REL. 324: The Hindu Vision
Aim of the Course
The main focus of the course will be the attempt to understand the central components of the Hindu worldview, by a careful reading of some of the tradition's classic texts. This will include a study of such things as creation myths, the vedic gods and goddesses, karma, samsara/reincarnation, ways of liberation, the relation of atman to brahman, avatara/divine descent, dharma, caste, the stages of life, and the place and role of women.
The course will conclude by reading portions of the autobiography of Mohandas K. Gandhi, to give an indication of how the ancient ideas and customs studied earlier in the course have influenced and inspired modern adherents of Hinduism.
Class Meeting Times
Class meetings will be held on Monday through Friday, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM.
Course Requirements
1. Class Participation (20% of final grade). Regular attendance at class meetings and regular participation in class discussions are expected. Additionally, each student will make one oral presentation. More than one absence from class will progressively lower this portion of your grade.
2. Midterm Exam (25%), which will take place on the second Wednesday of the term. The exam will contain short answer and short essay questions.
3. A 5-7 page essay (25%), due on the third Wednesday of the term. Late essays will not be accepted without prior consent of the professor.
4. A Take-Home Final Exam (30%), due by 1:00 PM. on the fourth Wednesday of the term.
Required Texts
1. Diana L. Eck, Darshan: Seeing the Divine Image in India.
2. Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, trans., The Rig Veda: An Anthology.
3. Juan Mascaró, trans., The Upanishads.
4. Barbara Stoler Miller, trans., The Bhagavad-Gita: Krishna's Counsel in
Time of War.
5. R. K. Narayan, The Ramayana.
6. Mohandas K. Gandhi, Autobiography: The Story of My Experiments with Truth.
Academic Honesty
Consult the COMPASS for the College's policy on cheating and plagiarism. More will be said about plagiarism when your essay assignments are distributed.
Students with Special Needs
Cornell College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to all students. If you have a documented learning disability and will need any accommodation in this course, you must request the accommodation(s) from the instructor no later than the third day of the term. Additional information about the policies and procedures for accommodation of learning disabilities is available at http://cornellcollege.edu/academic_affairs/disabilities/.
Course Calendar
Note: The reading assignments listed in this course calendar are to be completed PRIOR to that day's meeting of the class.
WEEK 1
Monday: Getting oriented.
Tuesday: Introducing Hinduism by way of Text, Photography, and Film.
Diana Eck, Darshan, 1-75.
In-class viewing of the film, Understanding Hindu Traditions.
Wednesday: The Rig Veda on Creation, Sky and Earth, "Realia."
Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, The Rig Veda, 11-40, 201-207, 229-243.
Thursday: The Rig Veda on Agni, Indra, Varuna, Rudra and Vishnu.
O'Flaherty, 97-110 (110-118 optional), 139-162, 209-227.
Friday: The Rig Veda on Goddesses, Women and Incantations.
O'Flaherty, 62-64, 179-181, 199-200, 245-297.
WEEK 2
Monday: Introducing the Upanishads; the Chadogya and Brihad-aranyaka
Upanishads.
Juan Mascaró, The Upanishads, 7-44, 113-143.
Tuesday: Further Readings from the Upanishads.
Mascaró, 49-112.
Wednesday: MIDTERM EXAM, 1:00 PM.
Thursday: Beginning The Bhagavad-Gita.
(a) Barbara Stoler Miller's Introduction and Glossary.
(b) Miller, Teachings 1-9.
Friday: The Bhagavad-Gita Concluded.
Miller, Teachings 10-18.
WEEK 3
Monday: Beginning The Ramayana.
R. K. Narayan, The Ramayana, xi-xvi, 3-77. (Suggestion: Read further if you have the time.)
Tuesday: The Ramayana Concluded.
Narayan, 79-171.
Wednesday: ESSAY DUE, 1:00 P.M.
In-class viewing of portions of the film, Gandhi.
Thursday: The Life Story of a Great Soul.
Mohandas Gandhi, Autobiography, Introduction; Part I, Chaps. I-XII, XIX-XXI; Part II, Chap. I.
Friday: The Life Story of a Great Soul, Continued.
Gandhi,
Part II, Chaps. VI-XVI, XXI-XXVII; Part III, Chap. I.
WEEK 4
Monday: The Life Story of a Great Soul, Concluded.
Gandhi,
Part III, Chaps. VII-VIII, XIII, XVIII, XX, XXIII; Part IV, Chaps. V, IX-X, XXV-XXVI, XXX-XXXI, XXXIV, XXXVIII-XXXIX; Part V, Chaps. VII-X, XX-XXI; “Farewell.”
Tuesday: No class--work on take-home final.
Wednesday: TAKE-HOME FINAL DUE BY 1:00 PM.
A List of Reference Resources Available in the Library
World Religions (Ref 200 B679wo)
Encyclopedia of Religion, 16 vols. (Ref 200.3 En19)
Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion (Ref 200.3 H234)
A New Dictionary of Religions (Ref 200.3 N42)
Encyclopedia of Women and World Religion, 2 vols. (Ref 200.82 En19)
The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, 12 vols. (Ref
203 Sch1)
Abingdon Dictionary of Living Religions (Ref 291 Ab58)
Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism,
Zen (Ref 291.095 En19)
Religions of the World, 4 vols. (Ref 291.291 R279)
Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism (Ref 294.503 K697c)
Popular Dictionary of Hinduism (Ref 294.503 W495p)