Paper I Buddhist Philosophy and Religions

Unit 1 - Religion

1.Definition: Nature and concepts

2.General Introduction to world religions: Hinduism, Islam, confusius, Christianity, and Judaism

3.Buddhism as religion

Unit2:Philosophy

1.Definition: Nature and concepts

2.General introduction of Upanishad, Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Vaisesika, Purvamimansa, Uttaramimamsa,Carvaka and Jain

3.Buddhist Philosophy: the Middle Path ( madhyamapratipada)

4.Significance of the Buddha's silence

Unit 3 -Basic Philosophical teachings of the Buddha

1.Four Noble Truths:

 i.Suffering ii.Arising of Suffering  iii.The cesation of suffering

iv.The Path leading to the Cessation of Suffering

2.Law of Dependent Origination

i.Ignorance ii.Karmic Propensities iii.Consciousness iv.Name and Form

v.The Six Sense Spheres vi.Contact vii.Feeling viii.Craving ix.Grasping x.Becoming xi.Birth xii.Old age and Death

3.Three Characteristics

i.Impermanence ii.Suffering iii.Selflessness

Unit 4 - Buddhist Liberation

1.Arahat and Nirvana

i.Stream enterer ii.Once Returner iii.Non-returner iv.Arahat

2.Bodhisattva and Buddhahood

i.Concept of Bodhisattva in Theravada Buddhism

ii.Concept of Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism

iii.Bodhisattva Bhumi-s

pramudita, vimala,prabhakari,arcismati,sudurjaya,abhimukhi,durangama,acala, sadhumati,dharmamegha

Unit 5-Buddhist Ethics and Perfections

1.Precepts: i.Pancashila ii.Astashila iii.Dasashila

2.Pratimoksa: Parajika, Sanghadisesh, Paciteya, sekhiya

3.Bodhisamvara: Astadasa mulapatti, 46 pracitta

4.Paramita-s: I. Theravada approach ii. Mahayana approach

Unit 6- Buddhist Meditation

A general introduction of Samadhi or Dhyana

i.Samatha Meditation

ii.Vipasyana Meditation

Unit 7-Four Philosophical schools of Buddhism

1.Vaibhasika: its propounders,texts and principles

2.Sautrantic: its propounders,texts and principles

3.Yogachara: its propounders,texts and principles

4.Madhyamika: its propounders,texts and principles

Unit 8 - Religio-Philosophical Interpretation of Mahayana Buddhism

1.Religious Practices

Mahayana: meaning,definition,objectives

Bodhicitta:Meaning,two stages of Bodhicitta

Bodhisattva: Meaning, objective

Bodhisattvacarya:Practice of Paramitas as the Bodhisattva carya

Dasabhumisvara as the gradual stages of a Bodhisattva

Saptavidhanuttarapuja:Mental worship of Mahayana

Recitation of Mahayana Sutras:The meritorious act

2.Philosophy

Avarana-Meaning,types -Klesavarana,Jneyavarana

Nairatmya: Meaning, types-pudgala nairatmya, dharmanairatmya,

Satya:Meaning,types-samvritti satya,paramartha satya

Svabhava-Meaning, types-parikalpita,paratantra, parinispanna

Sunyata:Meaning, types- 16,18, or 20 sunyatas

Unit 9-Religio-Philosophical Interpretation of Vajrayana Buddhism

1.Religious practices

Vajrayana-meaning, definition, objectives

Vajrayana sadhana: bijaksara, devata, mandala, puja, lasya nrtya, gita, stuti, dharani, mantra

Abhisekas-Position of the guru, qualification of disciple, pancabhiseka

2.Philosphy

Prajna upaya, male and female, sunyata and karuna

advaya, mahasukha,

Philosophical concept of Pancabuddha, sriheruka, Hevajra, and Kalacakra

The concept of Cittamatra and its implication in vajrayana

3.An outline of Four Tibetan schools of thought

i.Nyingmapa ii.Sa-skya-pa iii.bKa-rgyud-pa iv.dGe-lugs-pa

Unit 10 - Some Important concepts of Buddhism

i.pancaskandha ii.dhatu and ayatana iii.caturbrahmavihara iv.trisarana v.triyana vi.bodhicitta vii.sila-samadhi-prajna viii.hetupratyaya ix.pudgalanairtmya and dharmanairtmya x.klesavarana and jneyavarana xi.punyasambhara and jnanasambhara

