Fundamental of Debate: ‘The magical keys that unlock the door of reasoning’’

 “Fundamentals of Debate” is actually about the fundamental of Buddhist traditional philosophy, which could be summarized into two main topics: Study of the Mind and its Object of Observation. We will use ‘dudra’ to train in debate classical procedure. ‘Dudra’ or ‘collected topics’ is a gathering of information about phenomena, the object to be apprehended by the mind. Then, when our skill in debate increases we will be using ‘Lorig’ as our topic of debate. ‘Lorig’ or ‘mind and cognition’ is about the observation of the subjective mind. It is about how the consciousness relates to its object, from our usual confused way to apprehend reality up to the ‘direct realization of emptiness’, the mental direct experience of final reality. 

This class will give us a whole new perspective on Dharma teachings as well as the basis to engage in the study of this great philosophical tradition started in India and greatly developed in Tibet. As wisdom should be developed first on an analytical meditation basis, this is exactly what we are learning there.
Learning debate and basics of philosophy is of great benefit: for those who want  training to be able to follow monastic philosophical studies in Tibetan tradition, for the great translators-to-be, for the ones who want to deepen their understanding of general Dharma and to understand how our mind relates to its object.  

The weekly program includes three sessions of ‘’petri’’, the formal explanatory class given by Geshela and two sessions of actual debate, where we will develop our skills by debating together. We should add to it quite a few hours of personal study, to be able to process the new information and refresh the old!This an excellent complement to the second year Tibetan Language Programme. 

As debating will be a new format for most students Geshela’s translator Katy Lhamo will begin the course with three weeks of basics to prepare the class for Geshela’s arrival. Students who would like to try this course are welcome to attend on a one month trial before commiting to the years course. The cost of the course is 2000Rs per month.