Claremont Graduate University
School of Religion
REL 327: Divine Feminine in Hinduism and Buddhism
Spring 2012
Mondays from 7:00 pm to 9:50 pm
Professor Deepak Shimkhada, Ph.D.
Email: dshimkhada@gmail.com
Office Hours: by appointment
Teaching Assistant: Bhikshuni Lozang Trinlae, B.Sc., Ed. M.
Email: bhikshuni.lozang@post.harvard.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Hinduism and Buddhism are traditions that have culturally allowed space for the feminine divine through the presence of female deities in worship, sacred texts, and iconography. Although it is acknowledged that such a presence of the feminine divine does not always translate to privileged or even equal status for the women who are situated within these religious and cultural contexts, this presence can be argued to be potentially liberating for women and also may shed light on how gender is or can be read. In this course, we will explore the concept of the divine feminine in Hindu and Buddhist thoughts, practices, worships, and sacred texts. In doing so, we will examine various artistic, cultural, social, religious, and political aspects of the divine feminine which have come to play a role in shaping Hindu and
Buddhist societies. Students will be introduced to the concept of divine feminine as well as consort from the Vedic and Vinaya/Mahayana literatures while examining the many roles she has played in society figured and glorified though several forms.
This is a seminar course whose pedagogical methodology will primarily revolve around guided discussion. Students are required to actively engage with readings and participate in class discussions. One student will be chosen to lead the discussion based on that week’s readings. Sakai will be utilized for weekly posts on the readings in a forum where students will be expected to post, read other classmates’ responses, and respond. There will neither be mid-term or the final exams. A final paper of about 15 to 20 pages is due at the end of the semester.
Images, audios and videos will be used as points of discussion.
REQUIRED WORK
1) Each week a student will be assigned to lead the class with a 30-minute presentation on the assigned readings. This presentation should not just summarize the readings, nor do you have to cover all the readings in detail.
The majority of your presentation should be a critical analysis and show your engagement with the readings. This includes the connections you see with
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other readings we have discussed as well as the larger themes of the class.
You are not expected to be the expert of these readings, but you will be expected to read more closely than those students not presenting in order to bring out the more subtle points, problematize the issues of the text and raise questions as well as contemplate various ways of looking at the issues in response. You should show where you agree, disagree, or can expand on the readings and make sure you prepare discussion questions with which to lead the class in discussion AFTER your presentation. A diversity of media is encouraged including, PowerPoint, images, and film/youtube. Please read and contact your professor ahead of time if you are having trouble with the materials to be discussed.
2) Each week, at least 24 hours before the upcoming class, you must post a single-spaced, one-page response to that week’s readings NOT summarizing but raising questions/commenting/problematizing/analyzing issues in one or more readings. Aim to contribute with a narrow, rather than broad, focus.
Please read your classmates’ posts and comment as you wish. On those days where you will be presenting, please post your discussion questions as well.
3) A 15-20 page paper will be due at the end of the semester.
4) Class attendance and participation via engaging with others during each class is a part of the grade.
GRADES:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Classroom discussion & attendance
Weekly Sakai posts (10x2)
Research paper
In class presentation (2x10)
Extra points will be given for visiting a
10%
20%
50%
20%
100%
1. temple or bringing new materials to class
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Encountering the Goddess: A Translation of the Devimahatmya.
Translated by Thomas Coburn. State University of New York Press,
1998.
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2. Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine by David Kinsley
3. Passionate Enlightenment: Women in Tantric Buddhism by Miranda
Shaw, Princeton University Press, 1995.
Book chapters and journal articles will be provided free of charge.
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BOOK CHAPTERS AND JOURNAL ARTICLES:
1. “The Bloodthirsty Tongue and Self-Feeding Breast: Homosexual Fellatio
Fantasy in a South Indian Ritual Tardition” by Sarh Caldwell in Vishnu on
Freud’s Desk: A Reader in Psychoanalysis and Hinduism edited by T.G.
Vaidyanathan and Jeffrey J. Kripal, New delhi: Oxford University Press.
2. “The Sword: Kali, Mistress of Death” from The Sword and the Flute: Kali and
Krishna Dark Visions of the Terrible and the Sublime in Hindu Mythology by
David R. Kinsley, Berkeley: 1977, pp. 81-149.
3. Gross, R. M. “Is the Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full? A Feminist Assessment of
Buddhism at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century.” Feminist Theology
16, no. 3 (May 1, 2008): 291-311.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Klein, Anne C. “NONDUALISM AND THE GREAT BLISS QUEEN A Study in
Tibetan Buddhist Ontology and Symbolism.” Journal of Feminist Studies in
Religion 1, no. 1 (1983): 73.
Klein, Anne C. “Primordial purity and everyday life : exalted female symbols and the women of Tibet.” Immaculate and powerful. Beacon Press, 1985.
Koppedrayer, Kay. “Feminist Applications of Buddhist Thought.” Journal of
Feminist Studies in Religion 23, no. 1 (April 2007): 121-140.
Schüssler Fiorenza, Elisabeth. “Religion, gender, and society: shaping the discipline of religious/theological studies.” In International Conference on
Religious Culture & Gender Ethics (Volume II), edited by Ghing Guang Shih,
Q1-Q40. Taoyuan: Hongshi Buddhist Cultural and Educational Foundation,
2007.
CLASS SCHEDULE
1/23 Introduction to course
Place of goddess in Hinduism
Issues and problems
A quick survey of Hinduism, its cosmology and pantheon
1/30
2/6
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/5
3/12
3/19
The all-powerful goddess—Durga and Kali
Devimahatmya
Devimahatmya…continues
Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine
Is the vision universal?
The Mother Goddesses as the Mahavidhyas
The Goddess Kali
The Goddess Kali continues
“The Sword: Kali, Mistress of Death” from The Sword and the Flute
Spring Break—No Class
“The Bloodthirsty Tongue and Self-Feeding Breast
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3/26
4/2
4/9
4/16
4/23
4/30
5/7
Buddhist Goddesses
Vajrayogini and Vajravarahi
Issues of gender and feminism
Is the goddess a feminist?
Is the Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?
Primordial purity and everyday life
Nondualism and the Great Bliss Queen
LAST DAY OF CLASS (PRESENTATIONS)
Finals and Exam Week—NO CLASS
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