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142234 UE "What is Tantra?" Entering Tantric Writings through the Tibetan Translation of "Stainless Light" (2025S)

Sripundarika's Vimalaprabha

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
Th 06.03. 14:00-15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 12 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 13.03. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 20.03. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 27.03. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 03.04. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 10.04. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 08.05. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 15.05. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 22.05. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 05.06. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 12.06. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
  • Thursday 26.06. 14:00 - 15:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

Goal of the LV is a first introduction to trantric Buddhist texts, including some basic principles of Buddhist tantra, a first glance into translation literature in classical Tibetan, along with basic philological considerations. In this course, we will read selected passages from Puṇḍarīka's Āryamañjuśrīnāmasaṃgītitīkā Vimalaprabhā (T 1398), a text that I consider a “grey text”/pseudepigrapha, i.e., a text that was never really translated from Sanskrit into Tibetan but only is claimed to be.
The text constitutes a commentary to a very famous and old Buddhist tantric text, the Nāmasaṃgīti, and comments on it from the perspective of the Kālacakra, the probably most complex and latest development of tantric Buddhism. As such, the commentary ascribed to Puṇḍarīka focuses emphatically on "yoga" and tantric doctrine. Hence, various smaller "excursions" into related topics will be frequently undertaken in order to gain a basic toolkit enabling to work and study such and related registers of traditions and texts.

Assessment and permitted materials

Grades are based on the active participation in the class and the written translation of selected passages.
There are no restrictions regarding the permitted sources or aids. It is recommended to follow the reading as selected for the seminar. Furthermore, the usual rules for the preparation of scientific papers must of course be observed.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum requirements for a positive grade: active participation in the course and a paper satisfying the requirements defined by the course instructors. Attendance is compulsory; up to two absences without notice will be excused.

Assessment standard: Every performance component will receive a grade. Active participation and the written paper/translation at the term's end each account for 50% of the course's grade.

In order to pass the seminar, at least 50% of the total points must be achieved. Regular attendance is also required. The reading of the lectures, as indicated for the respective sessions, is obligatory and a prerequisite for active participation in the seminar.
The grading system is structured as follows:
100-91% Very good (1)
90-81% Good (2)
80-65% Satisfactory (3)
64-50% Satisfactory (4)
49-0% Unsatisfactory (5)

Examination topics

The text covered in class.

Reading list

Tribe, Anthony (2015). “Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti.” In Brill’s Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Vol. 1, Buddhist Literatures, edited by Jonathan A. Silk, Oskar von Hinüber, and Vincent Eltschinger. Leiden: Koninklijke Brill NV, pp 353–359.

Sferra, Francesco (2015). “Kālacakra.” In: Brill’s Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Vol. 1, Buddhist Literatures, edited by Jonathan A. Silk, Oskar von Hinüber, and Vincent Eltschinger. Leiden and Bosten: Brill NV: 341–352.

Association in the course directory

BA12b UE a

Last modified: Fr 24.01.2025 09:05