Jamgön Kongtrül’s Treasury of Knowledge: the Two Truths I

Jules Levinson

Jules Levinson will discuss the section on the two truths from a classic of the Tibetan nonsectarian (ris med) movement, Treasury of Knowledge (shes bya mdzod), by Jamgön Kongtrül (kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas. 1813–1899). Jules Levinson studied Jamgön Kongtrül’s Treasury of Knowledge under the guidance of Khen Rinpoché Tsültrim Gyatso (mkhan rin po che tshul khrims rgya mtsho). While much has been published on Ge-luk scholars’ views on the two truths in Great Vehicle tenets, Kagyu scholarship has received less attention. We are fortunate to have Jules share what he has learned about the puzzles that are the philosophy of liberation through the many years he has spent studying with, and translating for, Kagyu scholars.

 

Translating Classical Tibetan I

Craig Preston

The first of two classes on translating the Classical Tibetan found in the Tibetan translations of Indian treatises translated from Sanskrit, and in the Tibetan philosophical works on those treatises. It covers the same material found in the summer intensive course at a more relaxed three-hours-a-week pace. We start with introduction to words and particles; relationships between adjoining syllables; types of words in context; the progression from phrases to clauses to sentences; then some of the many types of noun phrases. After this comes a more detailed look at verb forms and verb syntax. Care is taken with anticipating syntax frequently seen with similar verbs. Next, the focus is on declension in eight cases, plus identity and temporal qualifiers. Throughout, we will consider adverbs and postpositions; the varied meanings indicated by Classical Tibetan’s rich collection of lexical particles; and how syntactic particles also signify relational meanings.

 

Companion to Jamgön Kongtrül’s Treasury of Knowledge: the Two Truths

Craig Preston

This Tibetan language course is a companion to Jules Levinson’s course on the section on the two truths from Jamgön Kongtrül’s Treasury of Knowledge (shes bya mdzod). We will focus on understanding how the grammar of the Tibetan works. In addition, we will look at how this genre of Tibetan philosophical writing uses the authority of the Tengyur – the treatises translated from Sanskrit – to support philosophically partisan interpretation.

 

Beginning readings in Classical Tibetan: Summary of the General Path

Craig Preston

Texts: 

• Preston, C. (2005) How to Read Classical Tibetan, I: Summary of the General Path, Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.

This reading course looks at a three-page section at the end of Tsong-kha-pa’s Great Exposition of the Stages of the Path. The course is intended for someone in the early stages of studying Tibetan who, as a reviewer of HTRCT on Amazon puts it, “wants to read some real Classical Tibetan with a good amount of hand-holding.” The text will be analyzed grammatically from the word to the sentence level.

 

Collected Topics: Objects and Object Possessors

Craig Preston

This class on Tibetan debate continues our study Collected Topics with the Explanation of the Presentation of Objects and Object Possessors from The Presentation of the Collected Topics Revealing the Meaning of the Treatises on Prime Cognition: Magical Key to the Path of Reasoning, by Pur-bu-jog Jam-pa-gya-tsho (phur bu lcog byams pa rgya mtsho, 1825-1901).

 

Summer Beginning Classical Tibetan Intensive

Sixty-four hours over eight weeks

 

Second Year Classical Tibetan
Craig Preston
Texts: 

• Jay-dzun-ba (1469 -1542)
  Presentation of Tenets: Proponents of Naturelessness

This is a continuation of Second Year Classical Tibetan that began in September 2022.

We return to the text at the beginning of the discussion of the Middle Way Schools.

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Monday, Wednesday from 9:30 to 11am PST

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The Grounds and Paths According to the Consequence School
Craig Preston
Texts: 

• blo bzang rta mgrin (1867-1937)
  Brief Expression of the Presentation of the Grounds and Paths of the
  Three Vehicle According to the System of the Great Vehicle of the Perfections Essence
  of the Ocean of Profound Meaning

This is a continuation of a class that began in September 2022. 
We return to the text at the beginning of The Grounds of Bodhisattva Superiors.

 

Friday, 9:30 to 11am PST

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Dharma Farm Lecture Series

Select Fridays at noon

 

Sravasti Translation Committee
Bill Magee and Paul Hackett

Texts: 

• Maitreya, Ornament for the Great Vehicle Sutras (mdo sde rgyan, mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra)

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2022

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Intermediate Classical Tibetan 
Craig Preston and Jess Perry
Texts: 

• Joe Wilson, Translating Buddhism From Tibetan

• Paul Hackett, Learning Classical Tibetan

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Classical Tibetan
Craig Preston
Texts: 

• Pur-bu-jok, Introductory Path of Reasoning From Collected Topics on Valid Cognition

• Magical Key to the Path of Reasoning (tshad ma’i gzhung don ‘byed pa’i bsdus grwa’i rnam bzhag rigs lam ‘phrul gyi lde mig). Evidence.

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Grammar Nerd's Reading Group 

Shahar Tene

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Dharma Farm Lecture Series

Bertram Liyanage

The Nyāyābindu of Dharmakīrti

 

Sravasti Translation Committee
Bill Magee and Paul Hackett

Texts: 

• Maitreya, Ornament for the Great Vehicle Sutras (mdo sde rgyan, mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra)

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Advanced Reading

Craig Preston

Texts: 

• Jam-yang-shay-pa’ Decisive Analysis of Chandrakīrti’s Supplement

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Uncollected Topics: Ngag-dbang-bkra-shis’s Collected Topics

Craig Preston

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Advanced topics in Tibetan Grammar

Craig Preston

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Advanced Reading

Shahar Tene