MAITRIPA COLLEGE: FALL 2011 COURSES


ACADEMIC PROGRAM LINKS

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

APPLICATION DEADLINES &
DATES FOR FALL 2012 DEGREE ENTRY

February 1: Early admissions application deadline for Fall 2012 degree entry
March 1: Notification of early admissions acceptance/denial for Fall 2012 degree entry
May 2: Application deadline for Fall 2012 degree entry
May 15: Notification of admissions acceptance/denial for Fall 2012 degree entry
June 5: Deadline to accept offer of degree entry

Spring 2012
January 30: Spring 2012 semester begins
February 13: Last day to add/drop classes for Spring 2012 semester
March 19-April 1: Spring break
May 21: Registration opens for Fall 2012 semester
June 2: Spring semester ends

Summer 2012
May 15: Application Deadline for Classical Tibetan Summer Intensive Courses
June 18 - August 17: Classical Tibetan Summer Intensive (click here for individual course session dates)

Fall 2012
August 27: Fall 2012 semester begins
September 10: Last day to add/drop classes for Fall 2012 semester
November 19-25: Thanksgiving Week
December 3: Registration opens for Spring 2013 semester
December 16: Fall 2012 semester ends

>return to top

Maitripa College is a nonprofit corporation authorized by the State of Oregon to offer and confer the academic degrees described herein, following a determination that state academic standards will be satisfied under OAR 583-030. Inquiries concerning the standards or school compliance may be directed to the Office of Degree Authorization, 1500 Valley River Drive, Suite 100, Eugene, Oregon, 97401.


Fall 2011 COURSE LIST (On-Campus Courses)
*click here for complete course description (below) and here for the complete course catalog
*click here for Faculty bios

*click here to register now

CRN

COURSE

CREDITS

DAY/TIME

INSTRUCTOR

PHL301

Introduction to Buddhist Thought

2

Wed
4:30-6:30

Yangsi Rinpoche

MDT301

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation

2

Fridays
11:00 - 1:00

Yangsi Rinpoche

PHL303

Madhyamaka Philosophy: Where is the Middle Way?

2

Tuesdays
7-9 pm

Yangsi Rinpoche

MDT303

Techniques of Meditation: Madhyamaka

2

Wednesdays
7-9 pm

Yangsi Rinpoche

TIB101

Tibetan 101: Introduction to Tibetan Language

3

Mondays
4:30-6:00pm & Wednesdays
2:30-4 pm

 Karma Phuntsok
TIB201

Tibetan 201: Intermediate Tibetan – Bridge to Translation

2
Thursdays
4:30-6:30 pm
Yangsi Rinpoche, Namdrol Adams
HIS301

History of Buddhism: India & Tibet

2

Mondays
7-9 pm

THL320

Buddhist Theology

2
Wednesdays
7-9 pm
Jim Blumenthal
THL410

Buddhist Rituals, Ethics, Services, &  Ceremonies

2
Saturdays
10am - noon
CS001 / CST001

Community Service Practicum – 1st term MA & MDiv: Personal Theology

1

Fridays
9:45-10:45 am

CST003

Community Service Practicum – 3rd Term MDiv

3
Tuesdays
5-6:30 pm
Namdrol Adams
CS003

Community Service Practicum – 3rd Term MA

1

Tues 5:00-6:30 (Aug 30-Oct 18)

Namdrol Adams

 Fall 2011 DISTANCE LEARNING (ONLINE) COURSE LIST
**click here for complete course description (below) and here for the complete course catalog
**click here to register now

CRN

COURSE

HOURS/CREDITS

INSTRUCTOR

PHL301d

Introduction to Buddhist Thought

2

Yangsi Rinpoche

MDT301d

Introduction to Buddhist Meditation

2

Yangsi Rinpoche

PHL303d
Madhyamaka Philosophy: Where is the Middle Way ?
2
Yangsi Rinpoche
MDT303d
Techniques of Meditation: Madhyamaka

2

Yangsi Rinpoche

MAITRIPA COLLEGE FALL 2010 COURSE OFFERINGS

CS001 | CST001. Who We Are & Who We Serve: Personal Theology & Foundations of Engagement. (1 credit, 1st Term MA & MDiv)
An introduction to the service "core" at Maitripa College for both MA and MDiv students, focusing on understanding and developing a personal theology both within and outside of the Buddhist tradition, understanding the concept of spiritual transformation through service, developing knowledge and relationships with local community partners, and developing a familiarity with the concept of "service" within the framework of traditional Buddhist philosophy. This class includes a 20-hour concurrent service-learning project.

