Basic Buddhist Philosophy in English at CHTS, Sarah 2008
Subject: Collected Topics (Dudra)
Texts: Yongzin Purbuchok’s Path of Reasoning Series
Teacher: Geshe Graham Woodhouse
Date: Mon 6th Oct 2008— Fri 6th Feb 2009
Introduction
‘Putting far away… a foolish doctrine which pleases laziness, one ought to do at first, as well as one can, an extensive learning of the doctrine.’ (Geshe Lhundup Sopa). The purpose of all Buddhist practice is to eradicate suffering. The prime cause of suffering is ignorance. ‘Learning is like a lamp for eliminating the darkness of ignorance.’ (Ashvagosha). Studies will be in the tradition of Je Tsongkhapa and His Holiness the Dalai Lama who inspires Buddhist practice based on reasoning and precise understanding. The course will introduce students to Tibetan Buddhist debate, in English. Reasoning is the best guide to the truth, Debate in the Tibetan tradition the most enjoyable way of reasoning.
Purpose
The purpose of studying Collected Topics is to develop one’s own path of reasoning at the same time as one assimilates the basic elements of the Buddhist way of looking at things. Most people have a practical reasoning faculty. The course strengthens and matures that faculty by developing a conscious awareness of the different aspects of the reasoning process, giving the student a confidence that he or she can gain insight into the non-obvious by implication from the obvious. The course covers a series of subjects beginning with the most obvious, colours and shapes, and proceeding to examine Buddhist criteria for existence, how existing phenomena may be categorised, causes and effects, generalities and instances, contradiction and relation, defining characteristics and objects defined, negative and positive phenomena and more. These subjects are the indispensable foundation for an investigation of the Perfection of Wisdom literature and the Middle Way view and provide a kind of grammar of Buddhist philosophy.
Format
The core of the daily programme will be a philosophy class taught by Graham Woodhouse followed up with a debate session where the students assimilate the new material, uncover their own and others’ misunderstandings and defend various positions to discover the logically most favourable interpretation. Students will be required to memorise the relevant portions of the text. The course emphasises hearing thinking and lively discussion, not silent sitting and meditation. Graham Woodhouse will also teach a Tibetan language class, reading through Yongzin Purbuchok’s text, or a related one, in the original language. This will require basic knowledge of Tibetan. There will be a separate class for complete beginners in Tibetan. The majority of students and staff at Sarah are Tibetan so there will be chance for students on this course to practise spoken Tibetan.
Teacher
Geshe Graham Woodhouse is from England. He studied at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala for sixteen years. He was ordained gelong by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1994. He received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling Monastery in 2006.
Course Notes
The course will be fulltime with an examination requirement. It will finish approximately two weeks before Tibetan New Year. Students have to sign up for the full four months and are required to live on campus maintaining basic Buddhist ethical restraints. Food and accommodation are reasonable but basic by western standards. Double rooms only. Rs 4,500/- per month for bed and board, payable one month in advance and non-refundable. Registration is required.
Selection criteria
Students require a good level of spoken English, in order to be able to memorize and debate. Students should also have at least a basic understanding of the four truths. They should be prepared to get at the truth by question and answer and enquiry. A knowledge of Tibetan is not required but study of Tibetan as a secondary subject will be encouraged.
Further Notes for the Administration
I will not be in Dharamsala very much at all beforehand. CHTS to be responsible for selecting students.
This course is for students to study Buddhist philosophy in English. For those with some basic knowledge of Tibetan there will be a Textual Tibetan language class to gain reading knowledge of written Tibetan and a beginners Tibetan class as an alternative, but students solely interested in studying Tibetan should not be directed to this course. Students should be committed to doing the full course.
Minimum participants 10, maximum, 25-30.
- Daily Programme, Provisional
Programme will run 5 days per week, Monday to Friday.
8:00 A.M --- Philosophy class
10:00 A.M --- Debate
2:00 P.M --- Self study?
4:15 P.M --- Textual Tibetan class?
I will teach on the 4 Seals perhaps once a week. We will invite distinguished teachers to the class once a fortnight.
Contact Details:
College for Higher Tibetan Studies,
P.O Sarah—176215, Dharamsala,
Himachal Pradesh, India.
Phone: +91 1892 204333 / 203205
E-mail: chts_info@yahoo.com |
