Outline

Overview

This unit introduces themes in South Asian religions from the Indus Valley Civilisation onward. Attention is paid to the social and cultural contexts in which Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism emerged. Goddess traditions are discussed, as are concepts such as tantra, yoga and meditation, karma and rebirth and dharma. Texts such as Bhagavat Gita are also introduced. A focus will be on the implications of Classical India for an understanding of contemporary Asian cultures, particularly those of South and Southeast Asia.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ASNS2626
Academic unit	Asian Studies
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	RLST2003
Prerequisites ?	12 junior credit points from Table A
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Mark Allon, mark.allon@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Participation	Participation participation	10%	Ongoing	Ongoing
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Tutorial leadership & presentation presentation	15%	Progressive	15min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay 1 Essay	30%	Week 08 Due date: 18 Sep 2023 at 23:59	1500
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Essay 2 Essay	45%	Week 13 Due date: 05 Nov 2023 at 23:59	2500
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

Tutorial assessment

You should choose a tutorial topic (see above) and submit it in the first tutorial in week 2. No more than two students should present in any one week.

Oral presentations should be 10–15 minutes in length and should address the specific question given. You are encouraged to accompany your presentation with Powerpoint presentations, overheads etc. You are also encouraged to go beyond just the week’s readings in your research for the presentation, particularly drawing on primary sources; the allocated readings are just a starting point. All readings are available online in the library catalogue under the unit of study code: ASNS2626. Others will be distributed electronically.

1500 word written tutorial response

The 1500 word should address the topics raised in a tutorial other than that of your presentation. It should be in the form of a mini-essay with footnotes, references and bibliography. You are encouraged to go beyond just the week’s readings.

2500 word essay

Your essay should be submitted via the canvas website in Week 13. Your essay must be fully referenced with footnotes and a full bibliography including publisher, date and year of publication. If you cite websites (keep this to a minimum) make sure they are academic websites (not Wikipedia etc.) and include the full web address and date accessed. For guidance, visit http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/. Direct reference to primary sources is strongly encouraged.

The essay may be based on any of the tutorial topics other than that of your 1500 word essay and may address the questions presented for that tutorial. Alternative essay topics are listed below. You may also formulate your own question(s) with prior approval of the course coordinator.

Critically examine the issues at stake (e.g., action, rebirth, etc.) in controversies over engagement and renunciation in South Asian traditions. How is the tension between these two resolved? In your response you should refer to doctrines and beliefs held by specific renunciate groups.
Discuss the significance of the sacrifice in the development of South Asian religious traditions, both those promoting engagement with the world and those promoting renunciation from it.
To what extent do the Upaniṣads represent a break from previous Vedic thought?
With close reference to the early Buddhist scriptures, discuss the continuities and discontinuities between early Buddhism and Vedic thought.
What are the major similarities and differences between Buddhism and Jainism in ancient India?
How might we understand the role, function and status of the gods in South Asian religious traditions?
How does “religious” thought interact with social organization in South Asian traditions?
Discuss the relation between the microcosmic and macrocosmic in South Asian religious traditions.
Discuss the tension between action (karma) and knowledge (jñāna) in South Asian religious traditions.
Compare and contrast the place of the body in bhakti and tantra.
What is the significance of language in vernacular traditions? Consider matters of personal identity and relationship to the divine.

Assessment criteria

Result name

Mark Range

Description

High distinction

85–100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75–84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Credit

65–74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50–64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0–49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

Absent Fail

0–49

When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.

Cancelled

No mark

When your enrolment has been cancelled.

Discontinued not to count as failure

No mark

When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DC deadline.

Discontinue-fail

No mark

When you discontinue a unit after the DC deadline but before the DF deadline

Withdrawn

No mark

When you discontinue a unit before the relevant census date. WD grades do not appear on your academic transcript

Result name	Mark Range	Description
High distinction	85–100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75–84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65–74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50–64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0–49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
Absent Fail	0–49	When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.
Cancelled	No mark	When your enrolment has been cancelled.
Discontinued not to count as failure	No mark	When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DC deadline.
Discontinue-fail	No mark	When you discontinue a unit after the DC deadline but before the DF deadline
Withdrawn	No mark	When you discontinue a unit before the relevant census date. WD grades do not appear on your academic transcript

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity	Learning outcomes

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. be able to place South Asian religious, literary, philosophical, contemplative, social and artistic expression into larger contexts of historical and doctrinal developments
LO2. be able to place social and political movements into larger religious and intellectual contexts of South Asian culture
LO3. have an appreciation of the ways in which self-understanding develops through the interaction between its artistic, religious and literary traditions
LO4. be aware of the significance of South Asian religions in understanding the emergence and development of religious structures across Asia as a whole
LO5. have a methodological awareness of issues in cross-cultural research in the humanities
LO6. have acquired a solid foundation for further studies of South Asia, Buddhism and Asian Studies in general

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered since 2017.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ASNS2626: Religious Traditions of South Asia

Semester 2, 2023 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect