Revised Papers for MA Buddhist Studies Sem II 1 Syllabus Mumbai University by munotes
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MA Buddhist Studies Sem II
Core Paper 5 - Buddhist View of Reality
Course Objective: This is an introductory paper to Buddhist philosophy and uses the
twin concepts of liberation and two truths to highlight the differences between the early
Buddhist schools themselves, and between them and later Mahāyāna developments.
The objective is to e quip the student to make a distinction between the approaches
followed by the various schools and to locate these ideas within the context of the
Buddha‟s teachings maintained in early texts.
Unit 1:
Indian Philosophical Context: Absolutism and Material ism
The Middle Path: Ethical and Philosophical
Dependent Origination:
Unit 2: Theravāda and SarvāstivādaAbhidharma
Conditioned and Unconditioned Phenomena, Dharmas as Ultimate Existents
Definition of Liberation
Two truths
Unit 3: Madhyamaka
Dependent O rigination and Śūnyatā
Relationship betweenSamsāra and Nirvā ṇa
Two Truths
Unit 4: Yogacara/Vi jñānavāda
Ālayavijñāna, manas and trisvabhāva
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Definition of Liberation: aprati ṣṭhita-nirvā ṇa, nirvikalpajñā na
Two Truths: Mind as ultimate reality; svalak ṣaṇa and sāmānyalak ṣaṇa according to
Dharmakirti.
Bibliography:
Primary Sources:
AnguttaraNikaya AN II.60
Bodhi, Bhikkhu; 2012, The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha : A translation of the
AnguttaraNikaya , Boston: Wisdom Publication
Anacker, S., 2005, Seven Works of Vasubandhu: The Buddhist Psychological Doctor ,
Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass, 2005
Kalupahana, D. J., 1991, Mūlamadhyamakakārikā of Nāgārjuna: The Philosophy of the
Middle Way. Introduction, Sanskrit Text, English Translation and Annotation , Delhi:
MotilalBanarsidass Publishers Pvt. Limited.
Kamaleswar, B., E.H. Johnson, and A. Kunst, 2002, The Dialectical Method of
Nāgārjuna: Vigrahavyāvartanī , New Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass Publishers.
Pruden, L.M., 1988 –1990, Abhidharmakośabhāṣyam of Vasub andhu , Vols. I –IV,
Berkeley, CA: Asian Humanities Press.
Secondary Sources
Kalupahana, David J., 1975, Causality: The Central Philosophy of Buddhism . Honolulu:
University Press of Hawai„i.
_________________ ., 1976. Buddhist Philosophy: A Historical Analys is. Honolulu:
University Press of Hawai„i.
Karunadasa, Y., 1996, TheDhamma Theory: Philosophical Cornerstone of the
Abhidhamma , Wheel Publication 412/413. Kandy, Sri Lanka: Buddhist Publication
Society.
____________, 2010, The Theravada Abhidhamma: Its Inq uiry into the Nature of
Conditioned Reality , Hong Kong: Centre for Buddhist Studies, University of Hong Kong
Krishan, Yuvraj, 1997, The Doctrine of Karma: Its Origin and Development in
Brahmanical, Buddhist, and Jaina Traditions . Delhi: MotilalBanarsidass.
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Ronkin, Noa.,2005, Early Buddhist Metaphysics: The Making of a Philosophical
Tradition . London: Routledge -Curzon.
Katsura, Shoryu, 1984, “Dharmakīrti's Theory of Truth,” Journal of Indian Philosophy ,
12: 215 –235.
Williams, Paul, 2009, Mahāyāna Buddhism: Th e Doctrinal Foundations . London and
New York: Routledge.
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Core Paper 6 - Introduction to Buddhist Epistemology & Logic
Unit I
1. Basic Concepts in Buddhist Epistemology: Jnana, Pramata,
Pramana, Pramanya
2. Definition and features of Pramana
3. Pramanyavada in Buddhism
Unit II
4. Nagarjuna‟s criticism of the Nyaya Concept of the Pramanas
5. Contribution of the Realist Schools - Bahyarthapratyaksavada and
Bahyarthanumeyavada
6. Dinnaga‟s concept of Pramana; Introduction to two pramanas and
Pramana -viplava
Unit III
7. Theory of Pratyaksa - Definition and features of Pratyaksa according
to Dinnaga
8. Dharmakirti‟s analysis of Pratyaksa
9. The debate between Buddhists and the Naiyayikas regarding the
nature of Pratyaksa
Unit IV
10. Anumana -Definition, nature and components
11. Nature of Vyapti and Types of Anumana
12. Hetvabhasa
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References Books :
Dhruva A.B. (ed.). Dinnaga’sNyayaPravesa .Baroda:Baroda Oriental Institute,
1954.
Dharmakirti, ChandrasekharShastri (ed.). Nyaya‐Bindu , Varanasi:Chaukhamba,
1954.
Matilal, B.K. &. Evans R.D (ed.) . Buddhist Logic and Epistemology .Dordrecht:D.
Reidel, 1986.
Stcherbatsky, Th. Buddhist Logic .(2 Vols.)New York: Dover, 1962.
Chattopadhyay, Madhumita: Walking Along the Paths of Buddhist Epistemology,
D. K. Printworld, NewDelhi, 2007
Randle, H. N. Indian Logic in the Early schools: a study of the Nya ̄yadarśana in
its relation to the early logic of other schools . Delhi:MunshiramManoharlal, 1976.
Chatterjee, S.C. TheNyaya Theory of Knowledge.Calcutta: University ofCalcutta,
1950.
Mohanty, JitendraNath. Reason and Tradition in Indian Thought: An Essay on
the Nature of Indian Philosophical Thinking . New York: Oxford University Press,
1992.
Jayatilleke, K.N. The Logic of Four Alternatives. Philosophy East and West .
Vol.17:1‐4. Hawaii, USA:University of Hawaii Press,1967.
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Item No. - 4.36
AC – 5/5/2018
4.36
It was resolved that it be recommended to the Academic Council that
the following revisions may be approved in M.A. Buddhist Studies – Sem
II syllabus.
The core paper for Semester II, viz. Engaged Buddhism be
replace by the paper titled “Buddhist Notion of reality”
The core paper for Semester II, viz. Trade and Religion be
regarded as Audit Course and the same may be replaced by
the paper titled “Introd uction to Buddhist Epistemology”