Advanced Program
A Commitment to Excellence
Overview
Our 5-year Advanced Program culminates in the study of three classic commentaries—The Great Middle Way, Treasury of Higher Knowledge, and Compendium of Discipline—completing the Five Great Treatises curriculum. Chandrakirti’s “An Explanation of ‘Entering the Middle Way'” offers an in-depth examination of Nagarjuna’s philosophy of emptiness, aiding scholars and practitioners in clarifying doubts and deepening their understanding of the Middle Way. Vasubandhu’s “Treasury of Higher Knowledge” provides a comprehensive discussion of Buddhist verses and terminologies, regarded as a complete Buddhist encyclopedia, summarizing tenets in eight chapters. Gunaprabha’s “Compendium of Discipline” details monastic precepts, serving as a vital reference for Buddhist practitioners.
Course Requirements
- Required: 132 credits
- Electives: 28 credits
| "Five Great Treatises" | Foundations of Buddhist Practice | Buddhist Monasticism & Ministry | Language Studies for Sutra Translation | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Required: 102 credits The Great Middle Way (12 credits) The Treasury of Higher Knowledge (11 credits) Compendium of Discipline (9credits) Debate (30 credits) Sutra Recitation (40 credits) |
Required: 20 credits Precepts (20 credits) |
Required: 10 credits Morning and Evening Prayers (10 credits) |
Electives: 4 credits Chinese Language (2 credits) Tibetan Language (8 credits) |
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Electives: 10 credits Supplementary materials from The Great Middle Way, Treasury of Higher Knowledge, or Compendium of Discipline (10 credits) |
Electives: 8 credits Commentaries on Stages of the Path to Enlightenment(2 credits) Buddhist Teachings (4 credits) Tibetan Buddhism (2 credits) |
Electives: 6 credits Ceremonial Prayers (2 credits) Practical Buddhism (2 credits) Buddhist Ministry (2 credits) |
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Year 1 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1401. The Great Middle Way I | 3 |
| FGT1402. Debate on The Great Middle Way I | 3 |
| FGT1403. Recitation on The Great Middle Way I | 4 |
| FBP1221. Precepts for Fully-Ordained Buddhist Nuns III | 2 |
| BMM1121. Morning & Evening Prayer—Advanced I | 1 |
| FGT1404. The Great Middle Way II | 3 |
| FGT1405. Debate on The Great Middle Way II | 3 |
| FGT1406. Recitation on The Great Middle Way II | 4 |
| FBP1222. Precepts for Fully-Ordained Buddhist Nuns IV | 2 |
| BMM1122. Morning & Evening Prayer—Advanced II | 1 |
Year 2 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1407. The Great Middle Way III | 3 |
| FGT1408. Debate on The Great Middle Way III | 3 |
| FGT1409. Recitation on The Great Middle Way III | 4 |
| FBP1223. Precepts for Fully-Ordained Buddhist Nuns V | 2 |
| BMM1123. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced III | 1 |
| FGT1410. The Great Middle Way IV | 3 |
| FGT1411. Debate on The Great Middle Way IV | 3 |
| FGT1412. Recitation on The Great Middle Way IV | 2 |
| FBP1224. Precepts for Fully-Ordained Buddhist Nuns VI | 2 |
| BMM1124. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced IV | 1 |
Year 3 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1501. Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge I | 2 |
| FGT1502. Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy I | 2 |
| FGT1503. Debate on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge I; Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy I | 3 |
| FGT1504. Recitation on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge I | 4 |
| FBP1225. Four Division Precepts I | 2 |
| BMM1125. Morning & Evening Prayer—Advanced | 1 |
| FGT1505. Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge II | 2 |
| FGT1506. Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy II | 2 |
| FGT1507. Debate on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge II; Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy II | 3 |
| FGT1508. Recitation on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge II | 4 |
| FBP1226. Four Division Precepts II | 2 |
| BMM1126. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced VI | 1 |
Year 4 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1509. Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge III; Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy III | 3 |
| FGT1510. Debate on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge III; Verses on Comparison of the Schools of Philosophy III | 3 |
| FGT1511. Recitation on Verses on The Treasury of Higher Knowledge III | 4 |
| FBP1227. Four Division Precepts III | 2 |
| BMM1127. Morning & Evening Prayer—Advanced VII | 1 |
| FGT1601. Verses on Compendium of Discipline I | 3 |
| FGT1602. Debate on Verses on Compendium of Discipline I | 3 |
| FGT1603. Recitation on Verses on Compendium of Discipline I | 4 |
| FBP1228. Four Division Precepts IV | 2 |
| BMM1128. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced VIII | 1 |
Year 5 Required Courses
| Course Title | Credit(s) |
|---|---|
| FGT1604. Verses on Compendium of Discipline II | 3 |
| FGT1605. Debate on Verses on Compendium of Discipline II | 3 |
| FGT1606. Recitation on Verses on Compendium of Discipline II | 4 |
| FBP1229. Four Division Precepts V | 2 |
| BMM1129. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced IX | 1 |
| FGT1607. Verses on Compendium of Discipline III | 3 |
| FGT1608. Debate on Verses on Compendium of Discipline III | 3 |
| FGT1609. Recitation on Verses on Compendium of Discipline III | 4 |
| FBP1230. Four Division Precepts VI | 2 |
| BMM1130. Morning & Evening Prayer— Advanced X | 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.