 Group A: History of Buddhism

Unit-1

Origin and Development of Buddhism

1.Life of the Buddha

2.Buddha's first sermon

3.Formation of Buddhist order ad its role in the propagation of Buddhism

4.Mahaparinirvana and distribution of relics

Unit-2

The Role of Buddhist councils in the promulgation of Bauddhist canons

1.The First council

2.The Second council including Great council of Mahasanghika

3.The Third Council

4.The Fourth council

Unit-3

The Development of Different schools in Buddhism

1.Development of Eighteen Buddhist schools

2.Development of Mahayana Buddhist Schools

3.Development of Vajrayana Buddhist Schools

Unit-4

Expansion of Buddhism in Asia

1.Buddhism in South East Asian countries( Sri lanka,Myanmar, Tahailand and Indo-china)

2.Buddhism in the North-east Asian countries ( Tibet-China,Mongolia, Japan,Korea)

Unit-5

An introduction to Buddhist Monastic Universities

1.Nalanda

2.Vallabhi

3.Vikramashila

4.Jagaddala

5.Odantapuri

Group B

History of Buddhist Literature

Unit-1

1.Buddhist Pali literature

A General Introduction to the Pali Tripitaka

Unit-2

A General introduction to the Anupitaka-s

Milinda,Visuddhimagga,Mahavamsa

Unit-3

A general introduction to the Pali Commentary works

Dhammapada Atthakatha, Jataka Atthakatha

Buddhist Sanskrit Literature

Unit-4

A General Introduction to the Mahasanghika and Sarvastivada Literature,Mahavastu, Sarvastivada Tripitaka

Unit-5

General Introduction to the Nava Vaipulya Sutras

Lalitavistara,Saddharmapundarika,Prajnaparamita

Unit-6

A General Introduction to the Tantra literature, Guhyasamaja Tantra,Hevajra Tantra and Kalacakra tantra

Tibetan Buddhist Literature

Unit-7

Introduction

Unit-8

Kanjur

Unit-9

Tanjur

Paper III:Buddhist Art and Architecture

Unit-1 Literary and Archaeological sources for the study of the Buddhist art and architecture

a. i.literary    ii.Archaelogical

b. Materials: Rocks-cave,Stone,Stucco,Clay, Terracotta, Metal,Wood, Cloth and paper

Unit-2 Origin and development of Buddhist art

1. Symbolical representation of the Buddha

2. The role of gandhara, mauryan,sunga,Kushana and Gupta arts for the development of Buddhist art in India and Nepal

3. A study of the canons of early Buddha and Bodhisattva images and sculptural art representing Buddhism

Unit-3

The study of Nepalese Buddhist Images

Stone,stucco,clay, and terracotta

Unit-4

Comparative study of the Buddhist art traditions of India and Nepal

Pala school

Rajput school

Unit-5

The study of Nepalese Paintings

Manuscript painting,paubha,mandala and Miscellenous

Group B

Buddhist Architecture

Unit-6

Origin and development of Buddhist architecture in Nepal

Unit-7

Stupa Architecture of Nepal

Comprehensive study and salient features of the stupas of India and Nepal

The chief features of Svayambhu, Baudha,Namo Buddha, Tukan Bahal, Srigha-bahal and Cilancho- chaitya

Unit-8

Vihara Architecture of Nepal

Comparative study and stylistic features of Vihara architecture of India and Nepal

Unit-9

An outline study of the famous Buddhist temples of Nepal

Unit-10

A comprehensive study of Buddhist art and architecture: Exacavation remains of Lumbini, Kapilavastu, Ramagrama, Mustang, surkhet, western Nepal and Kathmandu valley.

Paper IV: Buddhism in Nepal

Unit-1

Introduction and development of Buddhism in Nepal

Mythological approach as depicted in Svayambhu Purana

Historical approach with special reference to Lichchavi inscriptions, Buddhist literture,Ashoka's Buddhist missionary, geneological records and foreign accounts.

