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Academic Curriculum

In 1978, according to His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche’s wishes, the late Khenpo Tsondru drafted the nine-year academic course of the Institute.  Nine years later, in January 1987, a convention presided by H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche and H.H. Pema Norbu Rinpoche, many Nyingma lamas, khenpos and scholars was held in Namdroling Monastery.  At this time, the academic courses established were revised and again in 1998, the board of directors and the teachers of the institute did the second revision.  The following is the latest version of the nine year academic courses of the institute being studied today.

Lower Sutra Course ‒ Ist Year

Major Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Domsum Nam-nge

(Ascertaining the Three Vows)

Ngari Penchen

“Rigzin Jug-ngog”

(The Track of Vidyadharas)

Khenpo Yontan Gyatso

2

Bodhisattvacharyavatara (Engaging in the conducts of Bodhisattva)

Acharya Shantideva

Annotated commentary

Zhenphen Nangwa

 

Minor  Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Lungtenpai Tsawa Sumchupa

(Tibetan Grammar, “Thirty Verses”)

Thon-mi Sambhota

“Norbui Melong”

(Mirror of Gems)

Khenpo Tsondru

2

,,

,,

“Thrulgyi Demig”

Miraculous Key

Zhenphen Thaye

3

Tagrig (Dialectical Syllogism)

Khenpo Tsudru

 

 

4

Mula Sarvastivadin Sramanera Karika

(Verses on the Precepts of Novice)

Acharya Nagarjuna

“Norbui Trengwa”

(Rosary of Gems)   

Mipham Rinpoche

5

Visheshastava

(Praise of Distinction to the Buddha)

Udhbhatasi-dhswami

Its commentary

or Tibetan Commentary

Prajna Varma,

Tenzin Gyeltshen

6

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part-I)   

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

 

Lower Sutra Course‒IInd Year

Major Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Madhyamakalankara Karika

(The Ornament of the Middle Way)

 

Shantarakshita

“Jamyang Lama Gyepai Shelung”

(Words of the Delighted Master Manjugosha)

Mipham Rinpoche

2

“Khepai Tsulla Jugpai Go”

(Gateway to the Ways of the Wise)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

 

 Minor Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Yidshin Zod Drubdue (Condensed Tenet Concepts from the Treasury of Wish Fulfilling Gem)

 

Mipham Rinpoche

 

 

 

2

Lungtenpa Taggyi Jugpa (Tibetan Grammar, The Conjugation of Genders)        

 

Thonmi Sambhota

 

“Norbui Melong”

(Mirror of Gems)

Khenpo Tsondru

3

,,

,,

 “Thruel ki Demig”

Miraculous Key

Zhenphen Thaye

4

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part II and III)                      

 

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

5

Political History of Tibet   (Until King Me Agtsom, Trisong’s Father)

 

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

Lower Sutra Course ‒ IIIrd Year

Major Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Madhyamakavatara

(Entering the Middle Way)

Acharya Ch-andrakirti

It’s Auto-Commentary

Acharya Chandrakirti

2

Madhyamaka Prajna Mula Karika  (Root Verses on the Middle Way called Wisdom)

Acharya Nagarjuna

 

"Ornament to Nagarjuna’s Intentions"

Mipham Rinpoche

 

3

Catu Sataka Sastra Karika (Four Hundred Verses on the Middle Way)

Acharya Aryadeva

"Ornament of Nagarjuna’s Intentions"

Botrul DongagTenpai Nyima

Minor Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Pramana Nyaya Pravesha

(Door to Dialectical Logic)

Acharya Dignaga

 

 

2

Don Namnge Sherab Raldi (Ascertaining the facts called Sword of Wisdom)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

Thubten Yongdzog Nang-Ged

 

Lhagsam Tenpai Gyaltshen

3

Kabyadarsha− the first half of the middle chapter(Treatise on Poetry and Composition called Mirror)

 

Acharya Dandi

 

Yangchen Gyepai Roltso

(Ocean that delights Saraswati)

 

Mipham Rinpoche

4

Political History of Tibet (From King Trisong’s Reign to Langdar’s reign)

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

5

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part IV)

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

Lower Sutra Course ‒­­­­­ IVth Year

Major Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Abhidharma Kosa Karika        (Treasury of Explicit Teachings)

Acharya Vasubhandu

“Rincpoche's Doshel” (Jewel Necklace)               

Mipham Rinpoche

2

Pramana Vartika, II Chapter

(Interpretative Treatise on Valid Conginition)

Acharya Dharmakirti

 

“Legshed Nangwai Ter” (The Treasury of Illustrious Saying)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

Minor Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Sherab Leu  (The 9th Wisdom Chapter of Bodhicaryavatara)

Acharya Shantideva

Ketaka                                                                    

Mipham Rinpoche

2

Madhyanta Vibhanga Karika

(Distinguishing the Middle and Extremes)

Lord Maitreya

Ozer Threngwa

(The Garland of Lights)          

Mipham Rinpoche

3

Biography of Palyul Throne Holders                                   

Lama Jampal Zangpo

 

 

4

Kabyadarsa− the Second half of the middle chapter

(Treatise on Poetry and Composition called Mirror)

 

Acharya Dandi

 

Yangchen Gyepai Roltso

(Ocean that delights Goddess Saraswati)

 

Mipham Rinpoche

5

Political History of Tibet (Part II and III)

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

6

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part V)

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

  

Higher Sutra Course‒ Vth Year

Major Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Mahayana Uttara Tantra Karika (Supreme Teachings on the Greater Vehicle)

Lord Maitreya

 

Mipham Zhal-lung

Words of Ajita (Maitreya)

Mipham Rinpoche

2

Tongthun Sengei Ngaro (Exegesis on the Sugatagarbha“Lion’s Roar”)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

