BUD 500 Analytical Meditation I (SPOC)

This course is a systematic training in the meditation of special insight in the tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Having first established a ground of calm abiding, we will engage in analytical vipaśyanā or insight meditation into how our use of conceptuality contributes to the creation of karma and kleśa, and how to reverse that process by contemplating identitylessness, emptiness. The course will cover Part I on the Common Samadhis, from Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā.

Prerequisites: BUD 501 and BUD 502

Required Text:

    • Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā, by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal (Author), Elizabeth Callahan (Translator), Snow Lion Publications, 2019 ISBN-10 : 1559394803.

BUD 501 Mind and Its World I: Valid Cognition (SPOC)

This course is an introductory exposition of topics drawn from the Pramāna tradition, based on the Classifications of Mind root text. Students explore the criteria for the validity of cognition, the fourfold classification of direct valid cognition, seeming direct cognition and non-valid cognition.

Prerequisites: None

Required Texts:

  • Root text: Classifications of Mind, (Lorik), by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition. 
  • Root text: Collected Topics (Düdra), by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition. 
  • Mind & Its World 1 Sourcebook (MW1), Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition.

BUD 502 Clear Thinking (SPOC)

This course is an introductory exposition of knowable objects drawn from the Abhidhama tradition, based on Collected Topics root text. Students learn methods for thinking clearly by formulating definitions, examples, equivalents and classifications, and by exploring the four types of logical relationships between two phenomena.

该课程有两个目的：A）从性相、同义词、分类的角度阐述“所知”，教导来源于阿毗达磨的入门文本《摄类学》。B）从辩经传统中的现象的四种关系的角度，学习清清晰晰的思辨。我们将在轻松的环境中，作辩经的基础训练。

Prerequisites: None 资格要求：无

Required texts:

    • Root text: Collected Topics (Düdra), by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Nitartha Institute Publications 

    • Clear Thinking Workbook, Nitartha Institute Publications 

所需教材：《摄类学》，阿阇梨喇嘛滇巴嘉诚，了义学院出版

       《清晰思辨练习本》，了义学院出版

BUD 510 Mind and Its World II: Modes of Engagement & Mental Events (SPOC)

This course completes the introductory exposition of topics drawn from the Pramāna and  Abhidharma traditions, based on the Classifications of Mind and Collected Topics root text. It provides students with the tools for delineating conceptual and non-conceptual mind in meditation, known as the essential modes of engagement of mind. This is followed by the exposition of Buddhist psychology —classification of consciousness into primary minds and mental events.

Prerequisites: BUD 501

Required Texts:

  • Root text: Classifications of Mind, (Lorik), by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition. 
  • Root text: Collected Topics (Düdra), by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition. 
  • Mind & Its World 2 Sourcebook (MW2), Nitartha Institute Publications, 2019 edition

BUD 520 Mind and Its World III: Vaibhāṣika and Sautrāntika Philosophical Tradition (SPOC)

This course is an exposition view of foundational Buddhism from the Vaibhāṣika and Sautrāntika philosophical traditions, based on the “The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds” root text. Students explore foundational classifications of knowable objects: the five bases, five aggregates, twelve sources, eighteen constituents, and the presentation of causation from the Vaibhāṣika philosophical system followed by the Sautrantika presentation classifying all knowable objects into specifically and generally characterized phenomena, based on our experience and then a comparison of the two views.

BUD 530 Mind and Its World IV: Sautrāntika Philosophical Tradition (SPOC)

This course is an exposition of the Sautrāntika philosophical tradition, followed by the presentation of the path and result of foundational Buddhism, based on The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds root text. Students explore classifications of knowable object into specifically and generally characterized phenomena as well as the Sautrāntika’s distinct presentation of the five aggregates. The path consists of calm abiding and superior insight.

Prerequisite: BUD 501

Required texts:

  • Root text: The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds (Truptha), by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen and Acharya Kelsang Wangdi, Nitartha Institute Publications
  • Mind & Its World 4 Sourcebook, Nitartha Institute Publications, 2020 edition

BUD 520 Mind and Its World III: Vaibhāṣika Philosophical Tradition (SPOC)

This course is an exposition of the Vaibhāśika philosophical tradition, based on The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds root text. Students explore foundational classifications of knowable objects: the five bases, five aggregates, twelve sources and eighteen constituents, followed by the presentation of the Vaibhāśika theory of causation from Collected Topics and the twelve links of dependent origination.

Prerequisite: BUD 501

Required texts:

  • Root text: The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds (Truptha), by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen and Acharya Kelsang Wangdi, Nitartha Institute Publications
  •  Root text: Collected Topics (Düdra), by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, Nitartha Institute Publications
  • Mind & Its World 3 Sourcebook, Nitartha Institute Publications