OL TSTD 203: Root Verses of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) Part Two

This online course is the continuation of the first part of the Root Verses of the Middle Way course, which explores this classic text by Nāgārjuna in depth. Root Verses of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) by Nāgārjuna is a classic Buddhist text that uses logic to challenge our assumptions about the nature of reality. Nāgārjuna analyzes various phenomena we generally assume to be real, such as motion, cause and effect and the sense faculties. He also analyzes doctrines accepted by the tradition, such as the four Noble Truths. In each case, he shows that their reality is illusory, fabricated by our deluded minds. Studying this text as a philosophical treatise is an adventure in itself, but for those who practice meditation, it is the perfect complement to practice.

This online course takes one semester to complete and covers the second half of the text from Chapter 13, Verse One. The prerequisite for registration in this course is successful completion of Root Verses of the Middle Way Part One. The methodology of our online courses combines traditional Tibetan monastic word-for-word text commentary with a Western-style academic contextualization. This approach mirrors the courses offered in our on-site classrooms in Kathmandu.

As this is a philosophically challenging text, expect to average 10 to 12 hours of listening and studying per week. Course content is presented as video lectures given by Khenpo Jampa Donden and translated by Catherine Dalton into English (also available in Tibetan for those who prefer). Supplementary materials include visual lectures created from MS PowerPoint© by Joanne Larson.

Students will navigate the course material via Moodle, an open source e-learning environment. Internet access is required for studying this course. Students will have access to this course in Moodle for one year from the date of their registration.