Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies
Course Syllabus – Spring 2024

Japanese Buddhism 日本の仏教—Beyond within in the here and now—
Wednesdays & Fridays 2:55-4:25

Instructor
Hoyu Ishida
Inquiry to hoyuishidajl@gmail.com

Course Description
This course presents an introduction to, and an investigation of, specific topics onJapanese Buddhism. Classroom lectures and discussions in Japanese will focus on general
Buddhist concepts and ideals both fundamental and particular to Japan.
Buddha means an awakened, enlightened, or realized one. The teaching of Buddhism
thus aims at the state of mind that realizes the cause of duḥkha (suffering) in this world
and overcomes its suffering through entering nirvāṇa, the goal of Buddhism.
Nirvāṇa is understood to be the realm free from duḥkha apart from our world.
Mahayana Buddhism, however, insists that nirvāṇa refers to this world of ours. That is,nirvāṇa is in the realm of saṃsāra or birth-and-death with four or eight duḥkha, where
we are living right now. Buddhism claims that “Birth-and-death is thus nirvāṇa.”When one sees that lotus flowers beautifully bloom in the mud but not in the pure water,
one may realize the encounter of the two opposites coinciding with each other—the unityof polarity—much of Japanese philosophy dwells on this.
Kamakura-era Buddhism is characterized as the age of selecting a single practice forpeople by the founders of new sects or denominations. In this course, Shinran (11731262) for Pure Land Buddhism and Dōgen (1200-1253) for Zen Buddhism are examined
respectively.
This course will be taught in Japanese at the Intermediate Level and will use avariety of texts in both Japanese and English. Toward the end of the course, we plan tovisit temples of the Pure Land and Zen denominations.
仏陀 Buddha は「目覚めた者」という意味で覚者と訳します。仏教の教えは、現実におけるこの世の苦しみ（duḥkha）の原因を理解しそれを乗り越えていく境地、つまり涅槃（nirvāṇa）に入ることを目的とします。
そこで、涅槃とはこの世を越えた苦のない世界と理解されますが、大乗仏教（MahayanaBuddhism）では、この世のことを指していると主張します。つまり生死（saṃsāra）と呼ばれる四苦八苦の我々が住んでいる世界そのものだと説きます。生死即涅槃（Saṃsāra is thennirvāṇa.）がそれにあたります。
蓮の華が清らかな水の中ではなく泥の中で美しく咲くということが見えたとき、真反対のものが呼応し、逆対応しているという矛盾的構造が見えたときに「目覚め」が起こるとされます。これが大乗仏教の醍醐味であり、日本哲学の中枢の一つです。

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鎌倉仏教（12—3 世紀）の特徴はそれぞれの教祖が一つの道を選び取ったところにあります。このクラスでは、浄土仏教（Pure Land Buddhism）と禅仏教（Zen Buddhism）を取り上げ、浄土教は親鸞（1173-1262）、禅は道元（1200-1253）を学びます。
また、それらの宗派に関わる寺院等を訪れ、体験学習を試みます。

