Course Outline: ME6103 History of Indian Buddhism, 2011/2012, Semester 2

Basic Data
Program: 
Master of Arts (Buddhist Studies)
Semester: 
Second Semester (December 05, 2011–April 07, 2012) Academic Year 2011/2012
Subject: 
BH6103/ME6103 - History of Indian Buddhism
Credit / status: 
3 credits / Core Subject
Instructor: 
Tilak Kariyawasam 博士教授
Recommended Texts: 
  • Bapat, P. V. 2500 Years of Buddhism. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. Delhi: Publications Division, 1959.
  • Bhattacarya, N.N. Buddhism in the History of Indian Ideas. New Delhi: Manohar, 2000.
  • Conze, Edward. Buddhist Thought in India. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1996.
  • Goyal, S.R. A History of Indian Buddhism. Jodhpur: Kusumanjali, 1994.
  • Hazra, Kanai Lal. The Rise and Decline of Buddhism in India. Delhi: Munshiram Manoharalal, 1998.
  • Harvey, Peter. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices. New Delhi: Munshiram Manoharlal, 1990.
  • Hirakawa, Akira. History of Indian Buddhism – From Sākyamuni to Early
  • Mahāyāna. Trans. Paul Growner. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1993.
  • Saunders, K.J. Epochs in Buddhist History. Delhi: Pilgrims, 1998.
  • Skilton, Andrew. A Concise History of Buddhism. Birmingham: Windhorse, 2001.
  • Thomas, E.J. The History of Buddhist Thought. 2nd ed. London, Routledge & K. Paul, 1951.
  • Warder, A.K. Indian Buddhism. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1997.
Course Organization: 
  • Lecture 1 Origin of Buddhism.
  • Lecture 2 Spread of Buddhism. during the time of the Buddha.
  • Lecture 3 Why Buddhism spread so fast in the Indian soil?
  • Lecture 4 Buddhist councils, origins of Pāli literature and the development various Nikāyas.
  • Lecture 5 Royal patronage of King Asoka, King Milinda, King Kaniṣka and King Harsa.
  • Lecture 6 Origins of Sanskrit Buddhist Literature and the development of Mahāyāna.
  • Lecture 7 Emergence of Pāli Commentarial Literature and the development of Abhidharma in Theravāda.
  • Lecture 8 Development of Abhidharma in Sarvāstivāda.
  • Lecture 9 Development of Śūnyatā Doctrine with the Mādhyamaka theory of Ārya Nāgārjuna.
  • Lecture 10 Ālaya Vijñāṇa theory of Ārya Asaṅga and the development of Vijñāṇavāda.
  • Lecture 11 Spread of Buddhism into China and establishment of Buddhism.
  • Lecture 12 Development of Buddhist Universities and the origins of Buddhist Logicians during the periods of Gupta and Pāla Emperors.
  • Lecture 13 Origin and development of Tantrayāna.
  • Lecture 14 Disappearing of Buddhism in Indian soil.
  • Lecture 15 Revision.
Course Requirements: 

Students are required to write an essay assignment of 3000 words and the subject for the essay will be given in the classroom. Marks will be allocated for the classroom presentation or the Viva Voce examination. They can choose a subject for their paper presentation. The final examination will be held at the end of the course. A suitable amount of time will be allocated at the end of the course for preparation of examination. To be eligible to for the examination students must attend the minimum of 80% of the scheduled classes.

Allocation of Marks: 
  • 1. Class participation and attendance 5%
  • 2. Essay Assignment 20%
  • 3. Viva voce examination or presentation 15%
  • 4. Final Written examination 60%
Course Objectives: 

This course is intended to give the full knowledge of History of Indian Buddhism from its origin and up to the time of disappearance of Buddhism from India. When the students are following this course of studies they can improve their knowledge on three major traditions of Buddhism: Theravāda, Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna.

Grading: 

All tests, assignments and examinations are graded as follows with grade point and numerical marks:

Grade Performance Grade value Percentage Equivalence
A Excellent 4.0 90-100
B+ Very Good 3.5 80-89
B Good 3.0 70-79
C+ Fairly Good 2.5 60-69
C Fair 2.0 50-59
D+ Poor 1.5 40-49
D Very Poor 1.0 30-39
F Fail 0.0 29 or less
I Incomplete
W Withdrawn
WF Withdrawn because of failure
AU Audit