BA Buddhist Mind Training – Year 2

Third Semester – Actual Practice – Relative Awakening Mind – Part 1

Module 1: Recognising Our Mothers – Explication & Practice

Course Description

As a method for generating the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta) – the wish to attain supreme awakening (bodh) for the ultimate benefit of all sentient beings – students are guided through contemplations that help them to acknowledge their mothers in this life and recognise that all sentient beings have been their mothers in previous lifetimes. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

• To appreciate the kindness of one’s parents of this life and duly intensify love and compassion for them.
• To recognise that all sentient beings have been one’s parents and feel love and compassion for them.
• To reduce partiality towards friends, aversion to enemies and neutrality toward strangers.
• To inspire the aspiration to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

1. Explication of the recognition of our mothers
2. Progressive contemplation on that

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60 % of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a	3×20

Module 2: Recollecting Our Mothers’ Kindness – Explication & Practice

Course Description

As a method for generating the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta) – the wish to attain supreme awakening (bodh) for the ultimate benefit of all sentient beings – students are guided through contemplations that help them to recollect their mothers’ kindness and thus feel intense love and compassion towards them. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

• To appreciate the kindness of one’s parents of this life and duly intensify love and compassion for them.
• To recognise that all sentient beings have been kind to one and to feel love and compassion for them.
• To reduce partiality towards friends, aversion to enemies and neutrality toward strangers.
• To inspire the aspiration to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

1. Explication of mothers’ kindness in:
   1. producing one’s body
   2. going through great hardships for one
   3. giving one life
   4. teaching one about the world
   5. connecting one with the sacred dharma
2. Progressive contemplation on each of these

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60 % of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b, a-c, a-d, a-e	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b, a-c, a-d, a-e	3×20

Module 3: Repaying Their Kindness – Explication & Practice

Course Description

As a method for generating the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta) – the wish to attain supreme awakening (bodh) for the ultimate benefit of all sentient beings – students are guided through contemplations that inspire the resolve to repay their mothers’ kindness by liberating them of their suffering through attaining perfect buddhahood. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

• To appreciate the kindness of one’s parents of this life and duly intensify love and compassion for them.
• To recognise that one is indebted to all sentient beings.
• To reduce partiality towards friends, aversion to enemies and neutrality toward strangers.
• To engender the resolve to repay one’s mothers’ kindness by attaining supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

1. Explication of mothers’ sufferings as:
   1. a hell being
   2. a deprived spirit
   3. an animal
   4. a human
   5. a demigod
   6. a god
2. The resolve to end these sufferings
3. Progressive contemplation on each of these

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60 % of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b	3×20

Module 4: Impartiality – Explication & Practice

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

As a method for generating and strengthening the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta), students are guided through contemplations on impartiality – unconditional love and compassion for all sentient beings without bias. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To reduce partiality towards friends, aversion to enemies and neutrality toward strangers.
To foster patience and a genuine appreciation for enemies and troublemakers, who act as supports for one’s practice.
To engender the resolve to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings without bias.

Course Components

The course is comprised of two main units:

1. Explication of:
   1. How present enemies were friends in past lives
   2. How present friends can become enemies in the future
   3. Extending love towards both friends and enemies, as well as neutral strangers
2. Progressive contemplation on each of these

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b, a-c	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b, a-c	3×20

Module 5: History – The Eight Practice Lineages – 3. The Sakya Lineage (The Light Ground Lineage)

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

Students track the progression of Buddhism in Tibet – the context of the development of the Sakya lineage (The Light Ground Lineage), and identify its leading masters. Comparative research will draw from various texts, including The Blue Annals and The Treasury of Knowledge.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To understand how the cycles of instructions unique to the Sakya came from India and Nepal to Tibet.
To gain confidence in the reliability of this transmission of teachings that stems from the Buddha.
To appreciate the current opportunity to study and practice these longstanding teachings.

