Meditation practices are central to the religious traditions of
China. Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism all teach specific body
practices aimed at the taming of the mind, the perfection of the
individual, and the accomplishment of other spiritual and physical
goals. While such methods are usually taught by Masters, the
disciplines of mediation have also become the pretext for a vast
literature.  In this course, we will study poems, first-person
accounts, and manuals from China’s three major traditions.  The
questions that will guide our research include: How did meditation
practice differ across China’s religions? How was experience
described in each of these settings? How did early authors solve the
problem of writing about the ineffable? And how can we analyze the
religious experiences expressed in such works? This course satisfies
the culture studies requirement. No knowledge of Chinese is
required. Students will be expected to complete a series of short
papers, quizzes, and a final paper on the works studied and to
participate in class discussions. The required text will be a course
reader.