What are students advised regarding class attendance?
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Not to miss classes.
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What are students advised regarding class attendance?
Not to miss classes.
What does Buddhism suggest about our perceptions of reality?
That everything we perceive as unchanging and permanent is an illusion.
What is the focus of the reading by John Whalen-Bridge?
Defining what constitutes a 'Buddhist film' and films interpreted through Buddhism.
Who is the author of 'What the Buddha Taught'?
Walpola Rahula.
Where can students find the assigned readings and films?
On Moodle and at the AV Collection in HKU Main Library.
What is described as a life worth living in Buddhism?
The path that leads to the cessation of dukkha.
Why will the lectures not be recorded for later viewing?
Due to violations of copyright issues by past students.
What unique perspective does Buddhism offer regarding the meaning of life?
It provides a self-reflective way of life and ethical insights on how to live.
What is the due date for the critical essay?
November 30, 2024.
Are electronic devices allowed during lectures?
No, cell phones, smartphones, and other electronic devices are prohibited.
What is the root of all dukkha?
Craving (taṇhā) for material and immaterial things.
How can film induce a religious experience?
By prompting serious reflection upon the nature of reality.
What are the other two marks of existence alongside dukkha?
Impermanence (anicca) and non-self (anattā).
What type of films are made in Buddhist countries?
Films made for Buddhist audiences that presume knowledge of Buddhist history, practices, and beliefs.
What information does the course syllabus contain?
Clear information about course structure, assessment, and expectations.
What are examples of suffering due to change?
Destruction, loss, death, old age, and illness.
What are ambiguous films in the context of Buddhism?
Films that are either Buddhist-influenced or thematically conducive to Buddhist allegorizing and interpretation.
What is the ultimate goal that leads to the cessation of dukkha?
Nirvāṇa (liberation).
When is the mid-term quiz due?
October 23, 2024.
What is the word count requirement for the critical essay?
2000 words.
Who is the founder of Buddhism?
Buddha Śākyamuni (Siddhārtha Gautama).
What will students explore regarding films in this course?
How films produced in the East and West represent Buddhist ideas and how to interpret them through a Buddhist perspective.
How did Buddhism spread from the Indian subcontinent?
By land and sea routes.
What is the relationship between constructed phenomena and reality according to Lyden?
Constructed phenomena can still express and connect to deeper realities.
What kind of questions do both film and Buddhism encourage us to think about?
The big questions in life, such as the meaning of our existence and how to live.
What causes suffering due to change?
The impermanence of things and the fluid state of phenomena.
Why is film considered a natural medium for Buddhism?
Because it creates the illusion of 'real life' and reflects the Buddhist idea that what we perceive as permanent is an illusion.
What percentage of the overall assessment is based on participation in lectures and tutorials?
25%.
What kind of characters do Buddhist films deal with?
Buddhist characters, such as the Buddha or monks.
Which film released in 1937 is included in the course selection?
Lost Horizon.
What is the title of the 1998 film that explores themes of reality and perception?
The Truman Show.
What is the starting basis of Buddhism as a philosophical system?
Man/woman in his/her present condition.
What led Siddhārtha Gautama to become dissatisfied with his life?
Confrontation with his and others' suffering (old age, sickness, and death).
What are the Four Noble Truths in Buddhism?
What are the three marks of existence in Buddhism?
What does the principle of karma state?
Virtuous intentional actions lead to virtuous results (happiness, contentment), while unvirtuous actions lead to unvirtuous results (suffering, pain).
What are the Pāli and Sanskrit terms for the principles and tenets of Buddhism?
Pāli: dhamma; Sanskrit: dharma.
What is Buddhism classified as?
A world religion.
What elements will be analyzed to appreciate Buddhist themes in cinema?
Vision, sound, narrative, silence, and symbolism.
What does craving stem from?
Our constructed notion of self and reality.
What permeates our lives according to Buddhism?
Dukkha (suffering/discontent/dissatisfaction).
What main concepts of Buddhism will be covered in the course?
The main doctrines and philosophical ideas of Buddhism as portrayed in film.
