Monday, April 06, 2015

PRAMANA Course - TERM 2 - SPRING 2015 ANNOUNCEMENT

In accordance with the suggestion of H.H. Dalai Lama to our teacher, Geshe Kelsang Wangmo, in May 2014, the Advanced Buddhist Philosophy in English program of the Institute for Buddhist Dialectical studies is offering a course on the Second Chapter of Dharmakirti's Commentary on [Dignaga's Compendium of] Valid Cognition (Skt. Pramāņavarttika; ཚད་མ་རྣམ་འགྲེལ་).

Spring 2015 Term Announcement

The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD)
McLeod Ganj near the Main Temple Complex
Advanced  Buddhist Philosophy Course
Dharmakirti’s Valid Cognition Commentary (Pramanavarttika), Chapter 2

Wednesday, 15 April – mid-June 2015

Teacher: Ven. Kelsang Wangmo
Weekly Schedule:  Monday, Wednesday & Friday
4:00-6:00 PM – Mon & Fri / 4:00-5:30 PM – Wed
Location:  IBD Prayer Hall - Main Temple Complex
[Go through Main Temple Gate/Upstairs on right]
Fee:  300 Rupees per month
(All proceeds sponsor IBD students’ living expenses)
Email:  chogslags-ibd@yahoo.com / Website:  ibd-buddhist.blogspot.com


Course Topics:  This Spring 2015 term continues the study of the Second Chapter of the Pramanavarttika, a Commentary on {Dignaga’s Compendium of} Valid Cognition by Dharmakirti

A one-month course in Fall 2014 presented an introduction to concepts and background of this text and its introductory section.  Parts of the Fall 2014 material will be reviewed in this Spring term.  Download Recordings of the Fall 2014 classes, Handouts, etc., here.

The Chapter will be taught in the following Autumn and Spring terms of the IBD Advanced Philosophy Course until completed; after which the Perfection of Wisdom Course will resume.

Course Text & Methodology:  Handouts prepared by Ven. Wangmo serve as the text for every class.  The Handouts include a translation of a commentary on Dharmakirti’s Second Chapter by Gyaltsab Je (disciple of Je Tsongkhapa) with the Pramanavarttika text and translations of oral commentaries by contemporary masters embedded therein.  Using the curriculum of the great Tibetan monastic universities that is taught at IBD, this advanced philosophy course presents Dharmakirti’s logical proofs of the validity of the basis, path and fruit of liberation and omniscient enlightenment.  Students will have opportunities to discuss and debate the subject matter in class.

Course Teacher:  Ven. Kelsang Wangmo (a Western nun) was awarded a Geshe degree from IBD for successful completion of the 17-year curriculum studies.

Students:  The challenging course material is aimed at earnest students of Buddhist philosophy.  If you wish to check out the classes, you are welcome to visit before you enroll.  Should you be unable to attend the entire Fall 2015 course, you may be able to continue by downloading audio files of the classes:  ibd-buddhist.blogspot.com.