SUPPORT
Our resident teacher, Geshe Tsewang Nyima gives various teachings every week:
1) Weekly Community Teaching:
The Bodhisattvas Way of Life
Geshe La gives a general teaching every Thursday morning for Thosamling students and the local community. He is currently teaching from Shantideva’s “Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.”
Please call ahead if you would like to stay for lunch.
2) Fundamentals of debate:
Dudra and Lorig -‘The magical keys that unlock the door of reasoning’’.
Fundamentals of Debate teaches the fundamentals of Buddhist traditional philosophy. This can be summarized into two main topics: Study of the Mind and its Object of Observation. We will use ‘Dudra’ (collected topics) to train in classical debate procedure. This is a collection of information about phenomena which are the objects to be apprehended by the mind. Then, as the student’s skill in debate increases, they will study ‘Lorig’ (mind and cognition) as the topic of debate.
‘Lorig’ is an observation of the subjective mind, showing the way in which consciousness relates to its’ object. This is all the way from our usual, confused way of apprehending reality through to a ‘direct realization of emptiness.’
If time permits, we will end the year by studying ‘Tarig’, the analysis of correct reasons which are to be applied in our analytical meditation on reality.
This class will give students a whole new perspective on Dharma teachings. It also serves as the basis to engage in the study of this great philosophical tradition which started in India and was greatly developed in Tibet. It is said that wisdom should be developed first by analytical meditation and this is exactly what students will be studying in this class.
Learning debate and the basics of philosophy is of great benefit. Whether the student is training to follow monastic philosophical studies in the Tibetan tradition, a great translator-to-be, or want to deepen their understanding of general Dharma and to understand how our mind relates to its object.
The weekly program includes three formal explanatory classes given by Geshela (known as ‘petri’ classes) and two sessions of actual debate. The ‘petri’ is translated into English and the debate class is only in Tibetan. It will be guided by Geshela and assisted by his translator, Katy. Please be aware that quite a few hours of personal study are required to be able to process the new information and refresh the old!
As debating will be a new format for most students, Geshela’s translator Katy will begin the course in February. This will give three weeks of training to prepare the class for Geshela’s arrival. Students are welcome to trial the first month of classes before they are asked to commit to the year long program.
This course has been specifically designed to compliment our second year Tibetan Language Program.
3) Parchin:
Prajnaparmita sutra, based on Abhisamayalamkara
The Buddhist philosophy program was begun by Geshe Tsewang Nyima in 2007 and is currently studying Perfection of Wisdom (Pharchin). Thus far, Geshe La has taught Collected Topics (Dudra), Mind and Awareness (Lorig), Signs and Reasons (Tarig), Tenets (Drubtha). This class is taught in the traditional monastic style of Philosophy classes (Petri) and involves a great deal of interaction between the students and teacher. As the students are already in their fourth year of Tibetan studies, the class is given only in Tibetan, without English translation.
There are three sessions of ‘petri’ weekly, followed by three to four sessions of debate between the students in the afternoon.
This class is open to all interested parties, but the format requires participants have a good level of Tibetan and a working knowledge of philosophical basics such as Dudra, Lorig, Tarig and Tenets.
Please note:
General program and 'petri' classes for Fundamentals of Debate are translated into English.
Parchin is only in Tibetan, untranslated.
All debate sessions are only in Tibetan, untranslated.
This is a rare and precious opportunity to make a connection with a great scholar and practitioner who is dedicated to giving westerners a pure and comprehensive understanding of the Buddhist teachings.
Katy is Geshela’s translator, coordinator for the program of Buddhist philosophy and assistant for the first year debate class.
Fees for Philosophy Courses:
Community teaching -By donation.
Fundamentals of debate -Rs2000 per month, payable in two half yearly installments.
Parchin -Rs2000 per month, payable in two half yearly installments.
For information on entering this class please email us at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Our Teacher - Geshe Tsewang Nyima
Geshe
Tsewang Nyima was awarded the degree of Geshe Lharampa in 1980. The
examination took place in front of an assembly of the three main Gelug
monastic seats; Sera, Drepung and Ganden.
Geshe La was then sent by
His Holiness the Dalai Lama to establish a traditional monastic study
program of Budhist philosophy at Kyil monastery in Spiti. In the ten
years he spent teaching there, Geshe La also established a modern
education program for the younger monks. IN addition to this he taught
Dharma to the local community, giving lay vows and instructions on
Refuge and Karma to the general public. Upon completion of his
assignment, Geshe La was granted permission by HH Dalai Lama to
conclude his commitment in Spiti.
Following this, the Office of
Religious Affairs of the Tibetan Government in Exile requested Geshe
Tsewang Nyima to assist in establishing the study program at Drolma
Ling nunnery. He volunteered to help in this project, teaching Dharma
for more than two years.
Next, Geshe La spent more than ten
years at the Norbulingka Institute for Preservation of Tibetan
culture. He was instrumental in establishing the study program in the
institute's Academy of Tibetan Culture.
Currently Geshe Tsewang
Nyima is teaching two full time study courses here at Thosamling
Nunnery and Institute as well as a weekly general teaching for the
local community.
