Knowledge — Root of the Middle Way II (Self-Study Plus)
(Mūlamadhyamakakārikā II (Self-Study Plus))

Knowledge—Root of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) II
Self-Study Plus Syllabus

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 Shedrub 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 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting end_of_the_skype_highlighting, also a Translator and Lecturer at RYI/CBS.

The course follows RYI/CBS’s academic calendar, and begins the week of January 11, 2010. Online students, except for those in the Basic course, progress through the online course materials together with the Moderator. Registration opens on November 1, 2009, after which a trial week of class will be available on the site for viewing by anyone, by simply using the "Login as a guest" button. Registration will remain open until January 4, 2010, although students who register after the first week of class and are taking the course for credit are expected to make up the work missed during the first week of class. Please click here to try out the trial week of class.