This course is a historical and topical survey of some of the world’s major mystical traditions. It will be concerned with the principal characteristics of mysticism in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Daoism and with the thoughts and practices of some major figures in these traditions. Other related concerns will be questions about (1) the nature of religious experience and its relationship to religious authority; (2) the psychology of religion, especially of mystical religion; (3) contrasts between mysticism and other forms of religious experience, such as prophetism; and (4) implications of mystical experience for religious belief and theological expression.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
Upon successful completion of this course students should have the skills and knowledge to:1. Critically analyse descriptions of mystical experience from four traditions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Islam.
2. Explain how mystics and their reported experiences have influenced the development of their respective traditions.
3. Evaluate influential interpretive models for understanding mysticism.
4. Understand the relation between the doctrines of religious traditions, the training regimens of mystics, and the reported outcomes of their training.
5. Graduate students will be expected to demonstrate advanced comprehension of theoretical models for analysing mystical writings. This will be demonstrated by a research essay in which theoretical models are evaluated in light of the writings of leading mystics.
6. In addition, graduate students will develop critical skills and develop their writing skills by means of the research essay and short essays on selected topics.
Indicative Assessment
To be agreed at opening lecture. Graduate students attend joint classes with undergraduates but may expect more rigorous assessment and additional assignment work, tailored to the graduate student’s interests.
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Requisite and Incompatibility
You will need to contact the School of Culture History and Language to request a permission code to enrol in this course.
Prescribed Texts
Powers, J, Readings in Mysticism, (typescript)
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Students continuing in their current program of study will have their tuition fees indexed annually from the year in which you commenced your program. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 1
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $1218 | |
| 2014 | $2808 | |
| 2013 | $2808 | |
| 2012 | $2808 | |
| 2011 | $2778 | |
| 2010 | $2718 | |
| 2009 | $2670 | |
| 2008 | $2592 | |
| 2007 | $2298 | |
| 2006 | $2190 | |
| 2005 | $2190 | |
| 2004 | $1926 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 1994-2003 | $3402 |
| 2014 | $3942 |
| 2013 | $3942 |
| 2012 | $3942 |
| 2011 | $3942 |
| 2010 | $3942 |
| 2009 | $3816 |
| 2008 | $3816 |
| 2007 | $3816 |
| 2006 | $3816 |
| 2005 | $3816 |
| 2004 | $3816 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
First Semester
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4758 | 17 Feb 2014 | 07 Mar 2014 | 31 Mar 2014 | 30 May 2014 | In Person | N/A |