What does film provide in relation to understanding ourselves?
Explanations to make sense of ourselves and our lives.
How do we react when someone tries to divert our attention from the film?
We tell them to 'shut up' because we are engrossed.
When should students complete the readings and view selected films?
Before each lecture.
What is the title of the film released in 2010 about Siddhartha?
The Buddha: the Story of Siddhartha.
What contributes to suffering as a construction?
Our constructed sense of self.
What motivated Śākyamuni's spiritual quest?
The sufferings in the world.
What was Siddhārtha Gautama's status at birth?
He was born a prince with all the comforts of royal upbringing.
What should the group project include?
A film poster for a Buddhist film or a short Buddhist film (3-5 minutes).
What practices did Siddhārtha Gautama engage in during his search for truth?
Ascetic practice and meditation.
What pages of 'Silver Screen Buddha' cover relevant content?
Pages 8 - 10.
What is the focus of the readings assigned today?
Buddhism and its representation in literature and film.
What does 'dukkha' refer to in Buddhism?
Suffering or dissatisfaction.
When did Siddhārtha Gautama live?
Around the 5th century BCE.
What should students bring for note-taking?
A notebook for taking notes and writing down key points.
What regions did Buddhism reach as it spread across Asia?
Various regions across Asia, including Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Central Asia.
What defines a Buddhist film?
A film that makes use of Buddhist themes, motifs, or symbols in their titles.
What does the doctrine of impermanence (anicca) signify?
It signifies that all things are in a constant state of change.
What does trying to satisfy the conditioned nature of self lead to?
It does not lead to sustainable happiness.
In what context are Buddhist films often set?
In the context of Buddhist communities, such as monasteries or temples.
What are the characteristics of the self that contribute to dukkha?
Anattā (non-self) and anicca (impermanence).
How do Buddhist films utilize Buddhist ideas?
To explore the experiences and transformation or conversion of characters.
What themes do Buddhist films address?
Buddhist themes and concerns, including ethical issues from a Buddhist perspective.
Which 1999 film features a dystopian reality and philosophical themes?
The Matrix.
Under whom did Śākyamuni study?
The best Indian teachers of his time.
What is the Pāli term for suffering?
Dukkha.
What does the term 'Buddha' signify?
An epithet describing someone who is awakened to the truth.
What is the cycle of deaths and rebirths called?
Saṃsāra.
What is the contrast between those who are awakened and those who are not?
Awakened individuals attain liberation from suffering, while others suffer in an endless cycle.
What is liberation in Buddhism?
The cessation of rebirths, complete liberation from suffering, enlightenment or awakening.
What is 'tanhā' and what does it stem from?
Craving or desire, stemming from ignorance of the nature of reality and suffering.
What are some characteristics of Buddhist films?
They often explore themes of suffering, enlightenment, and the nature of reality.
What is the focus of the course CCHU9062?
Buddhist Visions in World Cinema.
What is the mobile policy in this course?
It is a mobile free zone at all times.
What does the author suggest about cultural phenomena like religion and film?
They are humanly constructed but still have the power to express another reality.
How can people be affected by stories that they know are fictitious?
They can change their views of the world as a result.
What skills will be practiced in this course?
The art of being actively present, observing, listening, and participating.
What is dukkha?
Dukkha refers to unsatisfactoriness and is one of the three marks of existence.
What can constructed religious artifacts do for people?
They can connect people with other realities despite being recognized as human inventions.
What characterizes all sentient existence?
Dukkha.
What metaphor is used to describe life in the text?
Life is compared to being born in a cinema, only knowing the screen in front of us.
What is the Buddhist term for suffering or dissatisfaction?
Dukkha.
What will students gain a greater appreciation of through this course?
Buddhist themes in different genres of World Cinema.
What is the first type of dukkha?
Ordinary suffering; physical and mental suffering/dissatisfaction.
What do we fail to recognize about the events we perceive?
That they are part of a film and have no true existence.
What is the nature of the ego in relation to craving?
The ego desires things for itself but is never satisfied.
