Undergraduate Course: Tibetan Buddhism (DIVI10122)
Course Outline
| School | School of Divinity |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course traces the historical and doctrinal evolution of Tibetan Buddhism from its transmission from India to its modern global presence. Through a range of texts, including primary philosophical treatises, historical sources, autobiographies of key Tibetan Buddhist figures, and modern academic works students will explore the transformation of Tibetan Buddhism across different periods, traditions, regions, and socio-political contexts. |
| Course description |
Academic Description
This course provides a comprehensive introduction to Tibetan Buddhism, examining its historical development, doctrinal foundations, institutional structures, and diverse practices from its inception to contemporary times. Through a combination of primary texts (in translation) and scholarly analyses, students will explore significant questions such as:
- How did Buddhism integrate into Tibetan culture, and what unique forms did it assume?
- What are the distinctive doctrines and philosophical contributions of the various Tibetan Buddhist schools?
- How have monastic institutions and the tulku system (with re-incarnate lamas) influenced Tibetan society and religion?
- In what ways have Tibetan Buddhist practices, including bodhisattva vows and rituals, evolved over time?
- How does Dalai Lama's dialogues with modern science shape the presentation of (Tibetan) Buddhism to a global audience?
The course will also delve into the interactions between Tibetan Buddhism and political powers, as well as its responses to historical and social changes. Students will engage with topics such as the establishment of the major Tibetan Buddhist schools (Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug), the development of tantric practices, the role of key figures such as Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Milarepa Atisa, and Tsongkhapa, and the impact of Tibetan Buddhism's spread to the West. By critically analysing these aspects, the course aims to provide students with a nuanced understanding of Tibetan Buddhism's rich and complex heritage.
Outline Content
The course will begin with an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism - examining the historical context of Buddhism's entry into Tibet, its gradual integration into Tibetan life and culture, and the methodological approaches used in its study. In the initial weeks, we will examine the early and later transmission of Buddhism to Tibet, analysing the formation of major schools and the role of key figures such as Padmasambhava, Yeshe Tsogyal, Milarepa Atisa, and Tsongkhapa. As the course progresses, we will investigate the institutionalization of Tibetan Buddhism, its philosophical developments, and the significance of monasticism, tulku system (with re-incarnate lamas), tantric rituals and bodhisattva vows. Later weeks will focus on the intersection of Tibetan Buddhism with politics, gender dynamics, and contemporary transformations, including its spread to the West. Each week will be dedicated to a specific theme, providing a structured and in-depth engagement with the complexities of Tibetan Buddhism.
Student Learning Experience
Each class will consist of a lecture followed by discussion. During lecture the instructor will provide an overview of the historical context and technical concepts highlighted in the readings. The seminars will be devoted to in-depth discussions where they can share their personal insights and perspectives on the readings. Active participation in classroom discussions is essential for maximizing the learning experience.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Divinity/Religious Studies courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
173 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
90 %,
Practical Exam
10 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Classroom Presentations: 10%
Mid-semester Essay (1,000 word review): 30%
Final Essay (2,000 words): 60% |
| Feedback |
Students will receive feedback on the presentations. Formative feedback will be given on their mid-term essays and while they prepare their final essays. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Identify key historical events, figures, and doctrinal developments that shaped the evolution of Tibetan Buddhism.
- Analyze the institutional structures of Tibetan Buddhism, including monastic traditions, tantric practices, and the tulku (incarnate lama) system, in relation to broader social, historical, and political contexts.
- Develop skills to critically engage with and evaluate primary Tibetan Buddhist texts (in translation) alongside secondary scholarly interpretations.
- Communicate complex ideas about Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, ritual, and cultural practices through oral presentations and class discussions.
- Construct well-supported, analytically rigorous arguments in written form, demonstrating the ability to synthesize historical, textual, and theoretical perspectives on Tibetan Buddhism.
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Reading List
Dalai Lama XIV. 1962. My Land and My People. New York: Potala Publications.
Davidson, Ronald M. 2005. Tibetan Renaissance: Tantric Buddhism in the Rebirth of Tibetan Culture. New York: Columbia University Press.
Dowman, Keith (tr.). 1998. Sky Dancer: The Secret Autobiography of Yeshe Tsogyal (by Padmasambhava). Kathmandu: Vajra Publications.
Dreyfus, Georges. 2003. The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Goldstein, Melvyn C., and Matthew Kapstein, eds. 1998. Buddhism in Contemporary Tibet: Religious Revival and Cultural Identity. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Harding, Sarah (tr.). 2003. The Life of Machik Labdrön (by Machik Labdrön). Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications.
Hopkins, Jeffrey (tr.). 2006. The Essence of Other-Emptiness (by Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen). Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Jacoby, Sarah. 2014. Love and Liberation: Autobiographical Writings of the Tibetan Buddhist Visionary Sera Khandro. New York: Columbia University Press.
Lopez, Donald S., Jr., ed. 1997. Religions of Tibet in Practice. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
Padmakara Translation Group (tr.). 1998. The Words of My Perfect Teacher (by Patrul Rinpoche). Boston: Shambhala Publications.
Pasang Wangdu and Hildegard Diemberger (trs.). 2000. The dBa' bzhed: The Royal Narrative Concerning the Bringing of the Buddha's Doctrine to Tibet (by Songtsen Gampo). Wien: Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften.
Powers, John. 1995. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications. Quintman, Andrew (tr.). 2010. The Life of Milarepa (by Milarepa). New York: Penguin Classics.
Roerich, George N. (tr.). 1976. The Blue Annals (by Gö Lotsawa Zhönnupel). Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass.
Samuel, Geoffrey. 1993. Civilized Shamans: Buddhism in Tibetan Societies. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Snellgrove, David, and Hugh Richardson. 1995. A Cultural History of Tibet. Boston: Shambhala Publications.
Thurman, Robert A. F., ed. 1982. The Life and Teachings of Tsong Khapa. Dharamsala: Library of Tibetan Works and Archives.
Trijang Rinpoche (tr.). 1991. Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand (by Pabongka Rinpoche). Boston: Wisdom Publications. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
- Curiosity for learning and openness to different perspectives
- Willingness to engage across disciplinary boundaries and to approach sources in new ways
- Finely-tuned skills of critical analysis
- Ability to construct an argument concisely
- Ability to communicate effectively with others, both orally and in writing |
| Keywords | Buddhism,Tibet,reincarnation,tantric practices,bodhisattva |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Upali Sraman
Tel:
Email: usraman@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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