Course Plan
June 4 (Class 1&2): A Brief History of Japanese Buddhism & The civilizational culture of Buddhism meets Japan’s particular cultural identity
- Course Introduction
- Class Discussion: What is Buddhism? How would you explain to someone, like a new student?
- Lecture on A Brief History of Japanese Buddhism
- Sign Ups for class project (for details see Field Trips page)
1) Human Relationships I: Dying and Grieving (Kosei Vihara & Dr. Moichiro Hayashi, 6/20 17:00-19:00 in Suginami-ku, Tokyo) Limited to 15
2) Human Relationships II: Alienation & Suicide (Rev. Soin Fujio, 6/16 14:30-17:00 in Yokosuka, south of Kamakura, 1.5 hrs from Tokyo) Limited to 20
3) Development I: Economics, Alienation & Suicide (Hitosaji Association feeding the homeless, 6/17, 16:15 leave campus, 22:00 finish in Asakusa, Tokyo) Limited to 10
4) Development II: Economics, Energy, and Environment (Rev. Hidehito Okochi’s 2 Eco Temples, 6/22 14:30 start Edogawa-ku, 17:30 finish Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo) Unlimited
5) Politics I: Nuclear Power and Peace (choice of #4 or #6)
6) Politics II: War and Peace (Peace March with Nipponzan Myohoji against revision of constitution and restart of nuclear reactors, 6/15 12:30-16:00, Ryogoku Station to Hibiya Park, Tokyo) Unlimited - Lecture on The Civilizational Culture of Buddhism meets Japan’s particular cultural identity in Ways of Thinking about Religion and Culture
- Concluding Lecture on the Basics of Buddhism
Homework for 6/11:
collect media on Japanese social problems
日本人学 生の特別宿題：三つ大変日本社会問題を発掘してください。
具体的問題と構造的背景と文化的背景を考えてください。
June 11 (Class 1): Buddhist Social Analysis & The Present Crisis in Japanese Society
- Finalize Field Trips
- Introduction: The Four Noble Truths: A Buddhist Approach to understanding self and society
- Group work: Doing a Buddhist Social Analysis of Japan
- Conclusion: Reflection on The Matrix of Social Problems in Japan
June 11 (Class 2): The Present Crisis in Japanese Society: The Disconnected Society 無縁社会
- Video: NHKドキュメンタリ：無縁社会 (NHK Documentary: The Disconnected Society)
Homework for 6/14:
- Prepare some ideas for the 3rd and the 4th Noble Truth as it applies to Japanese society and think of how Japanese Buddhism could be a part of solving the dukkha of Japanese society.
- Read the first third of Reconstructing Priestly Identity and Roles in Contemporary Japan and the Development of Socially Engaged Buddhism (PDF:WattsOkanoJSEB)
June 14 (Class 1): The Present Crisis in Japanese Buddhism
18:30-20:00 Special remote class at Shinko-in Temple (where our meditation group meets) MEET IN THE MAIN COURTYARD OF MITA CAMPUS AT 6:00 right after 5th period ends and we will walk over to the temple.
- SPECIAL SPEAKER: Rev. Yoshiharu Tomatsu (Directer General of the All Japan Buddhist Federation and Board Member of the World Fellowship of Buddhists, Keio graduate, Harvard M.Div.) will engage in a discussion on the Present Crisis in Japanese Buddhism!
- See parts of his talk in this power point on The Japanese View of Life and Death
- What for you are the three biggest social problems facing Japan? Does Buddhism have any ability or potential to confront them and help solve them? If NOT, why? What are the problems in the Buddhist world that prevent it from being socially relevant? IF YES, why? What are the potential in the Buddhist world that can empower it to help contribute to a better society?
June 15 (Field Trip): Protest March with the Nipponzan Myohoji monks and laypeople to stop legislation allowing Japan to go to war and to stop the restart of nuclear reactors starting at Ryogoku Station (JR Chuo Sobu Line) to the front of TEPCO Headquarters and Hibiya Park 12:30-16:00
June 16 (Field Trip): Suicide Prevention Priest Rev. Soin Fujio at his temple in Yokosuka, south of Kamakura (14:30-17:00). Meet at Zushi station at 13:45.
