(Religious Studies 340: Inquiries in World Religion)
Autumn 1999
Dr. David L. Gitomer
448 SAC
773.325.1282
dgitomer@condor.depaul.edu
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday 3:30-5 by appointment; other times
by appointment.
Broad purposes of the course:
To explore a distinctive mode in South
Asian and Himalayan religion, loosely shared by the Hindu and
Buddhist traditions, that begins in the most fundamental ritual
actions and extends to the discipline of every aspect of bodily
life for the purpose of effecting a transformation in consciousness.
To
challenge notions of religion that center on emotions, beliefs
and thoughts, and instead focus on religion as something that
one does with one's body, as well as to challenge notions of religion
that assume a split between the mind and body.
To
understand how these modes of religion both inform and challenge
the mainstream religions of which they are part.
To
reflect anew on familiar Abrahamic religions through the model
of yoga and tantra.
Specific approaches:
The course will be loosely historical, in that it
will attempt to trace the unfolding of yogic and tantric themes
in historical and cultural context but it will do so in order
to emphasize thematic elements in these traditions. The course
will be inter-disciplinary in that religious phenomena
will be considered from existential, theological, psychological,
social, political, and aesthetic points of view.
Assumptions:
The course assumes that the student
understands the fundamental South Asian worldview shared by Hinduism
and Buddhism and that he or she will take responsibility for acquiring
knowledge of the shared assumptions and the differences between
Hinduism and Buddhism. Since this is not a course on Hinduism
and Buddhism per se, students will be expected to work diligently
to acquire these basic knowledges. Ideally this course should
build upon previous knowledge of these traditions, but it can
serve as well as a different way of thinking about the traditions.
Students will be expected to engage in the praxis of structured,
critical empathy to gain insight into ways of looking at experience
that may be initially alien.
The
course assumes that the student can think frankly and maturely
about the body and its appetites, and will be able to entertain
notions of the body as a symbolic site.
The
course assumes that students will be able to take seriously a
deity system as a representation of reality, and especially the
deity systems of other traditions.
Students
are also expected to take responsibility for learning the Sanskrit
and Tibetan terms introduced in the course.
We
assume that advanced students are independent learners and will
not need the structured motivation of examinations. There will
be no tests unless students' lack of independent preparation shows
a need for them.
Honesty:
It is the policy of DePaul not to tolerate either cheating or
plagiarism. Please consult the Bulletin or Student Handbook if
you are uncertain about what constitutes plagiarism. Be aware
that one form of plagiarism committed by students in papers is
to quote or paraphrase secondary material (including course texts,
etc.) without citing the source.
Goals:
(Academic] When
we have completed the course, we will be able to articulate major
themes, symbols and terms in yoga and tantra, and to discuss and
write intelligently about the human meaning of these traditions,
and the activities they entail.
[Existential] Yoga means "yoking" or "discipline"--the
gentle but control that one exercises over natural life in order
to achieve freedom. This freedom brings clear vision
of reality and with it compassion toward all those
who struggle with the pain and confusion of living, including
ourselves. Though this is an academic course and not spiritual
training, we aspire to gain some of these qualities through study.