This graduate seminar focuses on reading a wide spectrum of Indian Buddhist texts in the Sanskrit (or Pali) original introducing the students to different genres, and different aspects of Indian Buddhism. The students taking the course for two units (rather than four) will be expected to prepare thoroughly every week for the reading of Buddhist texts in the original. They will also be expected to read all related secondary literature that is assigned to supplement the study of the primary source material. In contrast to the students taking the course for four units, they will not be expected to write a term paper or to prepare special presentations for class.

This term we will read from two of Vasubandhu's works offering expositions of the Abhidharma. While Vasubandhu does so from a Sarvāstivāda perspective, his treatment is foundational for the Yogācāra school, and is also taken for granted by the the Mādhyamikas serving for their śūnyatā teaching as a starting point. Moreover, much of the ground covered by Vasubandhu is shared with the Abhidharmas of other Buddhist traditions. We will begin our readings of the Sanskrit originals (as always we may consult Tibetan and Chinese translations) with Vasubandhu's Pañcaskandhaka. It gives the raw scaffolding of the abhidharmic edifice by treating the five skandhas. Eventually, I would like us to zoom in on Vasubandhu’s treatment of the caitasika factors associated with and qualifying cognitive acts. For this we will focus on verses 9-14 of Vasubandhu's "Thirty Verses," including the treatment offered by Sthiramati in his commentary Triṃsikavijnaptibhāṣya. Time allowing, we may stay with this commentary and spend some time on probing into Sthiramati's explanation of the tri-svabhāva scheme offered by Vasubandhu in verses 20-25. As always, this seminar can be taken for two or four units; in either case students are expected to prepare and take their turn in translating the Sasnkrit original.

Credit Restrictions

Students will receive no credit for S ASIAN C215 after completing S ASIAN 215A, or S ASIAN 215. A deficient grade in S ASIAN C215 may be removed by taking S ASIAN 215.

Repeat Rules