ASSIGNMENT
Present, explore, and engage with one set of readings: Judith Herman’s account of trauma; James Baldwin’s reflections on race, religion, and suffering; the Book of Job and Gustavo Gutiérrez’s interpretation of it; Thich Nhat Hanh’s Engaged Buddhism; arguments for the non-existence of God based upon ‘the problem of evil’ and responses to these arguments.
Compare and contrast readings as regards suffering, its possible origins and nature, and potential responses to it, or they may complement one reading with another.
Write on a topic related to our readings and discussions of God, suffering, and evil.
Write a 9-page essay that doesn't need to be argumentative based on one or more of the readings we analyzed in class. The essay does not need to criticize the readings, instead, it should show understanding. Explore/evaluate something related to the reading.
To narrow it down, the reading to explore is Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching. Explore one of the following two questions:
1) Thich Nhat Hanh emphasizes the importance of collective, societal action in order to alleviate the suffering of others. How might his teachings be applied to contemporary social and political issues, such as climate change or economic inequality?
2) Thich Nhat Hanh has written about the importance of being fully present at the moment in order to experience true joy and contentment. How might this relate to the experience of being immersed in music? How might music serve as a vehicle for mindfulness and presence?
Thich Nhat Hanh, The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, pp. 9-11, 24-46
‘The Four Noble Truths’, ‘Stopping, Calming, Resting, Healing’, ‘Touching Our Suffering’, ‘Realizing Well Being’
Thich Nhat Hanh The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, pp. 49-83
‘The Noble Eightfold Path’, ‘Right View’, ‘Right Thinking’, ‘Right Mindfulness’
Thich Nhat Hanh The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, pp. 84-118
‘Right Speech’, ‘Right Action’, ‘Right Diligence’, ‘Right Concentration’, ‘Right Livelihood’
