Buddhism is often referred to as the Middle Way, a path avoiding any form of extreme conduct and practices or of extreme philosophical views or speculative assertions about reality. The path taught by the Buddha is based on reality, and by following it one is led to realise the truth, the way things really are, free from mental projections and personal interpretations.
It is this insight that will free the individual from the delusion which is at the root of all suffering. Not understanding the real nature of experience, beings are caught up and entangled in all sorts conflicting views and emotional unbalance, generating aversion to certain experiences and attachment to others, steering the mind away from the peace which is its ultimate nature.
According to Buddhist philosophy, wisdom is developed by first studying the teachings, then analyzing them, and finally cultivating in meditation the profound understanding gained in this manner. The great Buddhist scholars and practitioners of the past have composed a great many treatises, commenting on the words of the Buddha and his disciples, providing us with many ways to analyse and understand the nature of our experience in depth.
This textual support has always been considered essential in the transmission of the Buddha’s insight from one culture to the other. Buddhist translators have worked hard to convey the knowledge and wisdom contained in the scriptures to new audiences, thus preparing the ground for the future generations’ realisations.
It was to contribute to this transmission in our present day that the Very Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche prioritised the following treatises as the texts to be translated.
The Sakya Tradition
Over the course of many centuries, Buddhism flourished in Tibet giving rise to distinct lineages of transmission, each of which are renowned for their particular approach in terms of study and practice. One of the present four schools is the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, renowned for following the teachings of the four great translators: Bari Lotsawa, Drogmi Lotsawa, Rinchen Sangpo and Mal Lotsawa. In term of indigenous scholarship, some of the greatest luminaries of Tibet come from this school. They include such illustrious names as Sakya Pandita (1182-1251) – one of the founding figures of the Sakya school and a master of all fields of traditional Indian scholarship; Rendawa Shönnu Lodrö (1349-1412) – one of the principal teachers of Je Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug school; Rongtön Sheja Kunrig (1367-1449) – of one of the most influential masters in the history of Tibetan scholarship and author of important commentaries on the works of Maitreya; and Gorampa Sönam Senge (1429-1489) – a master of both sūtra and tantra, whose writings have become the reference for later generations of Sakya scholars.
The Chödung Karmo Translation Group
The late Khenchen Appey Rinpoche (1927-2010), the founder of IBA, was a teacher of teachers renowned for his mastery of both sutra and tantra. His vision and compassion inspired us to form the Chödung Karmo Translation Group in order to make Dharma more accessible to the world. Rinpoche selected over 20 essential Tibetan treatises for us to translate into English and other languages. The authors of those texts include some of the greatest luminaries of Tibet such as Sakya Pandita, Rongtön Sheja Kunrig and Gorampa Sönam Senge. We are excited that this immense wealth of Buddhist philosophy and practice from old Tibet will soon be available to a worldwide modern audience. These texts cover most fields of traditional Buddhist scholarship (listed below) as well as practice texts immediately accessible to a general audience.
1) Abhidharma, ‘Higher Teachings’: the science of the outer and inner world of experience according to Buddhist principles;
2) Prajñāpāramitā, ‘Perfection of Wisdom’: a presentation of the path to enlightenment and the stages of realization;
3) Madhyamaka, ‘Middle Way Philosophy’: a most profound view of reality, the so-called philosophy of emptiness;
4) Pramāṇa, ‘Means of Valid Cognition’: the means to acquire valid knowledge and to remove doubts;
5) Yogacāra, ‘School of Yoga Practice’: a school of thought intimately linked with the practice of meditation;
6) The Three Vows: a presentation of the three sets of vows related to the three vehicles of Buddhist practice.
The Abhidharma teachings are a detailed and systematic analysis of phenomena, comprising the outer world of our surroundings and the inner world of our experience. They examine the phenomenal world on the relative level of experience from the point of view of enlightened beings, thus establishing the foundation for authentic Buddhist practice.
Title (#IBA reference)
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
An Ocean of Fine Explanation: Commentary on the Abhidharmakośa (113)
The Abhidharmakośa by the great Indian master Vasubandhu is for many the work of reference on Abhidharma, being an encyclopaedic treatise on the 'Higher Teachings'. Of its many Tibetan commentaries, the one chosen here is one of two main ones studied in the Sakya tradition, commenting in a detailed manner on all important topics discussed in the root text.
