General Curriculum of Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
«The essence of the Buddha-Dharma is sameness or equality.
Study equality!
All studies and familiarizations should merge into this awareness.»
–
(Khen Rinpoche)
Appearance-emptiness equality
by Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
«Not to know the equality of appearance-emptiness
And get attached to appearances alone is delusion.
But to get attached to emptiness alone is delusion too.
If you know the equality of appearance-emptiness
There‘s no need to get caught up in or give up phenomena.
Those appearances and emptiness, -
What you must do is to rest in the spaciousness
Of the equality of appearance-emptiness.»
GENERAL CURRICULUM
- Lob-rim – Gradual studies of scriptures
- Gom-rim – Gradual practices of familiarization
- Rig-lam – Path of studies on logic
- Lü-jong – Tibetan Yoga
- Tibetan literal language studies
- Tibetan colloquial language studies
- Sanskrit basic studies
The series of steps taken and the study time line depend entirely on the tutor,
the students and many other circumstantial factors.
1) Lob-rim – Gradual studies of scriptures
Topic: |
37 Practices of a Bodhisattva |
Description: |
Author: Thogme Sangpo |
Duration; |
2 months |
Topic: |
Jewel Ornament of Liberation |
Description: |
Description: Author: Gampopa, The Table of Content in metric (dom-zig/ Wylie: sdom zig)
the complete text |
Duration: |
1.5 to 2 years |
Topic: |
Gradual Stages of Meditation on Emptiness |
Description: |
Khen Rinpoche emphasises a brief introduction into the stages in order to be prepared for
the study of the Mahayanauttaratantrashastra |
Duration; |
6 months |
Topic: |
The Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna/Mahāyānottaratantrashastra |
Description: |
Author: Maitreya-Asanga, depending on the level of the students:
beginning with the 4th chapter: The Element - Tathagatagarbha or the whole text including the commentary |
Duration; |
2 years |
Topic: |
A Guide to the Bodhisattava Way of Life/Bodhicharyavatara |
Description: |
Author: Shantideva, Depending on the level of the students: only chapter 1, 2, 3 and 10
or the whole text |
Duration; |
1 to 2 years |
Topic: |
The Torch of True Meaning |
Description: |
Author: Jamgon Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye, Instructions on the Mahamudra Preliminaries |
Duration; |
6 months |
Topic: |
The Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of
Phenomena/Dharma-dharmathā-vibhāga-karika |
Description: |
Author: Maitreya-Asanga, the whole text |
Duration; |
1.5 to 2 years |
Topic: |
The Distinction between the Middle and Extremes/Madhyānta-vibhāga-karika |
Description: |
Author: Maitreya-Asanga, the whole text |
Duration; |
1 year |
Topic: |
The Sun of Wisdom |
Description: |
KhenchenTsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche |
Duration; |
1 to 2 years |
Topic: |
Heart Sutra |
Description: |
Sherab nyingpo, with commentary by Pema Karpo |
Duration; |
6 months |
The Treasury of knowledge She-cha-dzö/shes bya mDzod by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye:
Topic: |
Chapter 7.2 |
Description: |
Investigation of the Three Dharmachakra in terms of the provisional and definitive meaning |
Duration; |
1 month |
Topic: |
Chapter 7.3 |
Description: |
Gaining Certainty about the View |
Duration; |
3 months |
Topic: |
Chapter 8.4 |
Description: |
Stages of Meditation of Shamatha and Vipashyana as the general Basis of all Samadhi |
Duration; |
3 months |
Doha:
- by Jetsun Milarepa:
- Prayer of Solemn Commitment
- An Authentic Portrait of the Middle Way
- Distinguishing the Provisional from the Definitive
- other...
Biography: (nam-thar)
- The life of Milarepa
- The life of Marpa
- The life of Gampopa
Pranidhana:
- Arya Bhadra Charya Pranidhana Raja Noble Aspiration for Excellent Conduct
- Maitreya Pranidhana with commentary by Mendong Tshampa Rinpoche
- The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra, the Definitive Meaning by Karmapa Rangjung Dorje
2) Gom-rim – Gradual practices of familiarization
- Gradual stages of familiarization related to the relative truth based on the
Jewel Ornament of Liberation with Khenpo Rinpoche‘s meditation instructions:
- General introduction to Shamatha practice
- Familiarization with:
- precious human existence
- impermanence of conditioned phenomena
- the truth of dukkha, six realms, Karma - cause and effect
- disgust in order to remedy attachment
- six breath meditations
- twelve links of interdependent origination
- loving kindness
- compassion
- equalizing oneself and others
- exchanging oneself and others
- Gradual stages of familiarization related to the ultimate truth
- General introduction to Vipashyana practice
- Gradual Stages on Meditation on Emptiness
- Vajrayana: Yidam practices
- Preliminaries to Mahamudra
- Sādhana of Arya Avalokiteshvara
- Sādhana of Buddha Amitabha
- Sādhana of Arya Tara
- Sādhana of Vajrasattva from the Cycle: The Heart of Secret Bindu (Sang.thik dorsem)
- Sādhana of Milarepa Guru Yoga
- Sādhana of Chöd
- other...
3) Rig-lam – Path of studies on logic
Topic: |
Classifications of mind (science of mind), lo-rig/blo rig |
Description: |
provides the most important definitions, classifications and
functions of valid and nonvalid cognition |
Duration; |
8 months |
Topic: |
Classification of reasons, tag-rig/rtags rigs |
Description: |
presents correct and faulty reasons in the context of logical proofs as
well as their implications |
Duration; |
8 months |
Topic: |
The Essence of the Ocean of Texts on Reasoning |
Description: |
by KhenchenTsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, with emphasis on the 2. chapter: "Delineation of the
necessary distinction between mind and mental events" |
Duration; |
8 months |
Topic: |
Rig.Dü.pa, The mirculous key, ‘phrul gyi de mig |
Description: |
by KhenchenTsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche |
Duration; |
8 months |
Topic: |
Collected topics, dü-dra/bsdus grva |
Description: |
provides basic buddhist terminology in connection with formal logic |
Duration; |
8 months |
4) Lü-jong – Tibetan Yoga
Practice manual
5) Tibetan literal language studies
- Grammar studies of the literal Tibetan language based on the text:
37 Practices of a Bodhisattva by
Thogme Sangpo
- Jewel Ornament of Liberation by Gampopa:
Topic: |
The Table of Content in Metric |
Description: |
dom.zig/sdom zig |
Duration; |
1 month |
Topic: |
The Condensed Version |
Description: |
by Khen Rinpoche dü-dön/sdud don |
Duration; |
8 months |
or as an option:
Topic: |
Ocean of Sutra Quotations |
Description: |
Karma Lekshey Ling / Dharma download (excerpt of all quotations in the Jewel Ornament of
Liberation) |
Duration; |
8 months |
6) Tibetan colloquial language studies
Topic: |
Appearance of Prajna |
Description: |
sherab nangwa |
Duration; |
3 months |
Topic: |
Opening the door to Prajna |
Description: |
sherab go-che |
Duration; |
3 months |
7) Sanskrit basic studies
reading, writing, pronounciation, basic grammar, basic exercise of translation on verses