RELB 2054

This class is super boring if you're not an abstract thinker. Lecture is almost completely irrelevant and extremely inapplicable. The reading sucks, but you should start the Shabkar chapter summaries from the beginning because it's a lot of work. The papers are relatively short, but your grade will depend on your TA. I'm a science major, so take my advice with a grain of salt because my international affairs major roommate loved the class.

Germano's lectures can be hilarious and engaging; sometimes, though, they're entirely content that we've been over before. The specific guidelines for the first two papers came out very haphazardly and close to the deadlines, but the third paper is very straightforward. Flavio was good at condensing and organizing lectures, and he's also helpful when it comes to paper guidance. The content is very interesting; if you take this class, though, be prepared to be freak out at Germano around paper-writing time.

Germano is great. Hillarious and engaging lectures. However, grade is 100% determined by your TA as there are not tests - the only graded assignments are papers and discussion participation. Switch into a new discussion if you think the RA will give you a hard time.

Overall a good class only because Germano was so intense. He's pretty inspiring while also being very approachable and hilarious. People complain about his tangents but I honestly enjoy them and it wakes me up. Three papers, which involve reading in order to be able to write them, but over all took me about three days to do. Also had to read this awful book and do chapter summaries but it's something you just had to struggle through. For a T.A., get Flavio or Eva. Dominic is really strict and watches his students in lecture to make sure they aren't on facebook.

This class wasn't too bad overall. There are no tests, only 3 essays, so the lecture notes aren't always important. Germano is passionate about the subject but sometimes he is redundant and the essay instructions can be vague. He tries really hard to incorporate technology but usually doesn't work out. It's all about getting a good TA as they grade all of your assignments. Flavio was an enthusiastic TA and i definitely recommend him. Overall, this class was good.

My TA Dominic was terrible. If you are going to take this class make sure you don't take it with him.

Not a huge fan of this class. The information is interesting, but the assignments are very vague.

Biggest mistake I made all semester was staying in this course. Germano is brilliant and you can tell that he knows it all, but the way the grading is done is terrible. Instead of a test or midterms there are only three ambiguous essay assignments throughout the semester. It is pretty much impossible to figure out what you're actually supposed to do for these assignments and the TA's/Germano don't offer much guidance. Plus the fact that it was all digital was confusing and just made the papers more annoying. I wouldn't recommend Matt as TA. He is a really nice guy but a hard grader and tends to ramble in discussion. The way the grading is set up ruins a really great, thought provoking class.

The lectures is this class were sometimes extremely interesting, and other time extremely boring. Germano took an interesting approach to explaining Buddhism. There were no tests, so the the information in lectures was never tested on. There were 3 projects that were pretty time consuming, but are completely graded by the TA's. I would definitely reccommend Bill McGrath over the other TA's.

I'm split on this class. Germano is one of the most engaging professors I've had... at times. Some classes would be an experience that was almost out of body and really made me think about what it was actually like to practice Buddhism, but I didn't pay attention at all during some of the others because they were so redundant. Bill was a great TA and he's the kind of guy I would definitely like to hang out with, but his grading is really hard. It's hard to figure out how to please him to get a good grade. Overall, if you're interested in Tibetan CULTURE, take it. If you're interested in just Buddhism, I might suggest another class.

Professor Germano is obviously at the head of his field. the class is really interesting, and definitely worth taking. They experiment with lots of tech which can be frustrating, but the TA's are on your side and want to help. Bill is a great TA. Overall the class is very slow in terms of grading. Lots of reading. Helps if you do some, but it is more necessary to just be aware of what is going on in the books so that you can follow the discussions. Also if you aren't keeping up with shabkar the last paper can be tricky.

This class was very interesting; however, the course setup as others have mentioned (papers, no tests) makes it difficult for you to care about coming to class, doing any readings not related to your papers, or listening/caring about lecture. Germano has a great philosophy towards teaching the class and is a very intelligent teacher; however, the lack of a final or any real incentive to do the readings makes the class a bit of a drag at times. If you care about Tibet, Buddhism, or religions, you'll find this class interesting and engaging in its own right. If you're taking it for non-western perspective or for an easy grade, you're going to get bored sitting in lectures you don't care about in order to get marked for random attendance checks and frustrated using under-developed programs for assignments. Overall an interesting class, Bill was a great TA, but the set up gives you little incentive to really care.

