Philosophy 223
Exam is open book, open notes, however, there should be no internet use or looking at other sources (besides the Kyabgon Traleg book The Essence of Buddhism and The Monk and the Philosopher) and no talking to anyone about the exam, etc.
Remember, “Karma means nobody gets away with nothing.” Ruth Denison
Please observe the academic honesty policies of the College. I am obliged to report any suspicion of violation. See the Dean’s office or me if you have any questions. Especially in a take-home exam situation, it is important to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Also, give credit to other sources, even if just to say, the author says in . ( I can’t really expect you to cite exact page numbers in a take-home, but I still need you to give credit to others where it is due. If in doubt, err on the side of giving credit, even informally, e.g., “I think someone in class said this in his/her presentation, but I don’t recall who it was.”)
Type or write legibly. Please type, or -- if you print – please skip lines and write carefully and clearly. Remember, I cannot give credit for work I cannot read. Answer in sentence and essay formats as appropriate. If the question simply asks you to list 3 items, you can just list them, but in other cases please use sentences, paragraphs, and essays and strive to be clear. The work will be assessed on writing, organization, clarity, etc., not simply content.
Choose questions totaling 100 points. (If you wish, you may choose to do 110-120 points and I’ll drop the lowest score of 10-20. For example: if you do 110 points I will drop the lowest score on a 10-point essay, or if you do 120 points, I will drop the lowest score on a 20-point essay.)
Note: the exam covers material from The Monk and the Philosopher from the beginning of the book through p. 188.
Section I. (3 points) each True/False, Short Answer (Note: you do not need to explain why the answer is correct, simply mark them “True” or “False” or give a brief answer, as in #13)
True/False In The Monk and the Philosopher, the dialogue is between a father and his son. TRUE
True/False In The Monk and the Philosopher, the dialogue is between a grandfather and his grandson. FALSE
True/False “The Monk” in the book is “the Philosopher’s” father. FALSE
True/False “The Monk” in the book is “the Philosopher’s” son. TRUE
True/False “The Monk” is “the Philosopher’s” father. FALSE
True/False “The Monk” in the book is named Matthieu Ricard. TRUE
True/False “The Philosopher” in the book is named Jean-Francois Revel. TRUE
True/False “The Monk” in the book is a trained scientist. TRUE
True/False “The Philosopher” in the book is a Tibetan Buddhist. FALSE
True/False “The Monk” in the book is a Tibetan Buddhist. TRUE
True/False “The Philosopher” in the book is a strong proponent of Christianity. FALSE
True/False To “The Monk” in the book, “There is no fundamental incompatibility between science and the spiritual life.” (pp. 15-16) TRUE
True/False To Tibetan Buddhists, Buddha is seen as a God who created the world, much like in Christianity or Judaism or Islam. FALSE
True/False To Tibetan Buddhists, only Buddhist monks and nuns have “Buddha Nature.” FALSE
True/False “The Monk” in the book claims that science has no validity at all. FALSE
True/False In the book, “the Monk” says the Buddha claims that “death is just one stage in life and that consciousness continues afterward.” (See p. 48) FALSE
True/False In the book, “the Philosopher” describes supposed miracles as “fantasies, pure and simple.) (See p. 49) TRUE
True/False In the book, “the Monk” notes that the Dalai Lama says “any religion practiced in its true spirit has the well-being of all as its goal.” (See p. 133) TRUE
True/False In the book, “the Monk” notes that the Dalai Lama says “those who use their religion to oppress others are almost certainly destroying its true spirit.” (See pp. 180-181) TRUE
Section II. (20 points each) 50 word minimum essays
1. From The Monk and the Philosopher consider their discussion on the possibility of change and motion. The Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) invokes Zeno and Parmenides to suggest that change may be impossible, which he thinks does not bode well for the Buddhist emphasis on change and impermanence. How does the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) respond? For each view, explain each person’s reason for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain.
