Nitartha Institute

This course is an in-depth study of Chandrakīrti's Madhyamakāvatāra based on the
commentary by the Eighth Karmapa, Mikyö Dorje (1507–1554). We will begin with the
presentation of the Madhyamaka of the model texts followed by a close examination of the first five Madhyamakāvatāra's chapters correlated with the first five bodhisattva bhūmis. Several difficult points will be covered such as the three reasons which prove that arhats realize selflessness of person.

2 credits.

Course code: BUD 700s-A

Prerequisites: BUD 691 for Advanced Nitartha students.

Students who want to take Advanced courses for credit must have completed the stated prerequisite (or an equivalent advanced Shedra course), or be a senior translator.

However, those who are sincerely interested in attending the class, but who have not met the prerequisites for this advanced course, are invited to audit the course as listeners, but not as verbal participants.

Class Topics

• Prajñāpāramitā sūtras
• Madhyamaka of model texts
• Spreading of Madhyamaka in India
• Spreading of Madhyamaka in Tibet: lineages
• The title and translator's homage
• The three causes of bodhisattva
• Relationship between paths and grounds
• Three reasonings and seven scriptural quotations proving that Arhats realize
  phenomenal emptiness
• Three reasonings and seven scriptural quotations continued
• Grounds 1–2: Supreme Joy and The Stainless
• Grounds 3–5: The Luminous, The Radiant and Difficult to overcome

Required Texts

• Commentary on The Chariot of the Dakpo Kagyü Siddhas by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. 4 Volumes. Nitartha Institute Publications: nitartha.institute.pubs@gmail.com
• The Karmapa's Middle Way: Feast for the Fortunate, A Commentary on
  Chandrakirti's Madhyamakāvatāra by Wangchuk Dorje. Translated by Tyler Dewar. Snow Lion Publications, 2008: www.snowlionpub.com
• Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakāvatāra with
  Commentary by Jamgön Mipham, tr. by Padmakara Translation Committee,
  Shambhala, 2005: www.shambhala.com

For Nitartha Institute Publications, please allow 3 weeks for delivery of texts in North America, and for overseas shipping, please allow 2–3 weeks for airmail and 4–6 weeks for surface shipping.

Recommended Texts

• The Center of the Sunlit Sky: Madhyamaka in the Kagyü Tradition, by Karl Brunnhölzl. Snow Lion Publications, 2004: www.snowlionpub.com
• The Moon of Wisdom: Chapter Six of Chandrakirti's Entering the Middle Way with Commentary from the Eighth Karmapa Mikyo Dorje's Kagyu Siddhas by Chandrakirti and Mikyo Dorje. Snow Lion Publications, 2006: www.snowlionpub.com
• The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings on the Noble Nagarjuna's Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso and Nagarjuna, Shambhala, 2003: www.shambhala.com
• Mipham's Beacon of Certainty: Illuminating the View of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection by Lama Mipham. Translated by John Whitney Pettit. Wisdom Publications, 1999: www.wisdompubs.org
• The Treasury of Knowledge by Jamgon Thaye. Book 6, Part 3: Frameworks of Buddhist Philosophy. Snow Lion Publications, 2007: www.snowlionpub.com

Mode of Instruction

The class is part of our online campus and is available as downloadable audio. There are also posted study questions, recommended readings, analytical meditation and debate topics, and exam questions, and the ability to contact a distance learning advisor with questions.

Login information will be provided prior to the first class.