Mahayana Study Curriculum

The Mahayana Teachings begin with an introduction and overview, called "Heart of Daring." Our studies of selflessness in the Hinayana are the jumping off point for examination of Mahayana selflessness, which broadens the notion beyond personal selflessness into the vastness of mahasunyata, or the "great emptiness." Parallel with these studies, we look at the Mahayana teachings of the possibility of generating limitless compassion, the unbounded intention to help all sentient beings, known in Sanskrit as bodhichitta.

In the second course, we begin detailed studies of the expanded view of emptiness, which grounds the activity of limitless compassion. We begin by looking at the way the mind structures our reality through categories of consciousness and realms of existence. We continue this detailed look at emptiness by a closer examination of the interdependence of all phenomena. What are we to make of the logical conclusion of these studies that all phenomena have no self-nature? Is this lack of self-nature is a mere vacuity? To answer this, we look at the teachings on wisdom as luminous clarity.

Each course has an accompanying sourcebook based on the teachings of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche that is available for purchase at the Nalanda Store. It is recommended that class readings be done prior to each class.