In-depth study program in Buddhist philosophy

 

BACKGROUND OF THIS PROGRAM

 

The primary objective of the Paramita Centre is to transmit the teachings and values ​​of Buddhist philosophy, as transmitted by Buddha Shakyamuni almost 2,600 years ago. The reason is that all sentient beings aspire to happiness. All can achieve happiness, and the teachings of the Buddha make it possible.

 

PRACTICE PROGRAM

 

The teachings given at the Paramita Centre mainly follow the PRACTICE PROGRAM, structured by Lama Samten in accordance with the teachings of the Buddha and even more particularly with the tradition of Lama Tsongkhapa, founder of the Ganden monastery in Tibet in 1409, pioneer instigator of the tradition from which His Holiness the Dalai Lama comes.

 

To follow the PRACTICE PROGRAM, you can review the activities offered by one or other of the Paramita Centres, which all follow this same program. If interested you will be invited to begin with the calm abiding meditation course or the course on emotions, then the Lamrim course (the stages of the path to happiness, according to Buddhist philosophy). Then comes the Lamrim in-depth course and other complementary courses.

 

Since 2021, the teachings and training of this PRACTICE PROGRAM have also been organized in virtual and intensive study.

 

STUDY PROGRAM

 

In addition to this, Lama Samten has also structured a STUDY PROGRAM. This is mainly intended, in the ideal context, for a possible group whose apprenticeship would take place over a period of 5 years full-time, with residence on site. This has not yet seen the light of day.

 

However, this Study Program, complementary to the Practice Program, has been organized in a condensed and simplified form, to give students an overview of the topics of Buddhist philosophy as studied at Ganden Jangtse Monastery. Already 3 groups have completed these teachings.

 

To register, it is important to have already completed the PRACTICE PROGRAM of the Paramita Centre, or at least to have completed the DEEPER LAMRIM course (following which the Lamrimpa certificate is issued).

 

The next curriculum of study will begin in September 2025, with one lesson of 1.5 hours per week, during the spring and winter seasons. There will be 5 sessions of 12 lessons each, spread over 2 and a half years. One subject (one book) will be studied per session, for a total of 60 lessons for the 5 books (5 x 12 lessons). (See below for a brief description of each book)

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During this training, we will see the topics of Buddhist philosophy as they are studied in major monastic universities such as Gajang in India.

 

Here is a short description of the subjects, as well as the books that will be studied:

 

1. Collected topics, cognitions and awareness & signs and reasoning

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These “collected topics” will be studied first: it is an amalgam of several basic notions which are well defined in order to establish a solid foundation which will then allow for a better understanding of Buddhist philosophy. The different modes of cognition and awareness are then learned: valid and invalid, conceptual and non-conceptual, etc., because liberation from suffering depends on the mind and for this, knowledge of it is essential. Then the last part concerns validity: how to construct valid logical reasoning with perfect reasons (signs) that allows us to determine what is true or not, through inference.

TO BE PUBLISHED​

 

2. The philosophical systems, the 70 meanings of The Ornament of Clear Realizations and the paths and grounds

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Here will be taught the different assertions of the main Buddhist thinkers, classified into four main views: Vaibashika, Sautrantika, Chittamatra and Madhyamaka. Then we will briefly study the structure and subjects of the Ornament of Clear Realizations of the Protector Maitreya. This part then ends with a detailed presentation of the paths and grounds of the Path to Enlightenment according to Madhyamaka-Svatantrika.

TO BE PUBLISHED​

 

3. The Prajnaparamita and The Ornament of Clear Realizations

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Here we see in more detail Maitreya's text, which is in reality a commentary on the implicit (or hidden) meaning of the Transcendent Wisdom Sutras (Prajnaparamita) of the Buddha. The main subject is the 110 aspects of omniscience. Also, an explanation of the 4 Buddha bodies, the two truths, etc. will be taught.

TO BE PUBLISHED​

 

4. Madhyamaka (the middle way)

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The ultimate thought of the Buddha is expressed explicitly in the Prajnaparamita Sutras, and it is elucidated by the Protector Nagarjuna, predicted by the Buddha himself on many occasions. The middle path authentically presents the final mode of existence of reality, and only its understanding allows one to become definitively free from samsara.

TO BE PUBLISHED​

 

5. Abhidharma (phenomenology)

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Vasubandhu and Asanga have composed major works which describe in detail the nature of the phenomena, both the contaminated and the uncontaminated. Here karmas, mental afflictions, paths, etc. are seen in detail and how they can be classified in different ways.

TO BE PUBLISHED​