Unit-2

Buddhist societies of Nepal

Buddhist societies of Kathmandu valley: their occupations and their contributions

Unit-3

Buddhist sacraments of Nepal

1.An Introduction to samskara karma

2.The Theravadin rites: birth, entry to monkhood, vivaha,pannakul, death rites

 in modern Nepal

3.The ten vajrayana rites (dasakarma):garbhadhana,pumsavana,simantopanayana,

jatakarma,namakarana,upanayana, annaprasana, cudakarma, vratabandha,

4.The other rites:vratabandha,upanayana,sacraments after death

5.An outline of the Lamaistic Buddhist rites

Unit-4

Buddhist Festivals and Pilgrimage site of Nepal

1.Buddhist Festivals

Significance of festivals in Buddhist society

Historical review of the Buddhist festivals in Nepal

Important Buddhist festivals of Nepal-Buddha Jayanti,Vihara puja,Samyakabhoja,pancadana,gunla dharma and nalaseva,Bungadeva  Rath Jatra

2.Buddhist Pilgrimage sites of Nepal

Concepts of Pilgrimage in Buddhism

History of Buddhism pilgrimage

Buddhist Pilgrimage sites of Nepal-Lumbini, Ramgrama,Swayambhu,Bauddha,Four Karunamaya of Valley, four Yoginis of Valley,Dvadasatirtha and Astavaitaraga

Unit-5Moral Practices in Nepalese Buddhism

Buddhist ordination

Vajracharya ordination

Vratas: their types, objectives

Unit 6

Spirtual Practices in Nepalese Buddhism

Samadhi: threefold samadhi,

the ritualistic aspect

practical aspect

yoga:sadangayoga,pratyahara,dhyana,pranayama, dharana, anusmriti,samadhi

Unit-7

Conceptual framework of Nepalese Buddhism

The Four Philosophical schools of Buddhism

The Mahayana conception

The Vajrayana conception

Unit-8

Buddhist orders and Monasteries of Nepalese Buddhism

1.Buddhist Sangha and monasteries in ancient period

2.Traditional Buddhist Sangha and monasteries of nepal

i.Traditional orders-the sakya bhikshu sangha and Acharya Sangha

ii.Traditional monasteries in the bahas and bahis

iii.Sacred order in the gompas of northern nepal

Unit-9

Buddhist literature and prominent Nepalese Buddhist Acharyas of Nepal

1.Buddhist literature of Nepal

a.Importance and position of Navasutras in Nepalese Buddhism

b.Importance and position of Pancharaksa sutra, Mahapratyangira,Aparimita and Grahamatrika path

c.A general introduction to Buddhist tantra literature: durgatiparishodhana tantra,Karavira,Samvarodaya,and Vajravarahikalpa

2.Prominent Nepalese Buddhist Acharyas

Buddhabhadra,Silamanju,Bandhudatta,Vagisvarakirti,Advayavajra, Samantasri, and Punyakarabhadra.

Unit-10

A survey of the recent Awakening of Buddhism in Nepal

1.Theravada movement in Nepal after 1940

2.The Mahayana development with special reference to the scholarly contributions of Pt, Nisthananda and Dharmaditya

3.The advent of the Northern Buddhist schools in Kathmandu valley.

Paper V :Buddhist Heritage of Northern Nepal

Unit-1

Land,people and cosmology

Land and people:Geography,ecology,and environmentsa

Buddhist community of Nepal Himalaya

Their occupations

Prayers,sermons,death and demons in Northern Buddhist cosmoly

Unit-2

History of Buddhism in Nepal Himalaya

Introduction of Bon Religion

Historical develoment of Tibetan Buddhism and Nepal Himalaya

Schools of Tibetan Buddhist tradition

Nyingmapa,Sa-skyapa,bKa-gyudpa,dGelugspa,Rime

Unit-3

Monastic Institution

Organization of monastic institution

Hierarchy of the Lamas

Religious calendar of gompa

Altar worship and ritual objects

Relationship betrween Buddhism and animism

Unit-4

Buddhist Pilgraimage and festivals

1.Pilgrimage

Religious significance of four major pilgrimage and eight minor pilgrimage:Kailash,Manasarovar,Kathmandu valley,Lapchi in Dolakha,Chari in Sikkim,Lumbini,Bodhgaya,Saranath and Kushinagar and Muktinath

2.Festivals

i.Losar ii.Nyugne iii.Yar tong iv.Tyiji,v.Dunji vi.Mani Rimdu vii.Nara

Unit-5

Study of important Buddhist centers of Nepal Himalaya

i.General survey of Himalayan Buddhist monasteries in Nepal

ii.Limi gumpa

iii.Bon Gompa

iv.Tsarang Gompa

v.Tashi Gompa in Dolakha

vi.Thubten Chojeling and Tengboche Gompa in Solukhumbu