SCA 510 Symbolizing the Awakened Heart: Introduction to Buddhist Visual Literacy Faculty: {!{types field='faculty' style='text'}!}{!{/types}!} This course introduces Buddhist visual literacy, meaning it develops a basis for exploring and understanding Buddhist symbolism and iconography through the use of classic Buddhist teachings on seeming and ultimate realities, while considering the roles of conception and perception. We’ll learn through illustrated presentations and contemplative experiments to explore how meaning is made and communicated when producing and viewing imagery, and especially Buddhist imagery. Part of the course delves into the roots of Buddhist symbolism and iconography, and applies visual literacy skills in reading specific works of Buddhist art. Mode

BUD 630 Buddha Nature: Luminous Heart of the Tathagata Faculty: {!{types field='faculty' style='text'}!}{!{/types}!} This course is an exposition of the Tathāgatagarbha philosophical tradition, based on the The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra: Fourth Vajra Point root text. Students cultivate certainty in the view of Buddha nature—the essence of awakening present in all beings. The Fourth Vajra Point of the Uttaratantra establishes Buddha nature through three reasonings, its ten aspects, nine analogies and five reasons why it is necessary to teach it. PREREQUISITE: BUD 501, BUD 510, BUD 520, BUD 530 REQUIRED TEXTS: Buddha Nature: The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra by Arya Maitreya, Translated by