Sutra, Tantra & Dzogchen: Buddhist Philosophy from the Perspective of Great Perfection

This course investigates the major principles of Buddhist Philosophy from the perspective of Tibetan Buddhism’s great perfection teachings. In order to promote perception of oneself and reality with greater depth and perspective, it begins with an exploration of the Buddhist philosophy of personhood as a doorway to grappling with questions of ultimate reality.

The classes focus on

• emptiness
• the five Skandhas
• the five elements
• Prajnaparamita
• the two truths and the unity of the two truths
• prasangika madhyamaka
• yogacara madhyamaka
• the history of development of tathagatagarbha theory
• Dzogchen Buddha-nature teachings.

Also included is the evolution of perspectives on the person and divine reality as it fits into the three vehicles, clarifying the questions of theism and non-theism in relationship to Buddhas, Buddhafields, Deities, Yidams and Gods.