The multi-year Perfection of Wisdom course (based on Maitreya's Ornament for Clear Realizations (Abhisamayalamkara) that began several years ago is on hiatus and will resume upon completion of this course.
FALL 2016 Term
The Institute of Buddhist Dialectics (IBD)
McLeod Ganj near the Main Temple Complex
Advanced Buddhist Philosophy Course
Chapter Two of Dharmakirti’s - Commentary [on
Dignaga's Compendium of] Valid Cognition (Pramanavarttika)
Monday, 19 SEPTEMBER – Friday, 18 NOVEMBER 2016
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: 350 Rupees per month
(All proceeds sponsor IBD students’ living expenses)
Course Topics: One of the main topics of this term is the reasoning proofs for Past & Future Lives presented in the Second Chapter of the Commentary on [Dignaga’s Compendium of] Valid Cognition (Pramanavarttika) by Dharmakirti. The topics from Chapter Two that were covered during the prior four terms [Fall 2014 thru Spring 2016] will be briefly reviewed.
Course Text & Methodology: The text for this Fall term has not been completed. It will be distributed in class and posted here.
The Text handouts are translated from Tibetan by Ven. Wangmo and serve as the text for every class. This text includes a translation of the commentary on Dharmakirti’s Second Chapter by Gyaltsab Je (a chief disciple of Je Tsongkhapa), Elucidation of the Path to Liberation, which embeds the Pramanavarttika in its commentary. Additionally, Geshe Wangmo translates relevant commentaries by contemporary masters which follow each passage from Gyaltsab Je.
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 depending upon the frailties of the Blogger: ibd-buddhist.blogspot.com.
