Sarah College

Institute of Buddhist Dialectics Sites: Sarah College

  • Home
    • Main Homepage
    • IBD McLeod Ganj Home
    • Sarah College Home
  • Educational Programs
    • Tibetan Studies (B.A.)
    • Tibetan Studies (B.A.) by Correspondence Course
    • Masters (M.A.)
    • Teacher Education
    • Primary Teacher Training
    • Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy
    • Tibetan Language for International Students
  • Exchange Programs
    • Emory Spring Exchange Program
    • Summer Tibetan Study
    • Emory Summer Exchange Program
    • Earlham Fall Exchange Program
  • About Us
    • Founding
    • History
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Aims and Objectives
    • Contact Us
    • Site Credits
  • Campus Life
    • Student Life at Sarah College
    • Calendar
    • Photo Galleries
    • Resources
  • How to Help
  • Alumni
  • IBD
You are here: Home / Educational Programs / Course in Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy

Course in Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy

MonksDebates

The course in Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy at Sarah is offered to a class of monks and lay people at intervals of two or three years. The course lasts for seven years, though only the preliminary texts are taught at CHTS, Sarah. After two or three years (depending on the accommodation available to the students), the entire class moves to the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in McLeod Ganj to complete the Prajnaparamita course, and should they continue, more advanced studies in Buddhist Philosophy.

Monks and nuns in a teacher training class

The Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy course include the following subjects:

  • Collected Topics (Tibetan: sDusGrva, pronounced “dü-dra”)
  • Science of Mind or Consciousness (Tibetan: bLo Rig,pronounced “Lo-rig”)
  • Science of Formal Logic (Tibetan: rTags Rigs, pronounced “Tak-rig”)
  • Tenets of Philosophical Systems (Tibetan: Grub nTha, pronounced “drub-tha”)

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 for repudiating false reasoning of philosophical schools. Debate profoundly helps the student to understand the real importance of these texts and prepares the student with the critical intellectual investigative skills needed for the advanced studies that follow. Because of its importance, 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 leads 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.

Admission Requirements
Candidates without a certificate of passing Class 10 or its equivalent must take an entrance examination. Foreign candidates are required to give a verbal test in Tibetan spoken language.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

How to Help

How to Help

A gift to the College at Sarah will help educate young Tibetans living in exile, in Tibetan language and culture, and enable them to take up jobs in the Central Tibetan Administration and other organizations as teachers, writers, journalist, translators, and community leaders. Support education at Sarah now >>

About Us

    • Founding
    • History
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Resources
    • Contact Us
    • Site Credits

Educational Programs

  • Bachelor of Tibetan Studies (BA)
  • BACC
  • MA
  • Teacher Education
  • Fundamental Buddhist Philosophy
  • Tibetan Language for Int'l Students

Links

  • Exchange Programs
  • How to Help
  • Campus Life
  • Alumni
  • IBD

Photo Galleries

  • Sarah College Historical Images
  • Sarah College in 2014
  • Students Activities

© 2021 Sarah College · All Rights Reserved·

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok