Universität Wien

142104 UE Dharmakirti's Pramanavarttika: selected passages on Yogacara (2022W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikanistik, Indologie und Tibetologie
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE

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. 24 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

Fr 10:00-12:00 IKGA/hybrid, ab 21.10. ATTENTION, CHANGE in schedule: the course will start October 21st, not as initially announced October 14th. We always start 10:00 on time!

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This source reading course aims to introduce students to central ideas about the analysis of perceptual awareness in the Buddhist epistemological tradition that traces itself back to Dignāga (ca. 480–540 CE) and Dharmakīrti (between mid-6th and mid-7th centuries CE). It is also aimed at introducing philological methods using the concrete example of critically editing the Pramāṇavārttika. The Pramāṇavārttika is one of the most influential works of Indian Buddhist philosophy in the late medieval period and was also significant for Tibetan traditions.

More specifically, the course focuses on selected passages from Dharmakīrti’s Pramāṇavārttika in Sanskrit. Classical Tibetan translations will also be used. We are going to especially concentrate on passages where Dharmakīrti analyzes sense-perception based on Yogācāra premises that deny an external world. In trying to understand Dharmakīrti’s elliptic verses in their historical context, we will also explore passages from (sub-)commentaries by Devendrabuddhi, Śākyabuddhi, Prajñākaragupta and Manorathanandin.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment will be based on oral as well as written performance (each counting 50% towards the final grade). Students are expected to actively participate in discussion, to prepare written translations and to present these in class. Students are also expected to thoroughly familiarize themselves with assigned research literature.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Knowledge of Sanskrit is required (2 semesters minimum), knowledge of Classical Tibetan desirable.

Examination topics

There will be no special exams; performance will be continually assessed through oral and written participation as specified above.

Reading list

EAST database: https://east.ikga.oeaw.ac.at/. The database “Epistemology and Argumentation in South Asia and Tibet” provides bio-bibliographical information on pramāṇa literature.

Franco, Eli and Miyako Notake. 2014. Dharmakīrti on the Duality of the Object: Pramāṇavārttika III 1-63. Wien; Zürich: LIT Verlag.

Kellner, Birgit. 2009-2010. "Towards a Critical Edition of Dharmakīrti's Pramāṇavārttika." Wiener Zeitschrift für die Kunde Südasiens 52/53: 161-211.

Kellner, Birgit. 2017. "Proofs of Idealism in Buddhist Epistemology : Dharmakīrti’s Refutation of External Objects." In Indian Epistemology and Metaphysics, ed. Joerg Tuske, 103-128. London: Bloomsbury Academic Publishing.

Miyasaka, Yusho. 1971-72. Pramāṇavārttika-Kārikā (Sanskrit and Tibetan). Narita: Naritasan Shinshoji.

Tosaki, Hiromasa. 1979. Bukkyō ninshikiron no kenkyū: Hosshō cho “Pramāṇavārttika” no genryōron, Jōkan [*Studies in Buddhist epistemology: The theory of perception in Dharmakīrti's Pramāṇavārttika, Part 1]. Tōkyō: Daitō shuppansha.

Tosaki, Hiromasa. 1985. Bukkyō-ninshikiron no kenkyū, Gekan. *Studies in Buddhist epistemology, part 2. Tōkyō: Daitōshuppansha.

Association in the course directory

MATB1 (UE a)

Last modified: Th 15.09.2022 11:48