June 17 Monday (Field Trip): Homeless “Patrol” with the Hitosaji Association in Asakusa 17:00-21:30 (meet at Mita Campus after 4th period at 16:15)
June 18 (Class 2) Starts late at 10:45, no 1st period which happens on 6/14 above: Human Relationships I: Dying and Grieving in an Aging Society & the Potential of Buddhist Chaplaincy
- Reflection on The Matrix of Problems in the Japanese Buddhist World
- Presentation on the second half of the Four Noble Truths
- Lecture: Dying and Grieving in Contemporary Buddhism & End-of-Life Care at the Kosei Vihara Hospice
- Student led evaluation of movement (3rd&4th NTs)
- Conclusion: The Emergence of Buddhist Chaplaincy Around the World & Its Potential for Japanese Society
Homework for 6/25:
- Read Journey Through Dukkha on the suicide prevention priests
- Read the article: From an Disconnected Society to an Interconnected One by Rev. Shunei Hakamata
June 20 (Field Trip): Buddhist Hospice visit to Kosei Vihara with Dr. Moichiro Hayashi 17:00-19:00 (meet on campus at 16:15 OR at Honan-chi station, Marunochi subway line near hospital, further details given later)
June 22 Saturday (Field Trip): Rev. Hidehito Okochi’s TWO Eco-Temples, first in Edogawa-ku, second in Bunkyo-ku (Meet at Funabori Station at 14:30, finish in Bunkyo-ku at 19:00)
June 25 (Class 1): Human Relationships II: The 1st Noble Truth of the Suicide Prevention Priests
- Video: The Departure – a profile of the work of suicide prevention priest, Rev. Jotetsu Nemoto
June 25 (Class 2): Development I: Economic Development & Community – from the 2nd to 4th Noble Truths with the Suicide Prevention Priests
- Review analysis of The Departure with student notes (1st&2nd NTs)
- Lecture: The Problem of Suicide in Japan & Buddhist Priests Confronting the Situation
- Student led evaluation of movement (3rd&4th NTs)
- Conclusion: from the 2nd to 4th Noble Truths with the Suicide Prevention Priests & Analysis with Rev. Shunei Hakamata’s article
- Read Buddhism and Social Activism in Today’s Japan: The Activities of the Hitosaji Association by Rev. Akinori Takase and read the homepage of the Hitosaji Association.
- Read Nuclear Power Is Incompatible with the Way of the Buddha / 原発は仏の道とあいいれない by Rev. Taitsu Kono (Sekai Magazine June 2012)
July 2 (Class 1): Development II: The Homeless & Workers in the Nuclear Industry
- Opening student led discussion on homelessness (1st&2nd NTs)
- Lecture on the The Activities of the Hitosaji Association
- Student led evaluation of the association (3rd&4th NTs)
- Video: The Nuclear Ginza
July 2 (Class 2): Development III: Nuclear Energy & the Eco-Temple
- Opening student led discussion on nuclear energy (1st&2nd NTs)
- Lecture on Buddhist Engagement with the Nuclear Crisis and Rev. Okochi’s Eco-Temple Activities
- Student led evaluation of the movement (3rd&4th NTs)
- Conclusion: the International Eco-Temple Movement
Homework for 7/9:
- Read Nichiren’s Activist Heirs: Soka Gakkai, Rissho Koseikai, Nipponzan Myohoji by Jaqueline Stone
- Read Which Way to Peace? The Role of Japanese Buddhism in Anti-Nuclear Civil Protest by Jonathan Watts
July 9 (Class 1) Politics I: War and Japanese Buddhism
- Video: Zen and War
July 9 (Class 2): Politics II: Peace and Japanese Buddhism
- Lecture on Lotus Sutra Social Activism in Contemporary Japan with videos of previous peace demonstrations with Nipponzan Myohoji
- Student led evaluation of Myohoji’s activities (3rd&4th NTs)
- Course Review: The Diamond Pyramid of Nirvana by Japanese Engaged Buddhism
July 16: Buddhism and the Future of Japan Changed from July 16 to July 9 at 18:10-19:40 (only one 90 minute class, 2nd 90 minutes cancelled)
- Review of Opening Lecture on Japanese Buddhism’s Potential as a Civilizational Force
- Short Teachings on Key Japanese Buddhist Teachings: The Heart Sutra
Final Homework: Turn in your final paper anytime before or on July 19 see details on Final Projects page
Contemporary Buddhism in Japan & Asia 