Knowledge: Root of the Middle Way

Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (Skt), dbu ma rtsa ba’i tshig le’ur byas pa shes rab (Tib)

Instructor: Khenpo Jampa Donden
Translator: Catherine Dalton
Review Class Instructor: Joanne Larson
Course Format: Self-Study Plus

Text:

Nāgārjuna. Knowledge: Root of the Middle Way, translated Dharmachakra Translation Group, 2009. (PDF file included with online course materials.)

Optional Text:

Nāgārjuna. dbu ma rtsa ba’i tshig le’ur byas pa shes rab, translated into Tibetan by cog ro klu'i rgyal mtshan, early 9th cent. (PDF file included with online course materials.)

Course Description:

This course assumes no prior knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, history, or practice. The methodology of the course is the traditional Tibetan monastic word-for-word text commentary, with a translation into English. Students have a choice of watching or listening to the Khenpo’s commentary and teachings on the text. Also included are PowerPoint review classes taught by a Western Instructor, and PDF transcripts of the English translation.

Course Time Commitment:

Students should expect to spend approximately six hours per week listening to the Khenpo’s teachings (assuming you listen to both the Tibetan and the English), and one hour per week listening to the review classes. Study and review will require varying amounts of time, depending on the student’s level of interest.

Available Course Resources:

Course resources include:

1. Video lectures, Tibetan and English
2. Audio version of lectures, Tibetan and English
3. Audio version of lectures, Tibetan only
4. PowerPoint Review Classes
5. PDF transcripts of the English translation