Department of Philosophy

                    Course Syllabus


Introduction to Zen
Instructor: Steve Odin
Semester: Fall 2009

August
Week 4
Introduction to Zen

September
1.  Shinto Background
2. Background in Indian, Chinese & Korean Zen/Chan schools
3. Background in Shingon, Tendai, Pure Land, & Nichiren schools
4. Dôgen's Sôtô Zen (Kasulis: Zen Action/Zen Person).

October
1. Dôgen (continued)
first short paper due
2.. Introduction to Rinzai Zen.(Suzuki: Zen & Japanese Culture)
3. Continue
4. Zen & Japanese Aesthetics  (Odin: Artistic Detachment in Japan & the  West)

November
1. Zen & Japanese art
2. Zen & Bushidô
second short paper due
3. Introduction to the modern Zen philosophy of Nishida & the Kyoto school
    (Odin: The Social Self in Zen & American Philosophy, ch. 1 & 2)
4. Continued
 
December
1. Review & Oral Presentations
final paper due (Monday, Dec. 8, 2009)



Grading System: 25% Reading/Participation/Attendance;.25% 2 Short Papers (4 Pages);  Final Paper (15 Pages); Take-Home Final Exam


Required Textbooks
Kasulis, T.     Zen Action/Zen Person
Odin, S.    Artistic Detachment in Japan & the West
        The Social Self in Zen & American Pragmatism
Suzuki, D. T.    Zen & Japanese Culture

Student Learning Objectives will include (i) demonstrated knowledge of the Sino-Japanese tradition of Zen/Chan Buddhism; (ii) the ability to articulate the basic concepts of Zen/Chan philosophy, both through verbal and written presentations.

Plagiarism  includes but is not limited to submitting, in fulfillment of an academic requirement, any work that has been copied in whole or in part from another individual's work without attributing that borrowed portion to the individual; neglecting to identify as a quotation another's idea and particular phrasing that was not assimilated into the student's language and style or paraphrasing a passage so that the reader is misled as to the source; submitting the same written or oral or artistic material in more than one course without obtaining authorization  from the instructors involved; or "drylabbing," which includes obtaining and using experimental data and laboratory write-ups from other sections of a course or from previous terms. (The University of Hawaii Student Conduct Code) Any student who plagiarizes in this course will receive a failing grade and will be referred to the Dean of Students. To keep out of harm's way in this area cite your sources and when you quote use quotation marks.
 
Disability Statement
If you feel you need reasonable accommodations because of the impact of a disability, please (i) contact the KOKUA Program, room 013, QLCSS, 956-7511 or 956-7612; (ii) speak with me privately to discuss your specific needs. I will be happy to work with you and the KOKUA Program to meet you access needs related to your documented disability.