Course Outline: ME6217 Lamrim Chen Mo: The Path to Enlightenment in the Tibetan Tradition, 2009/2010, Semester 2
Recommended Texts:
- Tsong-kha-pa. -The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path of Enlightenment. Tr. by The Lamrim Chenmo Translation Commitee, ed. by J. Cutler. Vol. 1-3. New York, Snow Lion. 2001-2004.
- Tson-kha-pa Blo-bzan-grags-pa, and Fazun. Pu ti dao ci di guang lun. Fo xue xian mi cong shu. Taizhong Shi: Da yuan man chu ban she, 1989.
- Wayman A. Ethics of Tibet: Bodhisattva Section of Tsong-kha-pa’s Lam rim chen mo. State University of New York, 1991.
- Wayman Alex. Calming the Mind and Discerning the Real. Columbia University Press. New York, 1978.
- Lhundup Sopa Geshe. Steps on the Path to Enlightenment. A Commentary on Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo. Parts 1, 2,3. Wisdom, 2003-2007.
- Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey, Berzin A. (trans.): An Anthology of Well Spoken Advise. Dharamsala: LTWA, 1982.
- Deshung Rinpoche. The Three Levels of Spiritual perception. Tr. by Jared Rhoton. Wisdom, 1998. (Sakya)
- Gampopa (author), Konchog Gyaltsen (trans.). The Jewel Ornament of Liberation. Snow Lion, 2001. (Kagyu).
- Geshe Sopa. Some Comments on Tsongkhapa's Lamrim Chenmo and Professor Wayman's Calming the Mind and Discerning the Real. Kujip Geshey Ngawang Dhargyey. Tibetan Tradition of Mental Development. Dharamsala: LTWA. 1974.
- Hopkins, J. Meditation on Emptiness. Wisdom Publications, 1983.
- Geshe Lobsang Tharchin and Artemus B. Engle (trans.). Nagarjuna’s «Letter to a Friend» with a Commentary by the Venarable Rendawa Zhon-nu Lo-dro. Dharamsala: LTWA, 1979.
- Nam-kha Pel. Mind Training like the Rays of the Sun / Tr. by Brian Beresford & ed. by Jeremy Russel. Dharamsala: LTWA, 1992.
- Napper E. Dependent-Arising and Emptiness. Wisdom Publications. 1989.
- Obermiller E. The Doctrine of Prajñā-pāramitā as exposed in the Abhisamayālamkāra of Maitreya/Acta Orientalia. Ediderunt Societates Orientales Batava Danica Norvegica. Vol.XI. 1933. Pp. 1-133.
- Pabongka Rinpoche, Tharchin L. with Engle A. (trans.). Liberation in our Hands. Parts 1,2. New Jersey, 1990.
- Patrul Rinpoche. Padmakara (Trans.). The Words of My Perfect Teacher. Shambhala, 1998. (Nyingma)
- Go bo Rab 'byams pa Bsod names Seng ge. Removal of Wrong Views. Taipei: The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation. 2005.
- Sprung, Mervyn (in collaboration with T.R. Murti and U.S. Vyas). Lucid Exposition of the Middle Way. The Essential Chapters from the Prasannapadā of Candrakîrti. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1979.
- Tatz M. Asanga’s Chapter on Ethics with the Commentary of Tsong-Kha-Pa. Lewiston/Queenston, 1986.
- Thurman R. (Editor) Life and Teachings of Tsonkhapa. Dharamsala: LTWA, 1982.
Course Organization:
The course will be organized based on lectures, assessed based on assignment, an interview with the instructor and a final written examination. Class participation and discussion is essential. A suitable amount of time will be allocated at the end for review and examination preparation.
The 45-hour course will be spread over fifteen 3-hour blocks of lectures as follows:
- Lecture 1: Buddhism of Tibet: merging of early and later Buddhist traditions.
- Lecture 2: Lamrim Chenmo, its author and lineage.
- Lecture 3: General rules of practice.
- Lecture 4: The scope for lower person. freedoms and opportunities, 3 types of persons. Remembering the death; prospects of the next life. Refuge and its precepts. Karma.
- Lecture 5: (continued). Karma and correct behavior. The scope for middling person. Understanding first 2 truths; meditation on sufferings.
- Lecture 6: The origin of sufferings: afflictions and karma; Death; The doctrine of Dependent Origination.
- Lecture 7: The scope for greater person. Compassion and Bodhicitta.
- Lecture 8: Bodhisattva vows. Practice of the first four paramitas.
- Lecture 9: Practice of the first four paramitas (continued).
- Lecture 10: 5th paramita - Shamatha.
- Lecture 11: Shamatha (continued).
- Lecture 12: 6th paramita - Vipashyana: Tsonkhapa's introduction to Madhyamaka. Defining the object of negation.
- Lecture 13: Vipashyana (continued): svatantra and prasanga.
- Lecture 14: Vipashyana (continued): 'non-affirming negation' and existence as 'imputation'.
- Lecture 15: The ‘Lamrim type’ Literature of other Tibetan schools. Transition to Vajrayana.
Course Requirements:
Students should be present in a minimum of 80% of the scheduled classes to be eligible to sit for the final written examination
All students will be required:
- to complete an essay assignment
- present for the viva-voce interview
- sit for a final written examination
Allocation of Marks:
- Class participation and Viva-voce interview: 15%
- Essay assignment: 25%
- Final written examination: 60%
Course Objectives:
Students will gain a comprehensive overview and a general understanding of Tibetan Buddhist views and practice as presented by 'Lam Rim Chen Mo'.
Grading:
All tests, assignments and examinations are graded as follows with grade point and numerical marks:
| Grade | Performance | Grade value | Percentage Equivalence |
| A | Excellent | 4.0 | 90-100 |
| B+ | Very Good | 3.5 | 80-89 |
| B | Good | 3.0 | 70-79 |
| C+ | Fairly Good | 2.5 | 60-69 |
| C | Fair | 2.0 | 50-59 |
| D+ | Poor | 1.5 | 40-49 |
| D | Very Poor | 1.0 | 30-39 |
| F | Fail | 0.0 | 29 or less |
| I | Incomplete | ||
| W | Withdrawn | ||
| WF | Withdrawn because of failure | ||
| AU | Audit | ||