Honors program.

[icarus]

Continuing to spam (yes, I am bored, and sick. Can you believe I used to post this often all the time?):

Honors program.

I don’t know if I can handle this.

I’m writing the application essay for the Honors paper in Asian Studies and it’s so clear to me how far I have to go in:

a) refining my question for the paper, and
b) understanding the methodologies I have at my disposal

Then, too, the research papers I’ve done in the past are all for the English program, so I don’t have a social sciences research paper I can use to apply to honors. I have to go with either an English Lit research paper (the topic was not one people would take seriously, though the content and research was good) or a very good Mughal History essay. Or include both, the first as an example of my ability to do a research paper, and the latter as an example of my approach to social sciences.

I’m also one day past the deadline.

There are so many strikes against me that, if I were on the Honors committee, I don’t think I’d accept the application. But then again, I don’t know what the other applicants look like. I haven’t forgotten my experience in reviewing the applications for student leadership. Those applications were terrible. And maybe my topic is interesting enough they’ll give me a shot.

If, in the unlikely event I’m accepted, can I handle this?

The reason I want to do it is two-fold: one, I want to be taken seriously as a scholar in Asian studies. I want to make it clear that I’m not someone who’s punching a ticket, getting their bachelors, and la-la-la leaving.

Two, I want the excuse to force myself to do this research into the roots of esoteric Buddhism in Ancient India and Tibet.

I want to know where my tradition came from in a relative-truth physical sense, not just the spiritual philosophical sense where the “texts fall from the sky,” (symbolizing a personal recognition or unfolding that happened in someone’s spiritual practice, not an invention but a representation of the experience. On the one hand, texts falling from the sky shouldn’t be taken literally; on the other hand, it shouldn’t be dismissed either, because “I experienced X” is one step removed from the actual experience, while the poetic image is closer to a direct unmediated experience). The history given in the tradition therefore is based on practice (praxis) and it’s presented in an ahistorical way.

Anyhow, it's really not enough to just go with spiritual explanation without the history. It breeds so much confusion (note all the tantric B.S. on the market).

The current western Buddhist scholasticism either avoids tantric Buddhism altogether, or disses it in a big way. But I don't think scholars can afford to ignore such a huge sweep of Buddhist traditions (across Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Ladakh, China, Japan, and Korea... and now the U.S., Europe, South America, Australia) and dismissing it out of hand has the same problem: you can't pretend you understand Buddhism as a whole unless you study it as a whole. Yet studies flounder when it comes to esoteric Buddhism. There's a lot of that... you know the story of the blind men and the elephant? One touched the elephant's ear and said it a fan, and so on? Like that.

I'm not sure if I should apply though. *coughs some more*

Comments

[ursula]

These things usually boil down to the fact that if somebody wants to advise you on the project, they'll accept you.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh. Cool. Really?

It's a hot topic so maybe someone would want to go for it.

Icarus

[ursula]

Well, sure. It's the advisor who has to *do* stuff if they accept you, after all.

[enname.livejournal.com]

I'd say yes go ahead and apply, but then again that historical application and praxis is my own personal bugbear. I spent most of my undergraduate time railing against the tendency to disassociate texts and thought from anything and everything. Interesting and useful, but ultimately you can't just have one perspective. Every thesis I have written has been in a similar vein. It would be interesting to see the results actually, or you know. Read about them from you.

In my experience applications for things like Honour's programs all come in late anyway. They have some extra leeway on times and things because references often arrive out of synch etc. Plus it depends on what they are looking for - research potential generally - and that can come in many forms from different backgrounds. After all, I got into post grad with minimal medieval studies.

Just whether you feel up to completing it.

*proffers sage and honey tea*

[venivincere]

One thing is certain: if you do not apply, you will never feel comfortable with that decision. You're burning to investigate, and while there is nothing to stop you from investigating on your own time (though, you did want an excuse), to be able to do it within the recognized framework of the honors program will mean so much more to graduate schools. You can do the work. You're brilliant, articulate, and generally unflappable -- all characteristics of a successful academic.

In short, GO, BABY, GO!

[ncp.livejournal.com]

If you want to do it, do it. You're the type who can commit to research and scholarship. You have a subject you're passisonate about. I say go for it. If you don't, you'll regret it.

Also, for the cough: grate fresh gingerroot. Squeeze out the juice and mix it with honey. Dose yourself repeatedly. IF you want something stronger and there's an Indian grocery store nearby, look for something called "Mulaithi". It's a stick that you put in your mouth and suck on until it dissolves (might take about an hour). Go through about 3-5 sticks a day, and your cough will improve dramitically.