| Eligibility for Admisssion |
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1.42 Candidates seeking
admission for this course should have at least one of the following
qualifications
(a) A degree from a recognized University
(b) A pass at the Final Examination of the Buddhasravaka Dharmapita at Anuradhapura
(c) A pass at the Final Examination of the Oriental Studies Society ( Sri Lanka )
(d) Any other qualification/qualifications deemed by the Faculty Board of the
Institute as equivalent to the above.
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| Course Structure |
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1.43 The course will be of one year's duration,
running through three terms of ten weeks each. Each course unit will have a
minimum of one hour a week in the form of a lecture, followed by tutorial
guidance and seminar discussions.
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| Diploma
Examination |
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1.44 The Diploma
Examination consists of four written papers of three hours each covering the
four course units indicated above. The candidate will also be required to
present an essay of 2500 to 3000 words on a theme related to one of the courses
followed and selected with the guidance and assistance of the seminar
supervisors concerned. All candidates are expected to inform the Director of
their essay titles before the expiry of the second
term.
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1.45 |
Diploma Course Syllabuses |
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Dip 1 : The Indian Religious Background and
the Emergence of Buddhism.
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In this study dealing with the religious and intellectual background against
which Buddhism emerged, attention will be focussed on the following aspects :
Vedic religion and its evolution from polytheism via henotheism to monotheism,
the emergence of the Upanisads and their central teachings: the search for the
ultimate reality and the identity of Atman and Brahman; the doctrine of
reincarnation, karma and salvation through knowledge; religious practices and
social institutions associated with the Brahmanic culture; the rise of the
Samana movement and its heterodox views and radical tendencies; the Six Teachers
and their doctrines; the paribbajakas as wandering religious mendicants; ascetic
practices and their religious assumptions; conflict between spiritual
(sassatavada) and materialist (ucchedavada) views of life and the
birth of scepticism ; emergence of Buddhism and its relation to the contemporary
Indian religions and philosophies.
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Dip 2 : Basic Doctrines of Early Buddhism
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This course is designed to provide an insight into the
main teachings of early Buddhism through a study of the following themes : the
Buddhist view of sentient existence as shown by the three signata
(tilakkhana) and the doctrine of Dependent co-origination (paticca-samuppada) ; the analysis of empiric Individuality into khandha,
ayatana and dhatu and the rejection of the physical and metaphysical views of
the self; the Buddhist diagnosis of the human condition and the ideal of man's
perfection and deliverance as set forth in the
four Noble Truths; analysis
of mind and its relevance to mental culture ; ethical teachings and social and
religious ideals; the epistemological standpoint and the empirical predilection;
the critique of metaphysical speculations (ditthi) and the category of
the undetermined (avyakata); the distinctive characteristics of
Buddhism as a religion and
philosophy.
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Dip 3 : Buddhist Social Philosophy
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An analytical and evaluative study of the social
philosophy of Buddhism based on the discourses of the Pali Canon. While the
Buddhist concept of man and its implications will serve as a background to this
study, it will focus attention on the following topics : Buddhist critique of
the social and religious institutions based on the Brahmanic theory of varna and
svadharma ; Buddhist view of the origin and evolution of society; biological,
historical and ethical arguments on the oneness of the human species; emphasis
on man's superiority as against his supremacy ; ethical criteria of human ends
and social ideals ; individual, society and inter-personal relations ;
dhammacariya and samacariya ; the Bodhisatta ideal and practice; the role of the
Sangha in relation to the lay community; Buddhist observations on economy and
polity; qualities of leadership, raja-dhamma and the Cakkavatti ideal:
aparihaniya-dhamma and
sangaha-vatthu; Buddhist perspective of law, justice
and punishment.
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Dip 4 : Buddhist Culture : An Outline Study
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A wide-ranging study of Buddhism's impact on society
through its teachings and institutional framework from a socio-cultural angle is
expected. The study is confined to a particular geographical area but
appropriate situations will be reviewed from countries which came under the
influence of Buddhism. This will involve an evaluative study of the role played
by the Buddhist monks and laity in the dissemination of the new faith and its
consequent adaptation and
assimilation by the indigenous people. A general
acquaintance with the religion and culture of each country prior to the
introduction of Buddhism should form a background to this part of the study.
This will be followed up by an evaluation of Buddhism's contribution to the life
and thought of the people in shaping their material and spiritual progress and
the impetus it gave to creative
works in arts and literature during its long
history in each country.
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