Course Syllabus

Buddhist and Pali College, USA

Diploma in Buddhism

Paper 1

EARLY BUDDHISM-BASIC DOCTRINES

Syllabus:

Buddhist doctrines as prescribed in the discourse of the Sutta Pitaka, with greater emphasis on the following topics: (1) and (2) The Four Noble Truths (catur aryasatya), (3) The Three Signs of Existence (tilakkhana), (4) the analysis of empirical existence (Khandayatanadhatu), (5) the Doctrine of Dependent Origination, (6) doctrine of kamma, Buddhist ethics, Nirvana and the path leading to its realization. 

Weekly Schedule of lectures: 

Week 1:          The Four Noble Truths ( Catur Aryasatya) 

Week 2:          The Four Noble Truths continued 

Week 3:          The Three signs of Existence (Tilakkhana) 

Week 4:          The analysis of empirical existence 

Week 5:          The Doctrine of Dependent Origination 

Week 6:          Buddhist ethics, Nirvana and the path leading to its realization

Recommended Reading:
 

1. Buddhist Philosophy- Historical analysis -  D.J. Kalupahana
2. The Buddha’s Teaching and the Ambiguity of Existence – R.G. de S. Wettimuni
3. History of Buddhist Thought – E.J. Thomas
4. Buddha and his Teaching – Ven. Narada
5. What the Buddha Taught – Ven.W. Rahula
6. The Buddha’s Ancient Path – Ven. Piyadassi
7. Life of the Buddha – E.J. Thomas
8. Buddhist Philosophy – D.J. Kalupahana
9. Essentials of Buddhism – Ven. P. Gnanarama

Buddhist and Pali College, USA

Diploma in Buddhism

Paper 2

SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF BUDDHISM

Syllabus: 

An analysis of the Buddhist teachings of the following social concepts (1) human society, its origin and evolution, family, individual and social interaction; (2) Buddhist philosophy of social inequality, (3) state and government; economy and the use of economic resources; (4) democracy in Buddhism, law, justice and punishment, (5) Buddhist social ethics, (6) Buddhist Sangha organization and its place in society.

Weekly Schedule of lectures: 

Week 1:     Human society, its origin and evolution, family, individual and social        Interaction      

Week 2:     Buddhist philosophy of social inequality 

Week 3:     State and government, economy and the use of economic resources 

Week 4:     Democracy in Buddhism, Law, Justice and Punishment 

Week 5:     Buddhist Social Ethics 

Week 6:     Buddhist Sangha Organization and its Place in Society 

Recommended Reading:
 

1. Buddhist Ethics – K.N. Jayatilaka, Wheel Publications
2. Buddhism and Society – O.H. de  A. Wijesekara
3. Individual and Society – W.G. Weeraratne
4. Political Thought of the Buddha – Piyasena Dissanayaka
5. Value Orientation and Nation Building – Padmasiri de Silva
6. Buddhist Polity – Oliver Abeynayaka
7. An Introduction to Buddhist Social Philosophy – Ven. P. Gnanarama
8. Small is Beautiful – E.F. Shumacher
9. Small is Still Beautiful – Joseph Pearce

Buddhist and Pali College, USA

Diploma in Buddhism

Paper 3

GEOGRAPHICAL EXPANSION OF BUDDHISM

Syllabus: 

A study of the inception and spread of the Theravada Buddhism in South East Asia, with the main emphasis on the following aspects: (1) the geographical expansion of Buddhism in the pre- Asokan period; (2) its emergence as a world religion during the reign of Emperor Asoka; (3) the spread of Theravada Buddhism in South Asia and (4) and (4) and (5) in the regions of South-east Asian countries; (6) contemporary Theravada Buddhism.

Weekly Schedule of lectures: 

Week 1:     The geographical expansion of Buddhism in the pre-Asokan period 

Week 2:      Its emergence as a world religion during the reign of Emperor Asoka 

Week 3:     The spread of Theravada Buddhism in South Asia 

Week 4:     The spread of Theravada Buddhism in the regions of South-east Asia 

Week 5:     Continuation of the fourth week discussion 

Week 6:     Contemporary Theravada Buddhism

Recommended Reading:
 

1. An introduction to the Study of Theravada Buddhism in Burma – N.R. Ray
2. History of Theravada Buddhism in South East Asia – K.L. Hazra
3. The Spread of Buddhism and the Buddhist Schools – N. Dutt
4. Thai Buddhism – Kenneth E. Wells
5. Buddhism in Myanmar; A short history (A Wheel Publication) – Roger Biscoff
6. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon – W. Rahula
7. Buddhist India – Rhys Davids

Buddhist and Pali College, USA

Diploma in Buddhism

Paper 4 

HISTORY OF BUDDHISM FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE THIRD CENTURY B.C.E

Syllabus: 

A general knowledge of the history of Buddhism from its origin to the third century B.C.E. Students should acquire a fairly good knowledge of following areas.

(1) Buddha’s ministry and expansion of Buddhism during his life time; (2) Establishment of Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni orders; Origin and development of Buddhist monasticism; (3) Formation and compilation of Buddhist literature; the first three Buddhist Councils and emergence of Buddhist Schools; (4) Formation of Abhidhamma; Buddhist Schools and the Development of Buddhist Thought; (5) Relationship between Buddhism and the State; Emperor Asoka’s contribution to Buddhism and Buddhist Culture; (6) Spread of Buddhism beyond Indian Sub-Continent.

Weekly Schedule of lectures: 

Week 1:     Expansion of Buddhism during the Buddha’s life time

Week 2:     Establishment of Bhikkhu and Bhikkhuni Orders

Week 3:     Formation and compilation of Buddhist literature, the first three Buddhist   Councils and the emergence of Buddhist Schools

Week 4:     Formation of Abhidhamma, Buddhist Schools and the Development of Buddhist Thought

Week 5:     Buddhism and State, Emperor Asoka’s contribution to Buddhism and Buddhist Culture

Week 6:     Spread of Buddhism beyond Indian Sub-Continent 

Recommended Reading:
 

1. The life of the Buddha – E.J. Thomas, London, 1959
2. Buddha and Five After Centuries – S. Dutt , London, 1957
3. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon – E.U. Adikaram, Colombo, 1953
4. History of Buddhism in Ceylon – W. Rahula, Colombo, 1958
5. Buddhist India – Rhys Davids. Calcutta, 1955
6. Early History of the Spread of Buddhism and the Buddhist Schools – N. Dutt
7. Early Buddhist Monachism – S. Dutt, Calcutta, 1952
8. The Buddhist Councils – Louis Dela Vallee Poussin, Calcutta, 1976
9. History of Buddhist Thought – E.J. Thomas, London, 1933
10. Indian Buddhism – A.K. Warder, Delhi, 1980

Buddhist and Pali College, USA

Diploma in Buddhism

Paper 5 

Basic Pali Language 

Syllabus: 

Following texts are recommended for the Basic Pali Language course 

Grammar and Composition

New Pali Course Part 1, Ven. A.P. Buddhadatta

Pali Buddhist Texts, First 30 Lessons, Rune E.A. Johansson