CS003: Compassionate Service: Conflict & Diversity, Wisdom & Method. (1 credit, 3rd Term MA)
This class focuses on applying real-world skillful means for the individual and groups working in engaged service. The practical emphasis will be on ethics, identifying and engaging with diverse populations. This class will also examine personal narrative and storytelling as a means of constructing one's relationships with others and the world. This class includes a 20-hour concurrent service-learning project.

CST003: Compassionate Service: Wisdom & Method. (3 credit, 3rd Term MDiv)
This class focuses on applying real-world skillful means for the individual and groups working in engaged service. The practical emphasis will be on ethics, diversity, and developing an awareness of multiculturalism. Topics will include an introduction to various theories and practices of group dynamics and systems, as well as an introduction to productive communication models such as compassionate communication. This class will also examine personal narrative and storytelling as a means of constructing one's relationships with others and the world.  This class includes a 30-hour concurrent service-learning project.

HIS301.  History of Buddhism: India and Tibet. This course will provide a broad-based survey of the history of Buddhism in India and Tibet .  We will begin by discussing the historical and cultural context out of which Buddhism emerged, namely the Vedic period and Vedic traditions that preceded classical Hindu traditions in India .  From here we will discuss the brahmana (ascetic) movement, the life the historical Buddha, and the formulation of the early sangha.  After discussing Buddhism during the lifetime of the Buddha, we will cover the early history of Buddhism including the early Buddhist councils, the creation of the Buddhist canon, and the formulation of early Buddhist schools.  We will then cover the beginnings of the Mahayana, the early Mahayana philosophers and the intellectual history of Mahayana Buddhism in India .  In addition to reading histories of Buddhism, we will also read and discuss scholarly articles about the proper methods for approaching and understanding this history. We will then turn our attention to the transmission of Buddhism from India to Tibet .  We will discuss the key figures in both the early and later disseminations of Buddhism to Tibet and the key events which helped shape the forms Tibetan Buddhism takes today.  This portion of the course will be divided into two sections: the early transmission and the later transmission.  Each of the four major Tibetan Buddhist schools as well as the indigenous Bon tradition, their histories, key figures, texts and lineages will be discussed. Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of Buddhist beginnings in India , its history and development in the land of its origin, and the manner in which the tradition was transmitted to Tibet .  In addition, students will gain a detailed understanding of the religious and intellectual history of Buddhism in Tibet , including the key figures, lineages, texts, and practices which make the schools of Buddhism in Tibet unique.

MDT301/MDT301d. Introduction to Buddhist Meditation. This course will provide a broad introduction to the vast corpus of techniques and practices of Buddhist meditation, with particular emphasis on the techniques of analytical meditation. The course will be taught in an interactive format, allowing students the opportunity to learn specific meditations as directed by the instructor, practice them, and discuss their experiences in class. The subject matter will parallel the topics of Buddhist philosophy as taught in PHL301 | PHL301d. Part of this class will include regular meditation sessions out of class, the keeping of a sitting journal, and the opportunity for objective discussion on the effect of these practices on the individual’s mind. If desired, the committed student will have the opportunity to work with the instructor to design a personal meditation practice.

MDT303/MDT303d. Techniques of Meditation: Madhyamaka. The subject matter of this course will parallel the topics of Buddhist philosophy as taught in as taught in PHL303 | PHL303d. The course will be taught in an interactive format, allowing students the opportunity to learn specific meditations as directed by the instructor, practice them, and discuss their experiences in class. Part of this class will include regular meditation sessions out of class, the keeping of a sitting journal, and the opportunity for objective discussion on the effect of these practices on the individual’s mind. If desired, the committed student will have the opportunity to work with the instructor to design a personal meditation practice.

