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Summer 2009 Coming Soon!
Dates and other details will be released in October 2008. Please call (207) 780-5617 (TTY# 207-780-5646) or e-mail us with questions.
PHI 199 (3 Credits)
The theme of this course is Theravada Buddhism (or "Doctrine of the Elders"), which is the oldest surviving Buddhist tradition and the dominant tradition in Southeast Asia. It is most accessible to American students in Thailand, where there is good accommodation, transportation, food, and hospitality, as well as many important Theravada Buddhist sites, temples, and institutions. Buddhism will be the focus, but we will also visit historical sites, such as Ayutthaya, Sukhothai, and the National Museum, and observe village life and cultural activities, including music and Thai classical dance.
We will stay in the central and northern parts of the country, where there is more to see. Our activities will begin in Bangkok and its environs, including visits to major temples and a boat trip through the endless network of canals. Then, we will travel north by minibus with stops in Phitsanulok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, all the way up to the "Golden Triangle," where Myanmar (Burma), Laos, and Thailand come together. We will stay mainly in small hotels or guesthouses, and there will be an overnight stay in a Buddhist monastery. There will be English-speaking monks and teachers to speak with us along the way. And, we will be able to meet with some Thai students who are studying English. There will be some free time for shopping and amusement, even riding elephants, and the food is fantastic.
The goal of the course is to immerse you as a participant-observer in Thai society, where Theravada Buddhism is central to the culture. While in Thailand, you will directly experience Buddhism's historic legacy, living practice, and continuing impact on society. As a result of this experience, you will better appreciate and understand Buddhism. You will also have an additional basis with which to contrast and compare your own philosophy as well as other philosophical systems.
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