The Monk responds that change is something that reason cannot always perceive or appreciate because of the constraints with which reason views the world. Reason does not allow for the affective factors that are present in faith. The Philosopher likely came to his position on this because of his rejection of anything that cannot be proven, while the Monk came to his position because of his realization of the greater spiritual possibilities around him.
2. From The Monk and the Philosopher consider the various disagreements between the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) and the Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) on the extent to which Buddhist activity and values versus Western secular activity and values actively help the world. For each position, explain the person’s reasons for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain.
Revel takes solace in the fact that the West can bring material satisfaction and progress to other parts of the world, while Ricard believes in the benefits that a greater spiritual consciousness could bring to the planet’s people. Revel is coming at this from a rational viewpoint, while Ricard has appreciated the spiritual elements of the world more deeply.
3. From The Monk and the Philosopher take one significant issue on which the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) and the Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) disagree. For each issue, explain each person’s reason for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain.
4. From The Monk and the Philosopher take one [another] significant issue on which the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) and the Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) disagree. For each issue, explain each person’s reason for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain.
5. How does Ricard see science as fitting or not fitting with Tibetan Buddhism? Why? How so?
6. Some experienced the father as limited in his appreciation of his son and his ideas. Describe this apparent failing in the terms of Tibetan Buddhism, using at least some Buddhist terms (such as ego).
7. Revel accuses Tibetan Buddhism (or at least some of its followers) as being superstitious. Explain his critique and how Ricard responds to it.
For 8 – 10, you may speak generally or focus in directly on what Revel and/or Ricard say, or might say if they were to address it.
8. Take something controversial from a Western philosopher’s perspective, like reincarnation, or tulkus (incarnate lamas), or terma (the hidden teachings discovered later). Explain how a Tibetan Buddhist would argue for its reality and how a Western philosopher might argue against it. Take a position yourself, giving reasons for your views.
9. According to Tibetan Buddhists (on their own terms), does the physical world exist? In what sense is it real or not? How so, why or why not?
10. From The Monk and the Philosopher consider their discussion on the possibility of change and motion. The Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) invokes Zeno and Parmenides to suggest that change may be impossible, which he thinks does not bode well for the Buddhist emphasis on change and impermanence. How does the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) respond? For each view, explain each person’s reason for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain. Give your own position on the relevant questions and argue for it. Give reasons for your view.
11. From The Monk and the Philosopher consider the various disagreements between the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) and the Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) on the extent to which Buddhist activity and values versus Western secular activity and values actively help the world. For each position, explain the person’s reasons for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain. Give your own position on the relevant questions and argue for it. Give reasons for your view.
12. From The Monk and the Philosopher take one significant issue on which the Monk (Matthieu Ricard) and the Philosopher (Jean-Francois Revel) disagree. For each issue, explain each person’s reason for it, and the extent to which you think the two came to appreciate each other’s position (or perhaps one came around to the other’s view). Explain. Give your own position on the relevant questions and argue for it. Give reasons for your view.
13. Explain the position taken by Tibetan Buddhists on whether or not the self has a solid, stable, independent, and inherent existence? Explain the reasoning behind their view. Do you agree with their position? Explain. Why or why not? Give your own position on the relevant questions and argue for it. Give reasons for your view.
14. Explain the position taken by Tibetan Buddhists on whether or not the deities (such as Tara and Chenrezig) have a solid, stable, independent, and inherent existence? Explain the reasoning behind their view. Do you agree with their position? Explain. Why or why not? Give your own position on the relevant questions and argue for it. Give reasons for your view.
Section III. (10 points each) 30 word minimum essays
1. Explain briefly “the Monk’s” story about how he became a Buddhist.
2. For those who went on the field trip to the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center, explain something about the experience that struck you.
3. Explain briefly what a “stupa” is. (This is especially for those who went on the field trip to the Tibetan Buddhist Learning Center: a “stupa” is the outdoor structure/building near the pond.)
4. Take one lesson you have learned from the course about Tibetan Buddhism and explain how it can apply to your life, or to other people’s lives.
