
Fourth Week
Feb. 15 Rebirth and Repetition (from a Western perspective)
(SB) C.G. Jung: “Concerning Rebirth” from CW 9.1, 117-134
(H)____ from: Memories Dreams Reflections, 316-320
(SB) Sigmund Freud: from Beyond the Pleasure Principle, 597-606
Feb. 17 The Buddha’s First Discourse-The Middle Way and the Four Noble Truths
The Buddha, 77-84
Buddhist Religion, 27-31
In the Words of the Buddha, 47-49, Text II.5
Part II
Self and Not-Self
In Buddhist and Western Psychology
Fifth Week
Feb.22 First Noble Truth-Buddhist Concept of the Person
Rupert Gethin: The Foundations of Buddhism, 59-68
In the Words of the Buddha:
The Five Aggregates 305-308, Text IX 4. (1), IX 4 (1) (a) and (b), 335-337
Six Sense Bases 309-311, Text 1X 4.(2). a and (b-Fire Sermon)
(H)Thanissaro Bhikku: “Five Piles of Bricks” from The Karma of Questions, 53-59
Feb. 24 First Noble Truth—Self/not-self
Rupert Gethin: 133-149
In the Words of the Buddha, Text 1X 4. (1) (c)
Unlimiting Mind, 1-23
In the Words of the Buddha, Three Characteristics 308-309, Text 1X 4.(1) (d)
Sixth Week
March 1 Lack, Dis-ease, Discontent (West)
(SB) David Loy: “The Pain of Being Human” from, Lack and Transcendence, 51-83
(H) Jung: “On the Discourses of the Buddha”3
(SB Freud: from Civilization and its Discontents, 728-735
Epstein: Thoughts without a Thinker, 43-58
March 3 SECOND REFLECTION ON READING AND CLASS DISCUSSION
Seventh Week
March 8 Second Noble Truth-Dependent Origination
In the Words of the Buddha 312-316, Texts II (3), IX 4 (4) (a) (b) (d)
Buddhist Religion 15-19
Gethin: 149-162
March 10 Second Noble Truth con’t -West
Thoughts without a Thinker, 59-73
Unlimiting Mind 51-54, 105-107, 110-112
(SB)Barry Magid: “Desire and the Self: reflections of J.M. Coetzee’s Slow Man”, from
Self and No-Self Continuing Dialogue between Buddhism and Psychotherapy, 27-37
Eighth Week March 15 and 17, SPRING BREAK
Ninth Week
March 22 Third Noble Truth-Nibbana
Foundations of Buddhism, 74-79
The Buddha, 125-141
In the Words of the Buddha, 317-320
Thanissaro Bhikku: The Mind Like Fire Unbound, 9-37
March 24 Third Noble Truth –Guest Lecturer—Ajahn Thanissro (Metta Forest Monastery)
The Mind Like Fire Unbound, 38-45, 75-94
Tenth Week
March 29- Nibbana Con’t-West
Thoughts without a Thinker, 75-88
(SB)Lack and Transcendence, 92-101
(SB)Freud from: Beyond the Pleasure Principle, 610-626
March 31 THIRD REFLECTION ON READING AND CLASS DISCUSSION
Eleventh Week
April 5 Fourth Noble Truth-The Path
Foundations of Buddhism, 79-84
In the Words of the Buddha, 223-229 and 257-258, Sutta V11.1 (1), V11 2
Four Foundations of Mindfulness (Sattipathana Sutta) 261-265, TextaV111.8
April 7 Individuation and Path-West
(SB) Roger Brooke from: Jung and Phenomenology, “Self and Individuation”, 145-176
(SB) Freud: “Remembering, Repeating and Working Through”, 157-166
Part III
Twelfth Week
April 12 Movie—“Dharma River”
April 14 Bringing it all together: Aggregates and Emptiness
Mu Soeng: The Heart of the Universe, 1-25
Thirteenth Week
April 19 Empty Self
The Heart of the Universe, 29-57
April 21 Empty self
The Heart of the universe 58-85
Fourteenth Week
April 26 Empty Self
The Heart of the Universe, 86-101
April 28 Groups and RESPONSE PAPER DUE
Fifteenth Week The Conference and Preparation
May 3
May 5 Last class