PHIL 111 Introduction to Japanese Zen Buddhism

This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to the worldview of Japanese Zen Buddhism, using the categories and methods of philosophy and including the historical and cultural milieu of Japan, Zen painting, haiku, and sand gardens, as well as ancient medieval, and modern Zen wisdom texts from around the world and experiential practice in zazen or sitting meditation.

Credits

1

Prerequisite

Eligible to enroll in ENGL 121

Hours Weekly

1

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize the concepts of Zen Buddhism using metaphysics (the nature of self and cosmos), epistemology (how one knows reliably), and axiology (the living of a moral life).
2. Consider the possibilities that exist within Zen Buddhist images of the enso or Circle of Life in calligraphic script, emptiness in sumi-e black ink brush painting, as well as the concepts of mindful awareness of the present moment and skillful means for moving through life doing the least harm possible as shapers of Zen Buddhist ethical perspectives and one’s own core beliefs about how one should interact with the world and other people.
3. Analyze and evaluate Zen Buddhist and Western approaches to being (metaphysics), knowing (epistemology), and valuing (axiology) as paths for navigating human existence and making ethical choices.
4. Apply Zen Buddhist philosophy by experiencing Zazen meditation as an aid in the lifelong pursuit of enlightenment and critically examine the role of the Zen Buddhist worldview in shaping Japanese culture and Japan’s ethical perspective in response to global events.

Course Objectives

1. Identify and organize the concepts of Zen Buddhism using metaphysics (the nature of self and cosmos), epistemology (how one knows reliably), and axiology (the living of a moral life).

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Analytic/Reflective Paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT1

   Ethics Goals

   • ET1
2. Consider the possibilities that exist within Zen Buddhist images of the enso or Circle of Life in calligraphic script, emptiness in sumi-e black ink brush painting, as well as the concepts of mindful awareness of the present moment and skillful means for moving through life doing the least harm possible as shapers of Zen Buddhist ethical perspectives and one’s own core beliefs about how one should interact with the world and other people.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Analytic/Reflective Paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT2

   Ethics Goals

   • ET2
3. Analyze and evaluate Zen Buddhist and Western approaches to being (metaphysics), knowing (epistemology), and valuing (axiology) as paths for navigating human existence and making ethical choices.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Analytic/reflective paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT3

   Ethics Goals

   • ET3
4. Apply Zen Buddhist philosophy by experiencing Zazen meditation as an aid in the lifelong pursuit of enlightenment and critically examine the role of the Zen Buddhist worldview in shaping Japanese culture and Japan’s ethical perspective in response to global events.

   This objective is a course Goal Only

   Learning Activity Artifact

   • Other (please fill out box below)
   • Analytic/Reflective Paper

   Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

   • Critical and Creative Thinking Rubric

   Critical Thinking

   • CT4

   Global Competency

   • GC4

   Ethics Goals

   • ET3