PHL301/PHL301d.  Introduction to Buddhist Thought. This class will make use of philosophical treatises, literature, and historical analysis to present the foundations of Buddhist philosophy as taught by the early Indian pandits and commented upon by Tibetan scholars. Readings will include selections from the Abhidharma Kosha, Pramanavarttika, and Abhisamayalamkara, with particular focus on the readings that relate to the three scopes of the lamrim as presented by the Tibetan scholar Je Tsongkhapa. Students will come away from this course with a foundation in Buddhist philosophy and knowledge of key issues of Buddhist Studies, including personal identity and the five skandhas, subtle impermanence, and the basics of a Buddhist world view. Students will gain important grounding in basic principles of dependent arising, the structure of Buddhist logic, and familiarity with Buddhist logic and logical arguments.

PHL303/PHL303d. Madhyamaka Philosophy: Where is the Middle Way ? An overview and in-depth introduction to the heart of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the philosophy and practice of Madhyamaka, or the “Middle Way,” as presented by the renowned Indian Buddhist philosopher Nagarjuna and his Indian and Tibetan commentators. Primary readings for this course include Lama Tsongkhapa’s Essence of Eloquence (Lekshé Nyingpo) and its sources. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in MDT303 Techniques of Meditation: Madhyamaka in conjunction with this class.

TIB101. Introduction to Classical Tibetan Language. Introduction to alphabet, grammar, and sentence structure of Classical Tibetan language. Students gain first exposure to dictionary use and online resources for Tibetan studies.

TIB201. Classical Tibetan Language Intermediate I Students continue to deepen their knowledge of Tibetan grammar and syntax through reading and decoding basic verse and prose texts and commentaries on Buddhist philosophy and practice in their original language. This course also introduces basic translation theory.  Whenever possible, students receive oral commentary of the texts they are working with as part of the class, and begin to learn how to "decode" some of the more cryptic forms of Tibetan philosophical exegesis.

THL320. Buddhist Theology . The work of the academic study of Buddhism by contemporary scholars has offered tremendous insights into the historical and social conditions that grounded, informed, and influenced the formation of Buddhist ideas and institutions. Yet due to the academic attempt to keep an objective and scientific distance from its object of study, such scholars, many of whom are self-identified Buddhists, have traditionally been discouraged in the academy from thinking about the normative implications of these insights for modern Buddhist communities. Recent years have seen a growth of Buddhist "theological" thinking paralleling the kind of theological thinking our monotheistic counterparts have engaged in to address similar issues in their own traditions. Buddhist scholars who are also practitioners have moved beyond simply describing the tradition from a critical distance, and begun to use the critical skills of the academy to think about the tradition and speak from within the tradition about issues of concern to themselves as members of Buddhist communities. What do Buddhists have to say about the environmental crisis? How ought Buddhists think about the tradition's patriarchal past?  What might Buddhism contribute to prison reform? How might "justice" be conceived in Buddhist terms?  What are the appropriate and effective Buddhist ways of thinking about these problems and questions? This course will examine the development of this new branch of Buddhist thinking including the very use of the term "theology" for a tradition without a theos (God), its theoretical grounding, and examples of its contemporary application.

THL410: Buddhist Rituals, Ethics, Services & Ceremonies. This course will present an overview of some of the most important rituals, ethics, services, and ceremonies that form the core of Buddhist practice in the Tibetan tradition, and shape everyday life of practitioners. We will begin with an overview of the ethical guidelines for practitioners, including precepts of practice, their purpose, meaning, and how to maintain them. The course will continue with an introduction to and, where relevant, instruction in, rituals, services, and ceremonies performed by the clergy and by practitioners themselves in the course of every day life. Finally the course will touch on some of the more esoteric rituals and ceremonies of the tradition, such as divination, offering practices, and so forth, and their significance in the tradition and in the lives of practitioners and Buddhist communities.


LOCATION | CONTACTS | VISIT

Maitripa College | 1119 SE Market Street | Portland, Oregon USA 97214 | phone: 503-235-2477 | email: info@maitripa.org | fax: 503-231-6408