April 15

Class 1: 4 Responses to Modernity: Buddhist Nationalism & Socially Engaged Buddhism, Market Buddhism & Buddhist Socialism

• Class Issue: Modernity, Capitalism, and Scientific Materialism has presented perhaps the single greatest historical challenge to the traditional religions of the world. In this class, we will look at how Buddhism has responded to these forces. Have they pushed Buddhism to rediscover and renew its core or have they created neurotic responses that have deeply compromised this core?
• Presentation: Buddhism at the End of the Colonial Period (Click here for the audio lecture that goes with the PPT)
• Videos: click on this link to see the entire selection of videos (These videos are shown and discussed during normal class time. Please watch them as a complement to the course readings on this week’s issues)

1. Buddhist Nationalism in Japan and Sri Lanka
2. Socially Engaged Buddhism in Vietnam, Burma, and Japan
3. Market Buddhism in Thailand
4. Buddhist Socialism from Tibet

Class 2: Responses to Modernity: What is authentic Buddhism?

• Class Issue: Of the four movements that we have studied above, how true to or deviating from the teachings of the Buddha are they?

1. Buddhist Nationalism: Buddhism is a civilizational religion speaking about the ability for all kinds of people to gain enlightenment, indeed for all sentient beings. Does Buddhism in favor of the state completely warp this teaching? Should one choose loyalty to their own country and people over the well being of others?
2. Socially Engaged Buddhism: Buddhism is primarily focused on practicing meditation for the enlightenment of each individual. Is becoming involved in social issues and problems a total distraction and deviation from this essential path
3. Buddhist Socialism: How can you conceive of it when Marx said religion is the opiate of the masses? Is Socialism inherently materialistic and atheistic? If so, is this a weakness of it?
4. Market Buddhism: The core of Buddhist teaching is that greed creates ego and suffering. How can Buddhism be reconciled with the aims and forms of capitalism? Do capitalist values and aims support the aggressive conversion people, which seems to goes against Buddhist values?

• Readings on Buddhist Nationalism, Socially Engaged Buddhism, Market Buddhism, and Buddhist Socialism from the Readings Page
• HOMEWORK (due April 22 @ 12:00 noon JST): Submit 1 page reflection by answering the above questions about 1 or a pair of 2 of the 4 movements of Modernist Buddhism (Buddhist Nationalism, Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist Socialism, or Market Buddhism). Please refer to at least 2 readings.