Course Components

The course is comprised of three units:

1. Transmission to Tibet and the life of Drogmi Lotsawa
2. The life of Konchok Gyalpo
3. The Path and Result teachings

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Teachings
2. Oral examination
3. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a, b, c	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a, b, c	3×20

Fourth Semester – Actual Practice – Relative Awakening Mind – Part 2

Module 1: Loving Kindness – Explication & Practice

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

As a method for generating and strengthening the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta), students are guided through contemplation on loving kindness (maitrī) – the wish that all sentient beings encounter lasting happiness and its causes. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To appreciate that all living beings want to be happy.
To engender genuine love and affection for all types of life.
To counteract one’s anger.
To extend one’s scope of concern beyond oneself.
To inspire the aspiration to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

The course is comprised of two main units:

1. Explication of:
   1. The recognition that all beings only want to be happy
   2. Engendering the wish to bring them that happiness
2. Progressive contemplation on that

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b	3×20

Module 2: Compassion – Explication & Practice

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

As a method for generating and strengthening the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta), students are guided through contemplation on compassion (karuṇā) – the wish that all sentient beings be free from suffering and its causes. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To recognise that no sentient being wants to suffer.
To engender compassion for all types of living beings.
To develop greater patience and acceptance in the face of one’s own suffering.
To counteract one’s anger.
To extend one’s scope of concern beyond oneself.
To inspire the aspiration to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

The course is comprised of two main units:

1. Explication of:
   1. The recognition that no being wants to suffer
   2. Engendering the wish to free them from all suffering
2. Progressive contemplation on that

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b	3×20

Module 3: Joy – Explication & Practice

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

As a method for generating the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta), students are guided through contemplation on joy (āttamanā) – taking delight when others encounter happiness and are free of suffering. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To engender joy in the well-being and success of all types of beings.
To reduce jealousy at others’ success and pride in one’s own.
To extend one’s scope of concern beyond oneself.
To inspire the aspiration to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all beings.

Course Components

The course is comprised of two main units:

1. Explication of:
   1. Identifying the negativities of jealousy and competitiveness
   2. Identifying the positive qualities of others and wishing them even more
2. Progressive contemplation on each of these

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b	3×20

Module 4: Altruism & The Awakening Mind – Explication & Practice

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

As a method for generating and strengthening the relative awakening mind (bodhicitta), students are guided through contemplation on altruism – giving and taking (tonglen) – and the awakening mind itself – the wish to attain supreme awakening for all sentient beings. This series of contemplations is explained and practised in sequential progression, following the relevant sections of The Seven Points of Mind Training and The Precious Ornament of Liberation.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To reduce selfishness and indifference.
To foster genuine care and concern for others, especially when suffering.
To engender the resolve to attain supreme awakening for the benefit of all sentient beings without bias.

Course Components

The course is comprised of two main units:

1. Explication of:
   1. The benefits of the awakening mind
   2. Giving one’s happiness and virtue and taking others’ suffering and negative karma
   3. The precepts of the awakening mind
2. Progressive contemplation on each of these

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Dharma teachings
2. Meditation sessions
3. Oral examination
4. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a-a, a-b, a-c	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a-a, a-b, a-c	3×20

Module 5: History – The Eight Practice Lineages – 4. Marpa Kagyu (The Oral Lineage of Marpa)

Credit Hr: 3

Contact Hr: 48

Code No.: XXX

Full Mark: 100

Course Description

Students track the progression of Buddhism in Tibet – the context of the development of the Marpa Kagyu (The Oral Lineage of Marpa), and identify its leading masters. Comparative research will draw from various texts, including The Blue Annals and The Treasury of Knowledge.

Course Objectives

The specific objectives of this course are:

To understand how the cycles of instructions unique to the Marpa Kagyu came from India and Nepal to Tibet.
To gain confidence in the reliability of this transmission of teachings that stems from the Buddha.
To inspire faith in the teachings.
To appreciate the current opportunity to study and practice these longstanding teachings.

Course Components

The course is comprised of four units:

1. The transmission of the Kagyu teachings and the life of Marpa the Translator
2. The life of Milarepa, Tibet’s greatest yogi
3. The life of Gampopa, the Teacher from Ü
4. The principal transmissions of this lineage

Teaching and Evaluation Procedures

1. Teachings
2. Oral examination
3. Written examination

Evaluation Procedures

Internal Evaluation: 40% of the total grade

1. Attendance – 5
2. Conduct – 10
3. Oral examination – 25

Final Examination: 60% of the total grade

Group A: Long Comprehensive Question = 60 Marks or
Group B: Short Condensed Questions = 60 Marks

Question Grid

S.N.	Questions	Units	No. of Questions
1	Long Comprehensive Question	a, b, c, d	1×60
2	Short Condensed Questions	a, b, c, d	3×20