Buddhism/Philosophy of Mahayana Buddhist Schools
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Philosophy of Mahāyāna Buddhist Schools
[edit | edit source]A critical study of the origin, expansion and philosophy of Mahayana Buddhist schools are emphasised. Reference to the original sources is done with special attention drawn to the following:
- Canonical evidence of the causes that led to the emergence of Mahayana;
- The interpretation of the word Mahayana and the nature of its philosophy
- Origin and development of Madhyamaka philosophy; concept of Sunyata and its interpretations;
- Madhyamaka viewpoint of voidness; interdependent origination; Middle path;
- Samsara and Nirvana;
- Dialectical method and its adaptation;
- Nature and realization of unconditioned realities;
- Rangtong vs. Shentong.
Special attention are paid to the concepts of Trikaya, Bodhicitta, Bodhisattva pranidhana, ideal of Bodhisattva, perfections (paramita) and ten states (dasabhumi); the causes that led to the emergence of Yogacara vignanavada; analysis of Citta matrata and Vignanamatrata; various divisions, nature and function of vignanta and how vignana differs from cittamatrata.
A general knowledge of the basic tenets and nature of Tantrayana which is an offshort of Mahayana is also explored in this module.
Recommended Reading:
[edit | edit source]- Prajna Paramita Hrdaya Sastra (with text and notes) - Ed. E. Conze, Buddhist wisdom book, 1958
- The Central Philosophy of Buddhism - T. R. V. Murti, London, 1955
- Buddhist Thought in India - E. Conze, London
- The Yogacara Idealism – A. K. Chaterjee, varanasi, 1975
- The Bodhisatva Doctrine in Buddhist Sanskrit Literature - Har Dayal, Motilal Banarsidas, Delhi
- Mahayana Buddhism - Nalinaksha Dutt, Mortilal Banarasidas, Delhi, 1978
- An introduction to Mahayana Buddhism – W.M. McGovern, Delhi
- Perfection of Wisdom - R. C. Jamieson, New York, 2000, 0670889342 0711215103
- Meditation on Emptiness - Jeffrey Hopkins, Wisdom PublicationS