Instructor

Younge Khachab Rinpoche,assisted by Dan McNamara as TA This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Course Description

Treasury of Philosophy 101 will provide students with a firm understanding of the view of the different philosophical traditions. Students will study the positions of both Buddhist and non‐Buddhist philosophical traditions and the distinctions between them. This understanding will be based on a non‐sectarian study of pivotal works on the subject matter from prominent Tibetan scholars with additional insight into the subject provided by Rinpoche.

Texts

1. The Precious Treasury of Philosophical Systems (Drupta Dzöd). Available from this page. 
2. Maps of the Profound by Jeffrey Hopkins. Available via this link. 
3. [Recommended] Frameworks of Buddhist Philosophy by Jamgon Kongtrul. Available via this link. 

Course Objectives

1. Gain understanding of history of the Buddha’s teachings and their dissemination.
2. Gain understanding of Hinayana tenets and the distinctions between them.
3. Gain understanding of Mahayana tenets and the distinctions between them.
4. Recognize key distinctions in the understanding of the philosophical tenets amongst the four
   Tibetan schools.

Prerequisites

 Successful completion of introductory coursework OR approval from the Rime Institute instructors. 

Student Participation

Each week students will have required reading material to complement that weeks lecture. There
will be quiz questions that each student must respond to on the online forum each week, as well as participation in the discussion forums. This process ensures students understand the material as the course progresses and that doubts and that misconceptions are cleared away.

Examination Criteria

A written essay midterm will occur during week 6 to assess the students understanding of the first half of the course material. This essay will not be graded, but will allow the student and teaching assistant an opportunity to have one‐on‐one feedback regarding the material. An oral final examination will be conducted with Rinpoche or Khenpo to assess the students understanding and successful completion of the course material. The oral examination will focus on certain subject matter that will be discussed during week 12, but the student should be aware that they are responsible for all material covered during the course.

Week by Week Schedule

1. Introduction
2. Buddha and His Teachings
3. Buddha and His Teachings
4. Non-Buddhist Tenents
5. Vaibhasika
6. Vaibhasika  (Written Midterm Essay)
7. Sautrantika
8. Cittamatra
9. Cittamatra
10. Cittamatra
11. Cittamatra
12. Summary and Critical Points
    (Oral Final Examination)