Hindu Gurus in the West
Religion 345
Tue/Thurs 6th period.
Instructor: Edwin Bryant.
Tel: 23289. E-mail: <edbryant@rci.rutgers.edu>.
Loree Bldg, Room 114.
Course Description and Objectives:
To study some of the primary texts written by Hindu gurus that have had the most influence in the western world; to discuss the biographies of some of these gurus; to consider some of the psychological and sociological issues surrounding the phenomenon of western students accepting Hindu gurus as authority figures. To invite a number of visiting gurus from various denominations, as well as religious representatives of traditions from East Asia, to address the class. To try to arrange one or more field trips to ashrams in the vicinity.
Course Prerequisites:
None.
Course Requirements:
Class attendence and participation (15% of the grade); a mid-term exam (20% of the grade); a final exam, (30% of the grade); an 8-10 page final paper (40% of the grade).
Required Course Books:
Trout, Polly. Eastern Seeds, Western Soil. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 2001
Paramahansa Yogananda. Autobiography of a Yogi. Los Angeles: Self Realization
Fellowship, 1999.
Swami Muktananda. Play of Consciousness. New York: S.Y.D.A., 1978.
Iyengar, B.K.S. The Tree if Yoga. Boston: Shambhala, 2002.
Lad, Vasant. Ayurveda. Wilmont, WI: Lotus. 1984.
Goswami, Satsvarupa Das. Your Ever Well-Wisher. Los Angeles: Bhaktivedanta Book
Trust, 1995.
Prabhupada, A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami. The Path of Perfection. Bombay: BBT, 1987.
Das, Ram. Be Here Now. New York: Crown, 1978.
Tue, Jan 21st
Focus: Introduction to the course.
Thur, Jan 23rd
Focus: Indian Roots, American Soil.
Reading: Trout, chapters 1-3.
Tue, Jan 28th
Focus:Paramananda, Yogananda, Krishnamurti.
Reading: Trout, chapters 4-6.
Thur Jan 30th
Focus: Authority, Freedom, Science and Art.
Reading: Trout, chapters 7-9.
Tue, Feb 4th
Focus: The Childhood of a Yogi.
Reading: Yogananda, chapters 1-9.
Thur, Feb 6th
Focus: Masters and Miracles.
Reading: Yogananda, chapter 10-19.
Tue, Feb 11th
Focus: Entering the Monastic Order.
Reading: Yogananda, chapters 20-32.
Thur, Feb 13th
Focus: Travels to the West.
Reading: Yogananda, chapter 33-43.
Tue, Feb 18th
Focus: The Self Realization Fellowship.
Reading: Yogananda, chapter 44-49, pgs 478-482.
Thur, Feb 20th
Focus: The Path of the Siddhas.
Reading: Muktananda, book 1.
Tue, Feb 25th
Focus: Meditation Experiences.
Reading: Muktananda, book 1, part 1, chapters 1-10.
Thur Feb 27th
Focus: Tantra.
Reading: Muktananda, book 1, part 2, chapters 11-25.
Tue, March 4th
Reading: Muktananda, book 2.
Focus: Hatha Yoga.
Reading: Iyengar, part 1 and 2.
Focus: Yoga and Lifestyle.
Reading: Iyengar, part 2 (cont) and part 3.
Tue , March 13th
Focus: Yoga and Meditation.
Reading: Iyengar, part 4.
Tue , March 20th Spring Recess
Thur, March 25th
Focus: Krishna.
Reading: Prabhupada, chapters 1-5.
Tue , March 27th
Focus: Krishna for Western Practitioners.
Reading: Prabhupada, chapters 6-10.
Focus: ISKCON.
Reading: Goswami, chapters 1-3.
Focus: Converting the West.
Reading: Goswami, chapter 3 (cont) - 6.
Tue, April 8th
Focus: The 'Pizza' Effect.
Reading: Goswami, chapters 6 (cont) - 8.
Thur, April 10th
Focus: Ayurveda and Bodily Constitution.
Reading: Lad, chapters 1-6.
Tue, April 15th
Focus: Ayurveda and Treatment.
Reading: Lad, chapters 7-11.
Thur, April 17th
Focus: Ayurveda, Yoga and Gemology.
Reading: Lad, chapters 12-13, conclusion and appendices.
Tue, April 22nd
Focus: An American Guru.
Reading: Ram Das, chapter 1.
Thur, April 24th
Focus: Be Here Now.
Reading: Ram Das, chapter 2.
Tue, April 29th
Focus: Counter Culture and Hinduism
Reading: Ram Das, chapter 3 & 4.
Focus: Concluding Comments.