Overview and Tentative Schedule (subject to change)
The course starts with defining the term buddha 仏陀, which means, in past passive
participle, awakened, enlightened, or realized. Buddha, in a noun form, refers to an
awakened, enlightened, or realized one 覚者. √budh, which means to wake 目覚める, is theroot verb for buddha.
The class then expounds on the basic difference between Theravada Buddhism 上座部
仏教 and Mahayana Buddhism 大乗仏教. Whereas early Buddhism maintains nirvāṇa 涅槃,
the goal of Buddhism, is outside of this world of duḥkha 苦 or suffering. Therefore, oneattains nirvāṇa, transcending saṃsāra or birth-and-death 生死—the six realms of duḥkha,Mahayana Buddhism, however, claim one attains nirvāṇa in the six realms beyond withinin the here and now. Two opposites—birth-and-death and nirvāṇa—coincide with eachother, formulating the unity of polarity.
We will examine this characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism from two Kamakura-era
Buddhist reformers: Shinran (1173-1262) and Dōgen (1200-1253). As for Shinran,nembutsu 念仏 was selected as he followed his teacher Hōnen. On the other hand, Dōgenmodeled himself after Shakyamuni the Buddha 釈迦牟尼仏 for the attainment of satori orenlightenment in zazen 坐禅 or sitting mediation. Nembutsu and zazen are different
practices and teachings; yet, in terms of religious experience both Shinran and Dōgen areedifying enlightenment taking place in the here and now. In order to experience some
practices of the Pure Land Buddhism and Zen Buddhism, we will visit Nishi Hongwanjiand a Sōtō Zen temple in Kyoto.
Through attending classes actively and fulfilling various requirements, students shouldbe able to:1) become familiar with Buddhist terminologies in Sanskrit, English, and Japanese;2) explain their meanings in simple Japanese;3) express views over key topics with other students in Japanese; and4) come to understand wabi わび and sabi さび along with the sadness of things もののあ
われ—Japanese aesthetics 審美学 revealing in Japanese literature from the Heian-era on.
Texts and reference materials
All readings will be provided by the instructor. Texts, reference materials, quiz notice,and other important information will be sent to students via email in advance.
There will be a short quiz for technical terms at the beginning of each class. Course lectureand discussion will be conducted based on those technical terms. The instructor will
elaborate on the meaning of the terms with simple questions and answers and will expect
students to share their understanding.
Students will receive a variety of texts in English and Japanese and will do preparationon the topics before coming to class.

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Week 1—Course Orientation
1/17 (W)
Topic: Buddhism 仏教
In-class activity:
Orientation
Technical terms of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
1/19 (F)Topic: Buddha 仏陀
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 2 —The Three Bodies of the Buddha 仏の三身
1/24 (W)
Topic: The Three Bodies of the Buddha 仏の三身In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
1/26 (F)Topic: Amida Buddha 阿弥陀仏
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 3—Dharma and dharma 法
1/31 (W)
Topic: Dharma and dharma 法
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
2/2 (F)
Topic: The Three Seals of Buddhism 三法印
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 4 —Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism 上座部仏教と大乗仏教
2/7 (W)
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Topic: The Four Noble Truths 四諦八正道
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
2/9 (F)
Topic: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism 上座部仏教と大乗仏教
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 5—Lotus Flowers in the Six Realms 泥沼に咲く蓮の華
2/14 (W)
Topic: Saṃsāra (the Six Reals) 生死（六道）In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
2/16 (F)Topic: Lotus Flowers in the Mud 泥沼に咲く蓮の華
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 6 —Saṃsāra Is Then Nirvāṇa 生死即涅槃
2/21 (W)
Topic: Saṃsāra Is Then Nirvāṇa 生死即涅槃
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
2/23 (F)National holiday (no class)
Week 7—Bodhisattva Ideal in the Here and Now 菩薩行、今ここ2/28 (W)
Topic: Bodhisattva Ideal 菩薩行
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
3/1 (F)
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Topic: Here and Now いま、ここ
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection(KCJS Spring recess)Week 8—Shinran 親鸞
3/13 (W)
Topic: Shinran 親鸞
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
3/15(F)
Topic: Jodo 浄土
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 9—Nembutsu (Recitation of the Name of the Buddha) 念仏
3/20 (W)KCJC Spring trip
3/22 (F)Topic: Nembutsu (Recitation of the Name of Amida Buddha) 念仏
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 10—Dogen 道元
3/27 (W)
Topic: pratītya-samutpāda (Interdependent Causation) 縁起
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
3/29 (F)Topic: Dogen 道元
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day5Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 11 - Just sitting in Zazen 坐禅—只管打坐4/3(W)
Topic: Just sitting 只管打坐
In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
4/5 (F)
Topic: “You Are Fine As You Are” 眼横鼻直In-class activity:
Technical terms (3-5) of the day
Learn and practice using “terms”
LectureThree words or phrases of the day—reflection
Week 12 - Visiting Buddhist Temples in Kyoto 西本願寺、曹洞宗禅寺
4/10 (W)
Topic: Visiting Nishi-Hongwanji 西本願寺 in Kyoto
4/12(F)
Topic: Visiting a Soto Zen temple 曹洞宗禅寺 in Kyoto
Week 13 - Winding up
4/17 (W)
Topic: Winding up—Part I
In-class activity:
Presentation with Q and A
4/19 (F)Topic: Winding up—Part II
In-class activity:
Presentation with Q and A

