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- Instructor: Khenpo Jampa Donden
- Translator: Catherine Dalton
Knowledge—Root of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā)
Online Course Summary
Knowledge—Root of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) is Nāgārjuna’s seminal work on Madhyamaka philosophy. Nāgārjuna, the founder of the Madhyamaka school, uses this text to refute the views of those who claim there is anything at all that can be said to be truly real. Specifically, he refutes those who subscribe to the views of the other Indian schools of his day, and also those among his fellow Buddhists who subscribe to a view that there is ultimately something real. Generally speaking, we can count ourselves among those whom he refutes, and through study of this text we can challenge ourselves to take his reasoned arguments to heart, and to question our fixed thinking about the world.
The course is taught by Khenpo Jampa Donden, a Tibetan Khenpo (Professor) at Ka-Nying Shedrup Ling monastery, and translated into English by Catherine Dalton, a Translator and Lecturer at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute Centre for Buddhist Studies. Supplementary materials were created by Joanne Larson, also a Translator and Lecturer at RYI/CBS.- Instructor: Khenpo Jampa Donden
- Translator: Sophie Greenewalt
The Way of the Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryāvatāra)
Online Course Summary
The Bodhicaryāvatāra (The Way of the Bodhisattva) by Śāntideva teaches the preciousness of bodhicitta, the awakening mind, and explains how to practice generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, and meditation while striving to recognize that awakened mind. Chapter 9, the Wisdom Chapter, is both a refutation of the philosophical positions of other Indian philosophical schools of the time, and of Buddhist non-Madhyamaka (Middle Way) schools. In its entirety it blends instruction in ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom to show us how to follow the path of the Bodhisattva. This text is taught over the span of two semesters. The course offered during the Fall semester covers the first half of the text and the second half of the text is taught during the Spring semester.
The course is taught by Khenpo Jampa Donden, a Tibetan Khenpo (Professor) at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling monastery, and translated into English by Sophie Greenewalt, a Translator at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute Centre for Buddhist Studies. Supplementary materials were created by Mort Ostensen, an Online Instructor at RYI/CBS.