On Bones of the Master and the Mahayana

On Bones of the Master and the Mahayana

Part A: There is an important moment in Bones of the Master when Tsung Tsai dictates 5 lines from the Diamond Sutra (p. 226 and surrounding, beginning with “Ch’an is pure mind” on 213) to George. How do you understand these five sentences? How do these sentences connect to the relationship between George and Tsung Tsai as it develops over the book? Make sure that you offer an overview of the Mahayana as part of your answer and that you discuss the Mahayana concepts of emptiness, compassion, and Buddha-nature in detail.

Part B: Compare the image of Mahayana Buddhism that emerges inn Part A to that presented in the documentary film To the Land of Bliss.

(Available through the UWSP Library Online Video Collection. Click on Ethnographic Video online and then search for To the Land of Bliss (47 minutes)

Take care to discuss specific examples, and terms. Offer single-sentence definitions of key terms as part of your discussion. 60 points. Approx. 700 words, not including direct quotations. Please note that I expect to see specific reference to specific details as found on particular pages from across the readings we have done in this unit.