What role did trade routes play in the spread of Buddhism?
They facilitated the movement of monks and ideas.
What should every student read on Moodle?
The course syllabus.
What emotions are mentioned as effects of the film projection?
Love, hatred, aggression, suspense, and thrills.
What are the causes of dukkha?
There are specific causes that lead to experiencing dukkha.
What type of plots do Buddhist films typically have?
Plots that draw upon Buddhism.
What was one significant maritime route for the spread of Buddhism?
The maritime Silk Road.
What characterizes Western films in relation to Buddhism?
They are about clearly-marked 'Buddhist topics or characters.'
What does the doctrine of non-self (anattā) imply?
It implies that there is no permanent, unchanging self.
If there are causes for dukkha, what else exists?
There is also cessation of dukkha.
What can lead to realization and eventual happiness?
Accepting the constructed and imputed nature of our self and the world.
What is the third type of dukkha?
Suffering as a construction; caused by grasping after the self.
What aspect of our projection are we blind to?
The futility aspect of our projection.
In which year was 'What the Buddha Taught' published?
What did Śākyamuni seek to understand?
The nature of human suffering and ways to overcome it.
What is the weight of the group project in the overall assessment?
35%.
What did Siddhārtha Gautama abandon in his quest for truth?
The false comforts of his royal life.
What is the maximum word count for the synopsis in the group project?
300 words.
When is the group project due?
November 13, 2024.
How is karma determined in Buddhism?
Karma is based on intentionality, our intention toward negative or positive actions.
What is 'anicca' in Buddhist teachings?
Impermanence.
What is a mise-en-scène in film?
The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing of a shot.
What is the title of the work edited by J. Lyden?
The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film.
Who authored the chapter on Buddhism in 'The Routledge Companion to Religion and Film'?
Francisca Cho.
What is the title of Sharon Suh's work?
Silver Screen Buddha: Buddhism in Asian and Western Film.
What did Siddhārtha Gautama discover after years of practice?
The truth of our human condition.
What is the term for the state Siddhārtha Gautama reached at an old age?
Nibbāna (nirvāṇa).
What is the concept of rebirth in Buddhism?
Sentient beings go through a succession of lifetimes (saṃsāra) propelled by the force of their karma and past actions.
What are the three jewels of Buddhism?
Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.
What does 'dependent origination' explain?
How all phenomena arise in dependence on conditions.
How do films function as texts?
They convey narratives through visual and auditory elements.
What does Buddhism emphasize in its training?
The mind, how it functions, and how to use it for a meaningful life.
What is the rank of Buddhism among the world's major religions?
It is the 4th largest religion.
How many followers does Buddhism have worldwide?
More than 400 million.
What are some characteristics of Buddhism as an organized religion?
It has sacred texts, doctrines, monastic institutions, and meditation practices.
What is the title of the Japanese film released in 2008 included in the course?
Departures.
What is the relationship between karma and rebirth?
Karma influences the cycle of rebirth in saṃsāra.
What does the 'double gaze' refer to in film?
The simultaneous perspective of the audience and the camera.
What is the name of the Hong Kong film from 2003 included in the course?
Running on Karma.
Which Korean film from 2003 is part of the film selection?
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring.
What is the title of the Bhutanese film from 2003 included in the course?
Travelers and Magicians.
Which Japanese film from 1997 is part of the film selection?
Princess Mononoke.
Why did Siddhārtha Gautama teach the dhamma?
Out of compassion for the suffering of others.
What are the Four Noble Truths?
The truths about suffering, its origin, cessation, and the path leading to its cessation.
What does dependent arising (or dependent origination) mean?
All physical and mental states and phenomena arise in dependence on causes and conditions.
What does 'anattā' mean?
Non-self or absence of a permanent self.
What is the difference between saṃsāra and nibbana?
Saṃsāra is the cycle of birth and rebirth, while nibbana (nirvana) is the liberation from that cycle.
What is the difference between verbal/literary narratives and audio-visual narratives?
Verbal narratives rely on text, while audio-visual narratives combine sound and imagery.