Assignments
20% - vocabulary quizzes:
Students will regularly take quizzes on key technical terms. This practice will make it easier forstudents to understand class and get involved in class activities. Related reading materials—Englishand Japanese—will be sent to students in advance.
20% - preparation and participation:
Class lecture will be explanatory using simple Japanese. Students are encouraged to ask questions.
Discussion in class is expected. When a topic may be difficult to comprehend in a metaphysical orphilosophical sense, English will be used in a limited capacity. Students will be evaluated on
preparation and class participation.
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20% - reflection reports:
Students will be required to write four reflection reports (approx. 600 words each) in Japanese, using
the technical terms previously learned. Some suggested topics or titles for these reports will beprovided in advance, so that students will have time to consider possible topics and organize theirthoughts.
20% - presentations:
Toward the end of the course, students will prepare and make 10-minute presentations. Students willwork together to identify topics and work in small groups to do in-class presentations. Evaluationof the presentation dwells on interest of ideas, organization, and language acquisition.
20% - final reports:
Students will submit a report (about 1,000 words) for the course on a subject of their choice.
Students may write about visiting Buddhist temples or another course topic. We will visit NishiHongwanji for Shinran (or the Pure Land Buddhism) and a Soto Zen temple for Dogen (or Zazen).
Student reports should strive for a subjective understanding based on objective investigation. Students
should present their topic to the instructor for feedback before beginning their report.

Attendance and Grading
Attendance: Two unexcused absences will result in a loss of half of the class participation grade (seebelow) making any grade higher than a “B” unlikely. Three or more unexcused absences will result inthe total loss of the class participation grade making any grade higher than a “C” unlikely.
Grading Policy: Final grades will be calculated as follows:
90-100% 4.0 A

85- 89% 3.5 A-

80- 84% 3.0 B/B+
65- 69% 1.5 C-

60- 64% 1.0 D/D-

75- 79% 2.5 B-

70- 74% 2.0 C/C+Below 60 0.0 Fail/D+

Make-up Policy and Late Assignments
An official medical note or a written excuse from Columbia University are the only circumstancesconsidered as excused absences for which make-up quizzes will be permitted or late assignments will
be accepted. Make-up quizzes may be different from the original given in class. The instructor reserves
the right to give partial credit for writing assignments submitted late.

Code of conduct text to be included in all KCJS syllabi (May 31, 2023)(Text in bold includes new language)
As members of an academic community, each one of us bears the responsibility to participate in scholarly
discourse and research in a manner characterized by intellectual honesty and scholarly integrity.
Collaborative scholarship requires the study of other scholars' work, the free discussion of such work, andthe explicit acknowledgement of those ideas in any work that inform our own. This exchange of ideas relies
upon a mutual trust that sources, opinions, facts, and insights will be properly noted and carefully credited.
In practical terms, this means that, as students, all work submitted in this course, whether in draft or final

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form, must be your own. You must be responsible for the full citations of others' ideas in all of your research
papers and projects; you must be scrupulously honest when taking your examinations; you must always
submit your own work and not that of another student, scholar, or internet agent. Any breach of thisintellectual responsibility is a breach of faith with the rest of our academic community. It undermines ourshared intellectual culture, and it cannot be tolerated.
The use of ChatGPT or any other AI tools for course assignments (with the exception ofartificial neural networks like DeepL for machine translations, duly cited) is tantamount toplagiarism. Any cases of plagiarism or cheating will be reported to Columbia Undergraduate Global
Engagement and the academic advisor at your home institution and are subject to the code ofacademic conduct there. In such cases, your final grade will be determined by your home institution
and not by KCJS.

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