Instructor

Khachab Rinpoche, assisted by Greg Patenaude as TA / online discussion moderator. 

Course Description

The Essence of the Abhidharma 107 course will introduce students to the study of the Abhidharma or the systematic philosophy of the Buddha. These teachings form the third of the Three Baskets and are one of the five major areas of study in a traditional shedra. In this course students will begin to study the Abhidharmakosa written by Vasubandhu.

Texts

Texts will be provided, at no cost, in PDF or HTML format (TBD). If you're fluent in French, you can read the 1923 translation online for free by downloading from archive.org.

Course Objectives

1. Gain understanding of the Essential Elements
2. Gain understanding of the different Faculties
3. Gain understanding of the World and Beings and the Development of the Universe

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, Title, Purpose
2. Homage, opening verses
3. Chapter 1 Essential Elements
4. Chapter 1 Essential Elements
5. Chapter 2 Faculties
6. Chapter 2 Faculties
   (Written Midterm Essay)
7. Chapter 2 Faculties
8. Chapter 2 Faculties
9. Chapter 3 World and Beings
10. Chapter 3 Dependent Origination and transmigration
11. Chapter 3 Dependent Origination and transmigration
12. Chapter 3 Physical World and Cosmology
    (Oral Final Examination)

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