Introductory Program
A Commitment to Excellence
Overview
Our 4-year Introductory Program, centered on Dharmakīrti’s “The Detailed Commentary upon Valid Perception,” is the first course in the “Five Great Treatises” curriculum. It enhances logical thinking skills and reduces ambiguity through a step-by-step approach, covering “Collected Topics,” “Buddhist Logic,” and “Science of Mind.” This comprehensive structure allows students to master logical reasoning, deepen their understanding of Buddhist philosophies, and improve their problem-solving abilities.
Course Requirements
- Required: 138 credits
- Electives: 20 credits
| "Five Great Treatises" | Foundations of Buddhist Practice | Buddhist Monasticism & Ministry | Language Studies for Sutra Translation | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Required: 82 credits Collected Topics (15 credits) Buddhist Logic (8 credits) Science of Mind (3 credits) Debate (24 credits) Sutra Recitation (32 credits) |
Required: 32 credits Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (16 credits) Precepts (16 credits) |
Required: 16 credits Morning and Evening Prayers (16 credits) |
Required: 8 credits Tibetan Language (8 credits) |
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Electives: 8 credits Supplementary materials from Collected Topics, Buddhist Logic, or Science of Mind (8 credits) |
Electives: 6 credits Commentaries on Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (4 credits) Buddhist Sutra Recitation (2 credits) |
Electives: 4 credits Ceremonial Prayers (2 credits) Practical Buddhism (2 credits) |
Electives: 2 credits Chinese Language (2 credits) |
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Year 1 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1101. Se’s Collected Topics—Basic Reasoning Skills I | 3 |
| FGT1102. Debate on Se’s Collected Topics—Basic Reasoning Skills I | 3 |
| FGT1103. Recitation on Se’s Collected Topics – Basic Reasoning Skills I | 4 |
| FBP1101. The Great Treatise I | 2 |
| FBP1201. The Ten Precepts for Novice Nuns I | 2 |
| BMM1101. Morning & Evening Prayer—Introductory I | 1 |
| BMM1201. Daily Curriculum I | 1 |
| LST1101. Tibetan Language—Basic Oral Conversation I | 2 |
| FGT1104. Se’s Collected Topics—Basic Reasoning Skills II | 3 |
| FGT1105. Debate on Se’s Collected Topics—Basic Reasoning Skills II | 3 |
| FGT1106. Recitation on Se’s Collected Topics—Basic Reasoning Skills II | 4 |
| FBP1102. The Great Treatise II | 2 |
| FBP1202. The Ten Precepts for Novice Nuns II | 2 |
| BMM1102. Morning & Evening Prayer—Introductory II | 1 |
| BMM1202. Daily Curriculum II | 1 |
| LST1102. Tibetan Language—Basic Oral Conversation II | 2 |
Year 2 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1107. Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills I | 3 |
| FGT1108. Debate on Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills I | 3 |
| FGT1109. Recitation on Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills I | 4 |
| FBP1103. The Great Treatise III | 2 |
| FBP1203. The Precepts for Novice Buddhist I | 2 |
| BMM1103. Morning & Evening Prayer—Introductory III | 1 |
| BMM1203. Daily Curriculum III | 1 |
| LST1103. Tibetan Language—Basic Oral Conversation III | 2 |
| FGT1110. Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills II | 3 |
| FGT1111. Debate on Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills II | 3 |
| FGT1112. Recitation on Se’s Collected Topics—Intermediate Reasoning Skills II | 4 |
| FBP1104. The Great Treatise IV | 2 |
| FBP1204. The Precepts for Novice Buddhist II | 2 |
| BMM1104. Morning & Evening Prayer—Introductory IV | 1 |
| BMM1204. Daily Curriculum IV | 1 |
| LST1104. Tibetan Language—Basic Oral Conversation IV | 2 |
Year 3 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1113. Se’s Collected Topics—Advanced Logic Reasoning Skills | 3 |
| FGT1114. Debate on Se’s Collected Topics— Advanced Logic Reasoning Skills | 3 |
| FGT1115. Recitation on Se’s Collected Topics— Advanced Logic Reasoning Skills | 4 |
| FBP1105. The Great Treatise V | 2 |
| FBP1205. The Precepts for Novice Buddhist III | 2 |
| BMM1105. Morning & Evening Prayer ─ Introductory V | 1 |
| BMM1205. Daily Curriculum V | 1 |
| FGT1201. Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic I | 2 |
| FGT1202. Se’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic I | 2 |
| FGT1203. Debate on Jamyang Zhépa’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic I; Se’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic I | 3 |
| FGT1204. Recitation on Jamyang Zhépa’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic I; Se’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic I | 4 |
| FBP1106. The Great Treatise VI | 2 |
| FBP1206. The Precepts for Novice Buddhist IV | 2 |
| BMM1106. Morning & Evening Prayer – Introductory VI | 1 |
| BMM1206. Daily Curriculum VI | 1 |
Year 4 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1205. Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic II | 2 |
| FGT1206. Se’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic II | 2 |
| GT1207. Debate on Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic II; Se’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic II | 3 |
| FGT1208. Recitation on Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Buddhist Logic II; Se’s the Analysis on Buddhist Logic II | 4 |
| FBP1107. The Great Treatise VII | 2 |
| FBP1207. Bodhisattva Precepts I | 2 |
| BMM1107. Morning & Evening Prayer – Introductory VII | 1 |
| BMM1207. Daily Curriculum VII | 1 |
| FGT1209. Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Science of Mind | 3 |
| FGT1210. Debate on Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Science of Mind | 3 |
| FGT1211. Recitation on Jamyang Zhépa’s The Analysis on Science of Mind | 4 |
| FBP1108. The Great Treatise VIII | 2 |
| FBP1208. Bodhisattva Precepts II | 2 |
| BMM1108. Morning & Evening Prayer – Introductory VIII | 1 |
| BMM1208. Daily Curriculum VIII | 1 |
Program Requirements
- Be registered and enrolled at Great Wisdom
- Fulfill all required credits (see “Course Requirements”)
- Maintain a satisfactory “C” average after each academic year
- Pass all “Five Great Treatises” year-end examinations, consist of three parts: written exam, debate exam, and memorization exam.