BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY COURSE is offered to the monks and 5 lay people after a gap of every two or three years. Candidates without class X or its equivalent certificate must give an entrance examination as per the advertisement. Foreign candidates are required to give a verbal test in Tibetan spoken language.
The duration of the course is seven years but at CHTS, Sarah only the basic texts are taught. The entire class will move to IBD McLeod Ganj after two or three years (depending on the hostel accommodation) to study further in Buddhist Philosophy at Institute of Buddhist Dialectics, Dharamsala. They can pursue higher Buddhist studies at IBD after the completion of the Prajnaparamita course.
The Preliminary Buddhist studies include the following subjects:
- Collected Topics (Tibetan: sDus Grva, pron. dü-dra)
- Science of Mind or Consciousness (Tib.:bLo Rig, pron. Lo-rig)
- Science of Formal Logic (Tib.: rTags Rigs, pron. Tak-rig) and
- Tenets of Philosophical Systems (Tib.: "Grub nTha', pron. drub-tha)
These are the subjects for the first year students of Buddhist philosophy. The traditional practice of debate is the principal technique for studying and analyzing the different topics that are covered in these subjects.
This method is indispensable for logically eliminating the misconceptions about reality and to repudiate false reasoning of philosophical schools. It helps profoundly in understanding the real importance of these texts as well as preparing the students with a critical bend of intellect for the advanced studies that follow. Because of its importance the past Tibetan Buddhist scholars and teachers have extolled the practice of debate and logic for constructive purposes. The main text focus in this course is the Sautrantika philosophy.
While studying these preliminary subjects the students follow their teacher who lead them through the procedure of debate and logic. As the students continue in this way they pick up the rhythm of debate and set off to constructing their own problems for debate. Thereby, the formal training of debate is gained with least difficulty and trouble while appreciation for the tradition deepens in the students before long.
- Science of Formal Logic (Tib.: rTags Rigs, pron. Tak-rig) and
- Tenets of Philosophical Systems (Tib.: "Grub nTha', pron. drub-tha)
These are the subjects for the first year students of Buddhist philosophy. The traditional practice of debate is the principal technique for studying and analyzing the different topics that are covered in these subjects. This method is indispensable for logically eliminating the misconceptions about reality and to repudiate false reasoning of philosophical schools. It helps profoundly in understanding the real importance of these texts as well as preparing the students with a critical bend of intellect for the advanced studies that follow. Because of its importance the past Tibetan Buddhist scholars and teachers have extolled the practice of debate and logic for constructive purposes. The main text focus in this course is the Sautrantika philosophy.
While studying these preliminary subjects the students follow their teacher who led them through the procedure of debate and logic. As the students continue in this way they pick up the rhythm of debate and set off to constructing their own problems for debate. Thereby, the formal training of debate is gained with least difficulty and trouble while appreciation for the tradition deepens in the students before long. |
