The Philosophy Curriculum

The monks at Namgyal study Buddhist Philosophy for a period of thirteen years with following curriculum:

1. First year: Collected Topics are studied, which concern the elementary principles of debates.
2. Second year: The study of Collected Topics is continued.
3. Third year: Science of Mind and Reasoning are studied.
4. Fourth year: The first two sections of Chan-Kya’s Buddhist Tenets on Vaibhasika and Sautrantika.
5. Fifth year: The third section of Chan-Kya’s Buddhist Tenets on Cittamatra and Khedrup Rinpoche’s Paths and Grounds of the Perfection Vehicle.
6. Sixth year: The fourth section of Chan-Kya’s Buddhist Tenets on Madyamika View and Gyal-tsab Rinpoche’s Precious Garland Summarising the Ornament for Clear Realisation.
7. Seventh year the Mind Only Section of Tsonkha-pa’s Essence of Eloquent Explanation and Yang-Chen Ga-wai Lo-dro’s Paths and Ground of Tantra.
8. Eighth year: The Madyamika View section of Tsongkha-pa’s Essence of Eloquent Explanation.
9. Ninth year: The Special Insight section of Tsongkha-pa’s Middle Length and Great Expositions of the Stages of the Path.
10. Tenth year: The three lower tantras section of Tsonkha-pa’s Great Exposition on Secret Mantra.
11. Eleventh year: The Earth Ritual preliminary to the rite of Highest Yoga Tantra section of Tsonkha-pa’s Great Exposition on Secret Mantra and the Commentary on the Compendium of Wisdom Vajra.
12. Twelfth year: The Generation Stage of Highest Yoga Tantra section of Tsonkha-pa’s Great Exposition on Secret Mantra.

1. Thirteenth year: The Completion Stage section of Tsongkha-pa’s Great Exposition on Secret Mantra and Paths and Grounds of Kalachakra by Khe-drup Rinpoche.