As more programme information becomes available it will be posted here, so please visit this page again or contact LGLinstitute@gmail.com to be added to the LGL E-mail List.
Please see below for:
- Courses and Retreats
- Collaborations
- The Three Higher Trainings
- Admissions – application, fees, diplomas/degrees, and visas for India
Courses and Retreats
The course curriculum will initially focus on advanced-level, multiple-year courses in the philosophy and meditation techniques of the Tibetan, Chinese, Indian (Sanskrit), and Theravada (Pali) Buddhist traditions, in their respective language mediums, and with a truly non-sectarian approach.
English-medium intermediate and advanced-level courses and meditation retreats of the various Buddhist traditons will also be offered for 1 month, 6-12 months and for multiple-years.
Eventually the curriculum will be expanded to include additional Buddhist traditions/mediums such as Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
The Institute’s multi-disciplinary approach will also offer a diverse range of courses, seminars, and conferences exploring the relationship between Buddhism and related subjects such as science, health, psychology, ecology, community development, and other religious and philosophical traditions.
Courses will be delivered from a perspective that it is applicable and relevant to the modern world and will be taught by scholars and practitioners from the whole range of Buddhist and contemplative traditions, and by professors and academics from the scientific and humanitarian fields.
Please note: Labsum Gomdrub Ling’s guiding principles are based on a culture of tolerance and harmony where people of all religions, races and genders are respected and treated equally. Although Labsum Gomdrub Ling is an institute for the study of Buddhism there will be no requirement or pressure to become a Buddhist or adopt Buddhist practices. His Holiness the Dalai Lama often mentions, “My religion is kindness”, and stresses that he has no interest in converting people to Buddhism, but is interested only in converting them into better and wiser human beings.
Philosophy Courses
Labsum Gomdrub Ling aims to begin its Philosophy Course curriculum with an advanced-level Tibetan Buddhist course: Parchin Rabchamba (described below).
Many more courses will be added to the programme in following years, including Tibetan Buddhist courses in Madyamika (Middle Way) and Tantra, as well as philosophy courses in the Chinese, Sanskrit and Pali traditions.
Parchin Rabchamba (Diploma in Perfection of Wisdom Studies)
Following the example of the Buddhist monastic institutions of ancient India, this will be a five-year program in Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom) studies in Tibetan medium. The study schedule will include daily lectures by a Tibetan Geshe or Khenpo, and daily debate and discussion sessions amongst the students. PLEASE NOTE: Translation of the lectures will not be provided so students will need to be fluent in Tibetan language to understand the lectures and participate in the debate sessions.Curriculum: After studying the initial subjects of Dudra (Collected Topics), Lorig (Mind and Mental Factors), and Tarig (Signs and Reasonings) the course will mainly focus on Prajnaparamita (The Perfection of Wisdom) literature. The root texts for this section of the course will be the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in Eight Thousand Verses (Tib. Gyad Tong Pa) and Maitreya’s Ornament of Clear Realization (Skt. Abhisamayalamkara, Tib. Ngon Tog Gyan). The main commentaries of these texts will be the Indian master Haribhadra’s Clear Meaning commentary (Tib. Gral Ba Don Sal) and his Illumination of the Ornament (Skt. Abhisamāyalaṅkāralokāprajñāpāramitāvyākhyā, Tib. Gyen Nang). This will be supplemented with material from the Five Treatises of Maitreya (Tib. Cham Chos De Nga). In the fifth year of study, other essential texts from the Madhyamika, the Middle Way philosophical system, such as the Six Treatises of Madhyamika by Nagarjuna (Tib. Uma Rig Tsog Trug) and Chandrakirti’s Supplement to the Middle Way (Skt. Madhaymikavatara, Tib. Uma La Jug Pa) as well some basic studies in Tantra may also be included.
Students completing the course will be awarded with a Parchin Rabchamba Diploma issued by the Institute.
Collaborations
The Labsum Gomdrub Ling programme will also include creating contacts with other already-established Buddhist centres with the goal of forming a network of like-minded organizations and individuals.
On the advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, each centre will be encouraged to specialize in a particular field of investigative research and representatives of these organizations will meet together annually to share and discuss their work.
The Three Higher Trainings
The higher training of ethical discipline
Labsum Gomdrub Ling will offer studies in Vinaya, the codes of ethical discipline for both ordained monks/nuns and lay people. In order to cultivate the higher training of ethical discipline all students will live on campus and be expected to abide by the five basic Buddhist precepts (no killing, no lying, no stealing, no sexual activity on campus, and no intoxicants). In addition, they will be supported in safeguarding their own personal vows, whether monastic or lay. Other codes of ethical behaviour and rules will be implemented in order to enhance the quality of life of the community and maintain a calm environment conducive to the pursuit of study and meditation.The higher training of concentration
For the cultivation of the higher training of concentration the Institute will provide facilities for and courses/retreats in meditation. Teachers from all the different Buddhist traditions will be invited to lead workshops and retreats in the style of their tradition, and a meditation hall will be available at all times for use by students and the wider community.The higher training of wisdom
To cultivate the higher training of wisdom there will be a strong focus on the intellectual and academic approach to Buddhism and so programmes in Buddhist philosophical studies will be offered. The core of these programmes will be training in philosophical debate, where students learn about the profound Buddhist tradition through critical analysis of the sutras and their commentaries, following the example of the great Indian monastic institutions such as Nalanda University.Admissions
If you are interested in enrolling in any course, please contact us by email here.
Students will be charged minimal fees for course tuition, accommodation and meals. Labsum Gomdrub Ling hopes to be able to offer scholarships for students in financial need. More information will be posted here as it becomes available.
Students completing all requirements will be awarded a Labsum Gomdrub Ling Diploma for their course work. In the future, Labsum Gomdrub Ling plans to offer official University Degrees (BA, MA, and PhD) to qualified students completing all degree requirements. In order to do this, the Institute plans to affiliate itself with Indian and/or international universities.
Labsum Gomdrub Ling hopes to assist students in acquiring long-term Indian visas to complete their studies. More information about this will be posted here as it becomes available.
