Palpung LungRig JampalLing Institute of Higher Buddhist Studies

Buddhist philosophy (shedra)
Shedra is a Tibetan word meaning "place of
learning" but specifically refers to the
educational program in Tibetan Buddhist
monasteries and nunneries. It is usually
attended by monks and nuns between their
early teen years and early twenties. Not all
young monastics enter a shedra; some
study ritual practices instead. Shedra is
variously described as a university,
monastic college, or philosophy school.
The age range, however, corresponds to
both secondary school and college. After
completing a shedra, some monks continue
with further scholastic training toward a
Khenpo or Geshe degree, and other monks
instead pursue training in ritual practices.
The curriculum varies with the lineage and
monastery but most cover the main
foundational texts in the Tibetan Buddhist
canon such as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
(The Fundamental Verses on the Middle
Way) by Nagarjuna and the
Madhyamakavatara (Entering the Middle
Way) by Candrakīrti. Some non-Buddhist
courses like grammar, poetry, history, and
arts may be included. The initial years
focus on the Buddhist sutras and the
remaining years on tantras. Care is taken to
introduce foundational topics first, building
key concepts and vocabulary for later
study.
Compared to western educational systems,
the shedra places much greater emphasis
on memorization. Some traditions require
monks memorize complete texts before
studying them. They may be required to
recite in class the new sections they've
memorized each day. In some cases,
debate becomes a major focus and practice
for refining one's understanding, students
may spend a major portion of the day in
debate with each other.
The main foundational texts in the Tibetan
Buddhist canon such as the
Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (The Fundamental
Verses on the Middle Way) by Nagarjuna
and the Madhyamakavatara (Entering the
Middle Way) by Candrakīrti. Some non-
Buddhist courses like grammar, poetry,
history, and arts may be included. The
initial years focus on the Buddhist sutras
and the remaining years on tantras. Care is
taken to introduce foundational topics first,
building key concepts and vocabulary for
later study.
Five Topics
Main article: Five traditional topics of study
Paramitas - study of mahayana
Madhyamaka - philosophy
Pramana - logic and epistemology
Abhidharma - psychology
Vinaya - monastic rules The following texts
were recommended by the 16th Karmapa
as the basis for study in the shedra at
Rumtek Monastery:
»Vinaya, Abhidharma and Epistemology
•Vinayamula Sutra by Gunaprabha with a
commentary by Mikyö Dorje (8th Karmapa)
•Abhidharmakosha by Vasubandhu with a
commentary by Mikyö Dorje
•Pramanavarttika by Dharmakirti with a
commentary by Chödrak Gyatso (7th
Karmapa)
»Madhyamaka
•Madhyamakavatara by Chandrakirti with a
commentary by Mikyö Dorje and another by
Wangchuk Dorje (9th Karmapa)
•Abhisamayalankara by Maitreya-Asanga
with a commentary by Mikyö Dorje which
includes commentary by Indian scholar
Haribhadra.
»Tantra
•Uttaratantra Shastra by Maitreya-Asanga
with commentaries by Jamgon Kongtrul
Lodro Thaye and another by Gölo Shönu
Pal as a basis for studying buddha nature
•Zabmo Nangdön by Rangjung Dorje (3rd
Karmapa) with commentaries by Rangjung
Dorje and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye as
a basis for tantra
•Hevajra Tantra with commentaries by
Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Dakpo
Tashi Namgyal .