Thrangu Sekhar

Institute of Meditation

Department of History

Buddhism as studied and practiced today traces its origins back to the birth of the Buddha Śākyamuni in Lumbini, Nepal, some 2,500 years ago. At Thrangu Sekhar Institute of Meditation, the history department aims to provide students with the historical context for the philosophical tenets and practical insight that Buddhism teaches, with the purpose of grounding and deepening their appreciation for its wisdom.

Certificate students begin by studying the life and teachings of our Teacher, the Buddha Śākyamuni, paying particular attention to the common enumeration of his twelve deeds. Students then study the lives and works of Buddhist masters who spread  and established his teachings in Tibet, such as the renowned yogi Milarepa.

Bachelor students go into further depth, tracking the establishment of Buddhism in Tibet after its arrival from India and Nepal. They then conduct a thorough investigation into its dissemination and establishment in Tibet via the eight main practice lineages, of which several are still extant today.

Teaching and examination

Teachings are given by Tibetan Buddhist scholars in Tibetan with simultaneous English, Mandarin, French (and sometimes German and Cantonese) translation. Course material is available in Tibetan and English only. 

These modules are tested with mid-semester oral and end-of-semester written examinations. Both the oral and written exams can be taken in either English or Tibetan. This module counts towards 20% of the overall annual grade for the respective course. Mid-semester oral exams each count for 4% of the overall annual grade, and the end-of-semester written exams count for 6% each.

Course Modules

CERTIFICATE: BUDDHIST MEDITATION

Semester 1

Semester 1: The Life of the Buddha

  1. The manner of the birth of the Buddha
  2. The traditional explication of his twelve deeds
Semester 2

Semester 2: Buddhism’s Spread to Tibet

  1. The Dharma’s initial spread to Tibet
  2. The life and work of Guru Rinpoché and the establishment of the Old School canon
  3. The invitation of Lord Atiśa to Tibet and the advent of the New School lineages
  4. The life and liberation of Milarepa, Tibet’s greatest yogi

BACHELOR: BUDDHIST MIND TRAINING

Semester 1

Year 1 – Semester 1: The Eight Practice Lineages – The Nyingma Lineage (The    Old School Lineage)

  1. The origins of Buddhism in India
  2. Buddhism’s initial spread to Tibet
  3. The work of Guru Rinpoché
  4. Establishment of the Nyingma canon
Semester 2

 Year 1 – Semester 2: The Eight Practice Lineages – The Kadam Lineage (Oral    Instruction Lineage) 

  1. Inviting Lord Atiśa to Tibet
  2. The translator Lochen Rinchen Zangpo
  3. The Mind Training (lojong) tradition
Semester 3

Year 2 – Semester 3: The Eight Practice Lineages – The Sakya Lineage (The    Light Ground Lineage)

  1. Transmission to Tibet and the life of Drogmi Lotsawa
  2. The life of Könchok Gyalpo
  3. The Path and Result teachings
Semester 4

  Year 2 – Semester 4: The Eight Practice Lineages – Marpa Kagyü (The Oral    Linage of Marpa)

  1. The transmission of the Kagyü 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 principle transmissions of this lineage
Semester 5

Year 3 – Semester 5: The Eight Practice Lineages – Shangpa Kagyü (The Shang    Oral Lineage)

  1. The life of the scholar and adept, Kyungpo Naljor (11th century)
  2. Restoration and preservation by Jamgön Kongtrül Rinpoché (19th century)
  3. The principle transmissions of this lineage – the six yogas of Niguma
Semester 6

  Year 3 – Semester 6: The Eight Practice Lineages – Shijé and Chö (Pacification and Severance)

  1. The origins of Shijé with the Indian master Padampa Sangyé
  2. The introduction of Chö by the Tibetan yogini Machik Labdrön
  3. The principal transmissions of this lineage
Semester 7

Year 4 – Semester 7: The Eight Practice Lineages – Jordruk (Yoga of Six Branches)

  1. The transmission’s propagation to Tibet through the four early masters (Gyijo, Dro, Ra, and Dingri)
  2. The principle transmissions of this lineage:
    1. The six branches
    2. The Kālacakra tantra
Semester 8

  Year 4 – Semester 8: The Eight Practice Lineages – Dorjé Sumgyi Nyendrub     (The Lineage of Approach and Attainment of the Three Vajras)

  1. The life of Orgyen Rinchen Pal
  2. The principal practices of this lineage:
    1. Approach
    2. Attainment
    3. Great attainment