BUDDHIST CONTEMPLATIVE SCIENCES

Buddhist  arts  and  sciences  traditionally  are  divided  into  the  interconnected  disciplines  of  ethics  (śīla), wisdom/philosophy  (prajñā),  and  “meditation”  or  experiential  cultivation  (samādhi/bhāvanā).  This  seminar course  introduces  the  latter  discipline,  thus  complementing  and  completing  Prof.  Yarnall’s  Columbia seminars  on  Buddhist  Ethics  (RELI  UN3500)  and  Indo-Tibetan  Buddhist  Philosophy  (RELI  GU4630), either  of  which—in  addition  to  his  introductory  lecture  course  on  Indo-Tibetan  Buddhism  (RELI UN2205)—are  encouraged  as  prerequisites.  This  course  will  provide  a  detailed  presentation  of  key Buddhist  contemplative  sciences,  including:  stabilizing  meditation  (śamatha);  analytic  insight  meditation (vipaśyanā);  cultivation  of  the  four  immeasurables,  and  form  and  formless  trances;  mind  cultivation  (lo jong);  mindfulness  meditation;  Zen  meditation;  great  perfection  (dzogchen);  and  the  subtle  body-mind states  activated  and  transformed  through  advanced  tantric  yoga  techniques.  These  arts  and  sciences  will be  explored  both  within  their  traditional  interdisciplinary  frameworks,  as  well  as  in  dialog  with  related contemporary  disciplines,  including:  cognitive  sciences,  neuroscience,  psychology,  psychiatry,  philosophy, epistemology,  and  so  forth.  To  be  conducted  in  a  mixed  lecture/seminar  format  (active,  prepared  participation  required).