Life of Gautama the Buddha and the Origin of Buddhism (From the birth to Mahāparinirvāṇa and the events happened thereafter)
Buddhist Councils (From first to fourth) and the contribution of great emperor Aśoka and Kanișka to the spread of Buddhism in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Tibet.
Schools of Buddhism: Theravāda and four Philosophical Schools (Vaibhāșika, Sautrāntika, Vijňānavāda and Mādhyamika)
Pali and Sanskrit Canonical Buddhist Literature (Pāli Tipiṭaka and Sanskrit Vaipulya Sūtras)
Life and Works of Buddhaghosa, Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu and Dharmakīrti.
UNIT-II
Three modes of Teachings of the Buddha: Sīla, Samādhi and Prajňā
Philosophical Concepts: Trilakṣaṇas: Anitya, Duḥkha and Anātma, Noble Truths, Pratītya-samutpāda, Citta-santati and Ᾱlaya-vijňāna, Śūnyatā and Nirvāṇa
Budddhist Meditation: Samatha and Vipassanā
Six heretical thinkers, contemporary to the Buddha and their Philosophy.
UNIT-III
Ancient Buddhist Educational Institutions (Mahāvihāras): Nālandā, Valabhi, Vikramaśilā, Udantapurī, Somapurī and Jagaddala.
Buddhist sculpture and Architecture: Nālandā, Bodhagayā Temple, Ajantā Caves, Sāncī Stūpa, Sāranātha
Places of Buddhist Pilgrimage: Lumbinī, Bodhagayā, Sāranātha and Kuśīnārā
Revival of Buddhism and Contribution of Anāgarika Dharmapāla, Mahāthera, Kṛpāśaraṇa, Candramaṇi Mahāthera and Bhikṣhu Jagadīśa Kāśyapa.
Impact of Buddhism on Social and Economic life.
UNIT-IV
History of Jainism: Kālacakra (cycle of time) and the tradition of Tīrthaṅkaras – Life-sketch of Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, Pārśvanātha and Mahāvīra
Jain Sects and their sub-division : Digambara and Śvetāmbara and their sub-sects.
Ṇamokāra Mahāmantra, Five Preceptor (Pañca Parameṣṭhi), Prayer, Bhakti, Upāsanā; Three Jewels : Samyakdarśana-Jñāna-Cāritra.
Prakrit Canonical (Āgama) Literature and their VĀCANĀS (councils).
Prominent Ācāryas of Jainism : Life and works of Ācārya Kundakunda, Ācārya Umāsvāmi(ti), Ācārya Siddhasena, Ācārya Akalaṅka svāmi, Ācārya Haribhadra Sūri, Ācārya Vīrasena Svāmi, Ācārya Jinasena, Ācārya Hemchandra Sūri and Ācārya Yaśovijay.
UNIT-V
Vows: vows of Householders- Aṇuvratas, Guṇavratas and Śikṣāvratas; Great Vows (Mahāvratas) of Monks- Ahiṃsā (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Braḥmacarya (celibacy) and Aparigraha (non-possessiveness).
Seven elements and six substance; Theory of Karma and its classification, Puruṣārtha.
The concept of Knowledge and its classification.
Anekāntavāda and Syādvāda; Jain Yoga and Dhyāna.
The concept of Liberation in Jainism.
UNIT-VI
Jain Art (Śilpa) and Architecture : Jain caves and temples of Southern India, Jain Temples of Khajurāho, Devagarḥa, Pālitānā and Mount-Ābu.
Jain Sculptures, Paintings and Jain Iconography : important Jain Sculptures available in India, Idols received from Śravaṇabelagolā and Mathurā.
Impact of Jain Religion on Society: Vegetarianism (Śakāhāra) and Charity (Dāna); Status of women in Jain Religion.
Environmental and Ecological thoughts in Jainism; Jainism and Science.
Main Centres of Jaina Learning: Śravaṇabelagolā, Jesalamera, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Vaishali, Koba, Ladnun, Jaipur, Delhi; Jainism in abroad.
UNIT-VII
Mahatma Gandhi:
Family background
Early life and education in India and England
Impact of various Religions and their Scriptures
Gandhi in South Africa:
The origin of Satyagraha
Struggle against Racial discrimination, injustice and exploitation
Impact of Leo Tolstoy, John Ruskin, Henry David Thoreau, Raichandra Bhai etc.
Unit-VIII
Foundations of Gandhi’s Social, Political, Economic and Religious Thought:
Views on Social Justice, Social inequalities, Caste System and Untouchability.
Women’s Problems and Empowerment
Gandhi’s views on Truth, Non-Violence, Satyagraha and the Theory of ends and means
State and Democracy:
Panchayat Raj
Parliamentary Democracy, Sovereignty, Freedom, Spiritualization of politics
Human Rights and Duties.
Fundamentals of Gandhian Economics:
Critique of Modern Western Civilization, Labour – Capital Relations
Small-Scale Cottage Industries
Constructive Programme and Sustainable Development.
Unit-IX
Gandhi’s Role in Freedom Movement:
Champaran
Non-Cooperation
Ahmedabad Mill Strike, Dandi March
Bardoli and Kheda Satyagrahas
His Role in Vykom Satyagraha and Quit India Movement.
Gandhi and Partition of India.
Unit-X
Peace Studies:
Understanding Peace – Coercive and Non-Coercive Approaches, Culture of Peace.
The problem of War: Causes, Types, Attributes and Theories of War.
Major Peace Movements:
Pacifism, Civil Rights Movement in U.S.A. Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament by various Agencies.
Green Peace Movement.
The contemporary Global Issues regarding World War and Quest for Peace.
Legacy of Peace Builders: Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King (Jr.), Daisaku Ikeda and Nelson Mandela.
Conflicts:
Concept, Nature and Causes, Methods of Conflict Resolution.
Agencies of Conflict Resolution, UN Peace Keeping, Peace Building, Peace Education, Adjudication, Role of Shanti Sena, Track–II Diplomacy, etc.
