Includes 4 days of Orientation

This program is a full immersion into the theory and practice of Buddhism. In the unique setting of a Buddhist monastery and a traditional retreat center, students are introduced to both classical Buddhist scholarship and meditation training. In this way, the course offers students firsthand experience with many key aspects of Buddhist training, which are otherwise rarely accessible to lay-students.

Classes are structured as a combination of traditional Tibetan-style classroom lectures on fundamental Buddhist topics and texts, along with instruction on their practical application through meditation training. Daily meditation sessions are an important aspect of the course and provide a personal perspective to the philosophical content of the lectures.  

During the last two weeks of the program, the course shifts to Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery's traditional meditation retreat center near Pharping, a picturesque village on the southern rim of the Kathmandu Valley. Throughout this period, the main focus of the classroom lectures is on practical meditation instruction, and a major part of the day is spent in personal contemplation and group meditation practice.

Lectures are delivered in Tibetan by Khenpos and Lamas (senior monastic lecturers) from Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery, and are translated into English. Teachers and translators are all faculty members at CBS. The level of intensity of the program is high and students are expected to invest considerable time and effort in order to meet class requirements and academic expectations.

We welcome William Waldron (Middlebury College, USA) as our main course instructor for this Summer 2010.  Professor Waldron teaches courses on the South Asian religious traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism, Tibetan religion and history, comparative psychologies and philosophies of mind, and theory and method in the study of religion. His publications focus on the Yogacara school of Indian Buddhism and its dialogue with modern thought. Professor Waldron has been teaching at Middlebury College since 1996.

Accreditation
The course is awarded academic credit at the Centre for Buddhist Studies for Buddhist Philosophy and Hermeneutics I (6 credits).

Tuition
US$ 1,865. Price includes tuition, meals and accommodation during the last two weeks of the program, lunch at the Institute’s restaurant, and tours.

CBS will assist all students in finding accommodation at nearby guesthouses in Boudhanath where they can stay comfortably and inexpensively during the first four weeks of the program.