 

3

Ngeshe Drome

(Lamp of Definite Understanding)

Mipham Rinpoche

Lodro Nangwe Go Jed

“Opening Key of Intellectual”

Khenpo Kunpal

4

Pramana Vartika−Ist Chapter

(Interpretative Treatise on Valid Conginition)

Acharya Dharmakirti

“Legshed Nangwai Ter”

(The Treasury of Illustrious Saying)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

Minor Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Sutralankara Karika

(Ornaments of Sutras)                    

Lord

Maitreya

 

“Thegchog Dutsei Gaton”

(The Feast of Ambrosia of the Supreme Vehicle)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

2

Ta Drub Shen Jed   

(Root text of Discriminating the Views and Tenets)

Botrul Tenpai

Nyima

“Jamyang Gongjen”

Ornament to Manjushri's Intention

Botrul Dongag Tenpai Nyima

3

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part VI)

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

Higher Sutra Course‒ VIth Year

Major Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Abhisamayalankara Karika (The Ornament of the Explicit Realisation)

Lord Maitreya

 

“Don Sal”

Clear Meaning

Acharya Haribhadra

2

Abhisamayalankara Karika (The Ornament of the Explicit Realisation)

Lord Maitreya

 

“Sherchen Cheden”

Exegesison  Abhisamayalankara Karika

Patrul Rinpoche

 

3

PramanaVartika−3rd Chapter

(Interpretative Treatise on Valid Conginition)

Acharya Dharmakirti

“Legshed Nangwai Ter”

Well-explained Luminous Treasure

Mipham Rinpoche

 

Minor Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Pratimoksha Sutra  

Lord Buddha

Annotated commentary

Zhenphen Nangwa

2

Dharmadharmata Vibhanga Karika (Distinguishing the Phenomena and Reality)         

Lord Maitreya

“Yeshi Nangwa Namjed”

Distinguishing Clear Wisdom

Mipham Rinpoche

 

3

History of Nyingma Teachings (Part 5th & 7th )

Dudjom Rinpoche

 

 

 

Tantra Course‒VIIth Year

Major Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Vinaya Sutra Karika− Upper Section

(Verses on Vinaya Discipline)

Acharya Gunaprabha

Annotated Commentary                                        

Zhenphen Nangwa

2

Pramana Vartika− IVth Chapter

(Interpretative Treatise on Valid Conginition)

Acharya Dharmakirti

“Legshed Nangwai Ter”

Treasury of Illustrious Sayings                                

Mipham Rinpoche

3

Yonten Rinpochei Dzod Gawai Char (Treasury of Enlightened Qualities called Shower of Joy)

Jigmed Lingpa

“Nyimai Ozer  and Dawai Ozer”

(The Rays of the Moon and the Rays of the Sun)

Khenpo Yontan Gyatso

4

Pal Sangwa Nyingpo

(Essence of Clear Light)

Buddha Samantabh-adra

 

Chidon Odsal Nyingpo

(Essence of Clear Light; an exegesis on Guhyagarbha Tantra)

Mipham Rinpoche

 

5

Chi Do Gong Pa Dupa,

Vol. 1   

(The General Sutra that Gathers All Intentions)

 

Vajrapani

 

Ziden Charkhai Odnang

(Resplendent Rays of Twilight)

Khenpo Nuden

 

                                                                                                          

Tantra Course ‒ VIIIth Year

Major Subjects:

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Vinaya Sutra Karika− Lower Section

(Verses on Vinaya Discipline)

Acharya Gunaprabha

Annotated Commentary        

Zhenphen Nangwa

2

Men Ngag Tatreng (Rosary of Instructions on the Views)

Padmasam-bhava

Commentary

Rongzom Mahapandita

3

Nangwa Lhadrub

(Establishing the Appearance as the Divinity)

Rongzom Mahapandita

 

 

4

Yid Shin Rinpo Chei Dzod     

(Treasury of Wish-Fulfilling Gems)

 

Longchenpa

 

“Padma Karpo”

White Lotus

Longchenpa

 

5

Sangwa Nyingpo

(Essence of Clear Light)

Buddha Sa-mantabhadra

“Sang Nying Chidon Dzodkyi Demig” (Key to the Treasury)

Dodrub Tenpai Nyima

 

6

Chi Do Gong Pa Dupa,

Vol. 2

(The General Sutra that Gathers All Intentions)

 

Vajrapani

 

Ziden Charkhai Odnang

(Resplendent   Rays  of Twilight)

Khenpo Nuden

 

 

Tantra Course ‒ IXth Year

Major Subjects: 

 

Root

Author

Commentary

Author

1

Dzogpa Chenpo Sem Nyid Ngalso (Relaxing in the Nature of Mind)

 

Longchenpa

 

 

Auto-Commentary

 

Longchenpa

2

Dzogpa Chenpo Rangdrol Korsum (The Trilogy of Self-Liberation)

Or Thegchen Tsuljug

(Entering the Mahayana Path)

Longchenpa

 

Rongzom Mahapandita

 

Auto Commentary

 

Longchenpa

3

Kagyed Namshed,  

(Explanation of Eight Pronouncements)

 

Mipham Rinpoche

 

 

4

Kyerim Ogmin Drothpai Themke   (Instructions on the Development Steps to Akanistha Heaven)

 

Jigmed Lingpa

 

 

5

Sogdom Zershie Menngag

(The Instructions on the Four Rivets of Meditation)

Patrul Rinpoche

 

 

 

6

Chi Do Gong Pa Dupa, Vol. 3&4

(The General Sutra that Gathers All Intentions)

 

Vajrapani

 

Ziden Charkhai Odnang

(Resplendent   Rays   of Twilight)

Khenpo Nuden