Through the studying of Buddhist scriptures and treatises, this course will refer to the modes and results of thinking on general philosophical questions to discuss together with the students the essential questions, structures of theories, and modes of thinking in the Buddhist doctrines.
Observed from the development of the Buddhist doctrines after its transmission from India to China, these significant philosophical questions, structures of theories, and modes of thinking briefly contain the items mentioned below. And, targeting these items, this course will try to go deep, layer by layer, into the activities of studying, discussion, and elucidation of their philosophical connotation, so as to help the students build a foundation of studying and thinking for independently doing research on a specific research topic in the future.
1. On the topics of metaphysical philosophy: (1) What is the true state of the “world”? Is it in a state of dependent origination? (2) What is the reality of existence of an individual life? Does it have a “self”? (3) The relationship between the “world” and the “self.” (4) Is the “karmic causality” true? Which types can it possibly have? (5) Does the world have a “beginning” and an “end”?
2. On the topics of epistemological philosophy: (1) Can the reality of the world be recognized? (2) Confronted with all the phenomena of the world, what cognizance is a living being equipped with? (3) Why does a living being’s cognizance about the world deviates or goes wrong? (4) What can be counted as the right cognizance or thinking? Is it the “middle way”?
3. On the topics of the philosophy of ethics and morality: (1) What are the “right“ and “good” conducts? (2) What relationship, then, is there between “right” ethical behavior and “good” moral culture? (3) How, then, is the code of ethics or moral standard established? (3) Is there an “objective universality” for the code of ethics or moral standard?
In addition, this course may also explore the following topics: the question of “the essence of life”, that of how the “mind” operates and how it can be uplifted, that of the “meaning of spiritual practice,” that of what Buddhism regards as the right ways of living, that of what choices there are for the goals of the activities of life, and so on.