This class was an interesting look into an interesting culture, but it's tough to wrap your head around all of the information if this is your first time being. Germano is a really fun and intelligent guy though.

The reading was never too engaging, and The Life of Shabkar (which you have to read by the end of the semester) isn't a great story. Three papers (visual essays - about 1500 words with 6-12 photos incorporated into the essay) about various topics, and some poorly developed, confusing, frustrating, and non-user-friendly web applets that Germano has you be the guinea pig class for testing them.

If you take this class, get Bill as your TA. Avoid Matt Zito as your TA at all costs. Seriously, he will kill the course for you.

This is the best class I have taken at the University of Virginia. Germano was a thrill to listen to because you never knew what he was going to do or say. He really tried to get you into the subject matter, and for me, he did. I loved his theatrics during class as well. He threw you out of your comfort zone and more professors need to do this. This class was not just a class, but an experience. This class made me thoroughly contemplate switching to a religious studies major.
The TA, Geoff, was a thrill. He was a calm, collected, fascinating individual who would really develop the material during discussion. It was essential to have a good conversation with him before a paper. If you didn't, the paper would not go well for you. He was just a great TA.

Everyone who takes this class, absolutely hates it. I have not talked to one person who actually enjoys it. DO NOT GET MATT FOR YOUR T.A. The papers are super abstract, with little to no guidance given. YOU WILL REGRET TAKING THIS CLASS, it's absolutely awful. Not to mention the 100-150 pages of reading per week, most of which are online. If you are looking to fulfill your non-western perspective requirement, take something else! I cannot stress enough how much I wish I had dropped it.

I most heartily recommend this course although it isn't perfect. For me at least, the subject matter was completely alien, so I had to learn everything from scratch, which is a little intimidating. Occasionally in lecture--though Germano is a good professor--I would get kind of confused as to how the details fit into the larger picture. But! Discussion always helped to sort out these matters, and Germano and the TAs understand that some things we just can't understand. Some of the readings are less than thrilling (Snellgrove comes to mind), but I can only think of two, maybe three pseudo-boring readings from the entire semester, which is really not bad. The paper topics are somewhat ambiguous, so ask your TA exactly what's expected. The Twitter system of participation is a huge grade boost, so take advantage of it.

Also, the class may seem really hard at first, but it really isn't. You'll be fine, and your life will be changed for the better. None of the instructors try to push Buddhism on you, but I don't think you can help but come away from the class with a new perspective on life. At the very least, you'll have a better appreciation for other cultures.

Looking back, this class was awesome.
While you're in it it can kind of seem over your head...material can be confusing. You do have to stay on top of reading because discussions are very active and the TAs are fully in charge of your grade. The material is really cool though.
ps pick Brenton for your TA...he's so nice, chill, and verry attractive.

This was one of the best classes I've taken at UVa. Germano is phenomenal and keeps the class interesting and relevant. He really knows his stuff. If you keep up with the readings, you will learn a lot. The only assignments were two 5-page papers and a final. No midterm. Totally manageable.

This class is so chill--3 papers & a final. However, you do have to stay on top of the lecture material & actually read the books that are going to be the basis of your papers. I got away with not really reading them & then when writing my paper, going back to find textual support. Time consuming, but still manageable, but probably would've helped if I had read more. (He gives around 100 pages per week)

My TA Brenton was awesomeeee. Discussions are really fun b/c you just talk about lots of philosophical things. And I would definitely suggest going to TA office hours for help with your paper, since the topics are really open-ended. All the TAs from Fall 2009 were really cool.

Germano is the cool cat, very resourceful and hilarious. one of a kind.
Class wise the most important thing is to go to class and understand the big picture. there are tons of readings. there were so many of them that eventually I gave up reading them. But I got off fine so I think they are not essential.
TA determines your grade and they are nice guys so everyone gets good grade.
Jed is the coolest amongst all TAs. I was in Geoff's disc session for 10 minutes and I was so bored I switched back to Jed's session

Professor Germano is a great lecturer. He's very approachable and doesn't speak from a pedestal, but rather as more of an informed friend who just wants you to know about the subject. A little bit scatterbrained, but nonetheless a very engaging lecturer. Reading, particularly at the beginning of the semester, can be boring and tedious, but it does get better. Three papers (two 5 page and a longer final paper) are the only grades, aside from discussion.