Meeting Times Course Description Discussion Topics Return to Index Syllabus Religion 250/Asian Studies 250 Zen and Japanese Culture Mount Holyoke College Department of Religion/Asian Studies Program Instructor:Tadanori Yamashita Office : Skinner 207, Phone 2292 E Mail Address:< tyamashi@mtholyoke.edu>, <tad4364@aol.com> Skinner 205 Religion Department Office, Phone 2233 Home: 2 Amherst Road, S. Hadley, MA 01075 Home Phone 536-4364 Teaching Assistant: Laura Khor, lokhor@mtholyoke.edu

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Meeting Times

Monday and Wednesday, 2:40-3:55 (Group I)
Tuesday and Thursday, 2:40-3:55 (Group II)
Meeting Place: Both Groups meet in Cleveland L2 and occasionally somewhere else. Pay attention to in-class announcements.

Course Description

The purpose of the course is to inquire and redefine what Zen is, and to find if there is any intrinsic relation between Zen and Japanese culture. The method to accomplish this goal is two folds. The first one is the normal academic inquiry of reading books, hearing lectures, talking about Zen and even having examinations. The second one is the experiential method of trying to learn with your own body by experimenting some Zen and Japanese cultural activities which are often associated with Japanese cultural traditions. Normally Mondays and Tuesdays are devoted for the first method and Wednesdays and Thursdays for the second. Beside this, you must spend at least three hours per week(3 hours) in Zen meditation, Zen walk or other Zen activities specified during the class lecture.

Because of this purpose and method of learning , attendance to class is the basic and most important requirement. Sickness is often considered against the spirit of Zen, and in itself provides a great opportunity to heal oneself with the spirit of Zen. The text we use is D.T.Suzuki, "Zen and Japanese Culture", and Ellen Birx, "Healing Zen." they can be obtained at the Odyssey Book Store. There will be several copies available on reserve in the library. Book-list is available in this web-page. Attendance sheets will be passed out every class as well, where you MUST sign your name clearly, so I can easily read it. If I forget to pass the attendance sheet, please call my attention to this matter or make your own and pass it around to other students to sign. You may submit one sheet of paper of your own for attendance signatures. Writing down the name of your friends, as if they were in class, while in fact they were not, is a violation of the Honor Code. You are encouraged to write small comments on the right side of your signature.

March 2, WEDNESDAY and March 3, THURSDAY. March 3 festival , Music" Zen Mondo Koan - shouting and beating"

March 7, MONDAY and March 8, TUESDAY. Discussion on Tea Ceremony. Read D.T. Suzuki's book ch. VIII, IX and X (Chapters 8-10) "Mumonkan"

March 9, WEDNESDAY and March 10, THURSDAY. Tea Ceremony Demonstration from 2:40-4:00pm at Rooke Theatre (near Buckland Dormitory) on the Mount Holyoke College Campus

April 27, WEDNESDAY and April 28, THURSDAY. ***subject to change*** Some Cultural Actvities

LAST DAY OF CLASSES!!!!!!