Nitartha Institute

This course is an in-depth study of Madhyāntavibhāga by Maitreya (ca. 4th century) – a key work of Yogācāra Buddhist philosophy – based on the commentaries by Vasubandhu and Ju Mipham (1846–1912), which delineates the distinctions and relationship (vibhāga) between the middle view (madhya) and extremes (anta). We will systematically proceed through its five chapters: the Characteristics, the Obscurations, True Reality, the Path of Practice and the Unsurpassable Vehicle.

2 credits.

This course is taught in two parts, each being 1 credit:

• BUD 760.1 Madhyantavibhaga: The Distinction Between the Middle and Extremes, Part 1 of 2
• BUD 760.2 Madhyantavibhaga: The Distinction Between the Middle and Extremes, Part 2 of 2

Note: Currently, only BUD 760.1 is available as a self-paced online course.

Course code: BUD 760s-A

Prerequisites: BUD 713 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

• Summary
• The characteristics of thorough affliction and complete purification
• The obscurations that are eliminated
• The reality that is realized
• The features of the path: the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment and their
  relationship to the five paths; their division into three phases; distinguishing features of the bodhisattva's path
• The nine phases of the path; the three phases of the path
• The unique approach of the great vehicle: the unsurpassable practice, unsurpassable observation and the unsurpassable true accomplishment

Required Text

• Middle Beyond Extremes: Maitreya's Madhyantavibhaga with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham, tr. by Dharmachakra Translation Committee, Snow Lion Publications, 2006: www.snowlionpub.com

Recommended Text for Students of Tibetan

• Tibetan text of Khenpo Shenga's as well as Lama Mipham's commentary on Madhyāntavibhāga, referenced with pages of the Middle Beyond Extremes English translation, downloadable from the Dharmachakra Translation Committee website: http://dharmachakra.net/content/blogcategory/14/30

Mode of Instruction

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

Login information will be provided prior to the first class.