Introduction to Tibet: History, Religion, and Politics

Course Description
What is Tibet anyway? We hear so much about His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and about this place that so many have fantasized, but what is this Tibet? This course aims to lay a foundation of understanding about the “Roof of the World” by examining Tibet’s rich histories, religions, cultures and politics. Students will consult writers and scholars like Hinerich Harrer, Tsering Shakya, Melvyn Goldstein, Thubten Jigme Norbu, Matthew Kapstein, Walpola Rahula, Nagarjuna and Santideva. We will cover 1,000 years of history, the Buddhadharma, the distinctive Tibetan Buddhist traditions, domestic politics and the ongoing Sino-Tibetan political conflict. This course will have a wide breadth, and should be taken by any and all students who have even the remotest interest in Tibet, Buddhism or Central Asia. Students should enter the class expecting an interesting and informative exploration, and to have fun.

The Central Questions Addressed in the Course
As we begin our exploration, a few major questions come to mind that have guided my thinking in the creation of this course:


 * What are some of the different perspectives on Tibet?
 * What defines being “Tibetan”?
 * How have Tibetan histories been used by various parties as political tactics?
 * What impact has Tibetan Buddhism made on the faith as a whole?
 * How are Tibetan cultures homogenous? How are they heterogeneous?

Readings, Assignments & Attendance
Readings, participation and four weekly responses for this course are all important. The provided readings are informative and will be most useful for the students when read ahead of class, so that students can participate in discussion. Readings will be given free of charge to the student, only if they are committed to coming to every class session. This course has been designed with a logical flow, and simply sitting in on a few classes will not give the whole picture. Four responses are due, during weeks two through five. These should be 1-2 pages (double-spaced, 12-point font Times or equivalent), and should react to any reading for the week. Given the more informal nature of this course, I am looking to read your thoughts about the readings, as opposed to a meticulously well-organized response. The final 5-10 page research project will be due at the end of the semester, wherein students will research a topic of their choosing. If students need guidance in terms of a subject, I will be able to assist. Students will present their final papers/projects to the class in 3-5 minute presentations. Always check for grammar and spelling. Students who choose to do more work than expected will be encouraged; I will read however much you can write. I am approaching this not as a full semester course, but as an interesting opportunity to teach others about Tibet, and to learn from each other, as well. This being the case, I recommend this class to anyone who is even remotely interested in learning about Tibet. I make no claim to be a master teacher of this content, but rather a master learner, who is still very much learning. As is true for any Hampshire College course, what you will get out of this class will be equal to the effort you put into it.

Syllabus, Schedule & Assignments

 * Week 1 – Introduction
 * Class #1: February 19 : Introduction to the course: review syllabus, and outline class goals.
 * Class #2: February 21 : A First Glimpse of Tibet. No Readings, but be prepared to take notes.
 * Week 2 – Buddhism
 * Class #3: February 26 : Introduction to the Buddhadharma. Readings: Rahula, pp. 16-20, 29-40. Handout.
 * Class #4: February 28 : Philosophical concerns of Buddhism. Readings: Heart Sutra, Rahula, pp. 20-66, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, pp. xvi-xvii. Weekly response due.
 * Week 3 – Tibetan Buddhism: History and Traditions of
 * Class #5: March 4 : The History of Tibetan Buddhism. Readings: Powers 119-126.
 * Class #6: March 6 : Tsampa and Wheel of Time
 * Week 4 – Tibetan History I: Politics at Home
 * Class #7: March 11 : Distinctions and flavors of Tibetan Buddhism. Claire
 * Class #8: March 13 : Distinctions and flavors of Tibetan Buddhism. Izzy, Caitlin, Celia. Weekly response due.
 * Spring Break: March 15-23 – No Classes
 * Week 5 – Tibetan History II –
 * Class #9: March 25 : Tibetan Government and History: 600-1913. Readings: Goldstein 1-29.
 * Class #10: March 27 : Tibetan Government and History: 1913-1950. Readings:Thubten Jigme Norbu, pp. 105-116, Goldstein, pp. 3-20, Handout
 * Week 6 – Student Work
 * Class #11: April 1 : Tibet and China I. Readings: TBA
 * Class# 12: April 3 : Tibet and China II. Readings: China Against Tibet PDF


 * Final paper for students NOT getting credit: April 17th (5-7 pages)
 * Final paper/portfolio for students getting credit: May 2nd (10-15 pages)

Readings

 * 1) Aufschnaiter, Peter and Martin Brauen. Peter Aufschnaiter’s Eight Years in Tibet. Bangkok: Orchid Press, 2002.
 * 2) Bell, Charles. Tibet: Past and Present. Oxford: The Clarendon Press, 1968.
 * 3) Dunham, Mikel. Buddha’s Warriors: The Story of the CIA-Backed Tibetan Freedom Fighters, the Chinese Invasion, and the Ultimate Fall of Tibet. New Delhi: Penguin Books, 2004.
 * 4) Gethin, Rupert. The Foundations of Buddhism. New York: Oxford University Press, 1998.
 * 5) Goldstein, Melvyn C. The Snow Lion and the Dragon: China, Tibet, and the Dalai Lama. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1997.
 * 6) Goldstein, Melvyn C. A History of Modern Tibet, 1913-1951: The Demise of the Lamaist State. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989.
 * 7) Goldstein, Melvyn C., Matthew Kapstein. Buddhism in Contemporary Tibet: Religious Revival and Cultural Identity. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998.
 * 8) Gyatso, Tenzin (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama). The Art of Living. London: Thorsons, 2001.
 * 9) Gyatso, Tenzin (His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama). Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of the Dalai Lama. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 1990.
 * 10) Harrer, Heinrich. Seven Years in Tibet. London : R. Hart-Davis, 1953.
 * 11) Harris, Brian. Tibetan Voices: A Traditional Memoir. San Francisco: Pomegranate Books, 1996.
 * 12) Laird, Thomas. The Story of Tibet: Conversations with the Dalai Lama. New York: Grove Press, 2006.
 * 13) Lopez, Donald S. The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History and Teachings. San Francisco: Harper Collins, 2002.
 * 14) Lopez, Donald S. Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West. Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1998.
 * 15) Lopez, Donald S. Elaborations on Emptiness. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1996.
 * 16) Norbu, Thubten Jigme. Tibet. New York: Clarion Books, 1968.
 * 17) Powers, John. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1995.
 * 18) Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. New York: Grove Press, 1974.
 * 19) Said, Edward W. Orientalism. New York: Vintage Books, 1978.
 * 20) Shakya, Tsering. The Dragon in the Land of Snows: A History of Modern Tibet Since 1947. New York: Columbia University Press, 1999.
 * 21) Tsering, Tashi. The Struggle for Modern Tibet: The Autobiography of Tashi Tsering. Armonk: East Gate Books, 1999.
 * 22) Tweed, Thomas A. The American Encounter With Buddhism: 1844 – 1912. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, 1992.
 * 23) Yuthok, Dorje Yudon. The House of the Turquoise Roof. Ithaca: Snow Lion Publications, 1990.

Lesson Plan Class by Class

 * Introduction to Tibet: History, Religion, and Politics: Lesson Plan Class by Class