An Introduction to the Indian Buddhist Philosophical Tradition

Meeting Times: TBD

Location: TBA
Instructor: Sean M. Smith
Contact: sean.smith@mail.utoronto.ca or (647) 907 5611
NOTE: E-mails should concern procedural questions about the course only. Philosophical questions
will be addressed in class and during office hours. Email must be sent from a utoronto account.
Office Hours: TBD and by appointment
Course Description:
This course will provide an overview of the Buddhist philosophical tradition with a strong focus on
acquainting students with the primary texts. We will begin with a general overview of the Indian
philosophical milieu in which the Buddha taught and then move on to an in depth exploration of the
core conceptual foundations of Buddhism. This will be followed by a survey of the major Buddhist
philosophical schools that came to dominate the Indian sub-continent as Buddhist spread and began
to interact with other cultures and philosophies.
Texts: The following two books will be required for the course:
i. Buddhism as Philosophy by Mark Siderits [BaP]
ii. Philosophy of the Buddha by Christopher W. Gowans [PoB]
All other readings will be available online in pdf format.
Course Requirements:
1. Passage Summary (2-3 pp)
2. Critical Summary (3-5 pp)
3. Essay (5-7 pp)
4. Final Exam
5. Attendance and Class Participation

15% of course grade

20% of course grade
25% of course grade
30% of course grade
10% of course grade

Assignments should be submitted in hard copy in class.

Readings and Schedule: Everyone is expected to do the assigned readings prior to class, and to
come ready to discuss them.
Week 1: The Life of the Buddha

Chapter 2 of PoB
A Sketch of the Buddhas Life: Readings from the Pli Canon
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/ptf/buddha.html

Week 2: Indias Philosophical Context

Chapters 1-3 of Presuppositions of Indias Philosophies by Karl H. Potter

Week 3: Suffering and its Ending

Chapters 1 and 2 of BaP

Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta: The Discourse on the Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dhamma
Adittapariyaya Sutta: The Fire Discourse

Week 4: Not-Self

Chapter 3 of BaP
Chapter 6 of PoB
Anatta-lakkhana Sutta: The Discourse on the Not-Self Characteristic

Week 5: Causation

Mahanidana Sutta: The Discourse on Great Causes

Upasina Sutta: The Discourse on Prerequisites
Chapter 6 of The Foundations of Buddhism by Rupert Gethin

Week 6: The Limits of Cognition

Brahmajala Sutta: The Discourse on the All-Embracing Net of Views

Week 7: Meditation

Mahsatipatthana Sutta: The Discourse on the Establishing of Mindfulness

Anapanasati Sutta: The Discourse on the Mindfulness of Breathing
On Some Definitions of Mindfulness by Rupert Gethin
Week 8: Abhidharma

Chapter 6 of BaP
Abhidharma, by Noa Ronkin in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Week 9: Madhyamaka

Chapter 9 of BaP
Chapters 1, 4, 18 of Ngrjunas Mulamadhyamakakrik

Week 10: Yogcra

Chapter 8 of BaP
Chapter 7 of Indian Buddhist Philosophy by Amber D. Carpenter

Week 11: Buddhist Epistemology

Chapter 10 of BaP
Chapter 8 of Indian Buddhist Philosophy by Amber D. Carpenter
Week 12: Buddhist Ethics
Chapter 9 of Engaging Buddhism: Why It Matters to Philosophy by Jay L. Garfield
Chapter 4 of BaP