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Opening the Door to All Objects of Knowledge: A Presentation of the Skandhas, Dhātus and Āyatanas (107)
A clear presentation of the various factors underlying our fundamental experience of life, based on the major Indian Abhidharma treatises transmitted in Tibet, by the celebrated Sakya master Gorampa Sönam Senge. It systematically explains the makeup of human experience as it was uniquely presented by the Buddha in terms of the five aggregates, the eighteen elements of perception, and the twelve sources of perception. In particular, this text gives an elaborate presentation of the profound teaching on the all-base consciousness, the ālayavijñāna.
This is a very extensive commentary to Asaṅga’s “Compendium of the Higher Teachings”, which is the Mahāyāna presentation of the Abhidharma. Only recently rediscovered in Tibet and brought to Nepal through the efforts of Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, this commentary offers a remarkably detailed presentation of the Higher Teachings as transmitted through the Sakya scholar and translator Pang Lotsawa.
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Prajñāpāramitā, ‘the Perfection of Wisdom’ (sher phyin):
The teachings on the Perfection of Wisdom are based on the sūtras bearing the same name, but deal with their hidden meaning as presented in the Abhisamayālaṃkāra of Maitreya. This treatise presents in a very detailed manner the experiences a Buddhist practitioner has on the path (called stages and paths), from the very beginning up to the omniscience of a fully awakened Buddha. Being one of the main treatises on the Buddhist path, and one of most difficult subjects in the curriculum, it is studied extensively in Tibetan monastic universities, yet very little information on it is accessible in English.
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
Elucidating the Sūtras on the Perfection of Wisdom
A comprehensive and most authoritative commentary on the Abhisamayālaṃkāra. Rongtön is generally regarded as one of the greatest experts of this treatise and this is considered his masterpiece.
490
Opening the Treasury of the Profound Hidden Meaning
A concise commentary on the Abhisamayālaṃkāra. Because this text discusses the profound content of the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras’ hidden meaning in a clear and brief manner, it is an appropriate complement to Rongtön’s detailed commentary.
A clear presentation of the practice and stages of meditative absorption, which is one of the most difficult points in the Abhisamayālaṃkāra.
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Madhyamaka, ‘the Philosophy of the Middle Way’ (dbu ma):
Madhyamaka, the philosophy of the Middle Way, is founded on a treatise of the Indian master Nāgārjuna (1st cent. CE), which in turn is a commentary on the Perfection of Wisdom sūtras of the Buddha. Madhyamaka is a method rather than a doctrine, leading the Buddhist practitioner to the direct realization of the ultimate truth. It details various means of critical analysis of our assumptions regarding reality which, if applied skilfully, dismantle the habitual conceptual framework which filters and distorts our perception of reality. In Tibet, different lines of interpretation of this philosophy have evolved. Scholars of the Sakya school in particular are renowned for keeping their interpretation of the Middle Way closely in line with the Indian tradition, at times strongly opposing later Tibetan innovations. Rendering the texts of this tradition accessible in translation to a wider audience is therefore an extremely valuable contribution to the understanding of the philosophy of the Middle Way in Tibet.
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
The Moon Rays Clarifying the Supreme Vehicle’s Difficult Points: Distinction of Views
This is an authoritative commentary on the fundamental treatise on the Middle Way by Nāgārjuna. Nāgārjuna’s unique method of analysis was to dismantle all possible conceptions of reality by showing the inherent contradictions such views entail. What a student of this method is eventually left with is the direct, non-conceptual realization of the ultimate truth. Composed by the eminent scholar Rendawa Shönu Lodrö, who was one of the principal teachers of Tsongkhapa, this commentary represents an important episode in the development of Madhyamaka in Tibet.
275
A Commentary on the 400 Verses on the Middle Way
དབུ་མ་བཞི་བརྒྱ་པའི་འགྲེལ་པ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
Rendawa
The 400 Verses on the Middle Way is a treatise by the Indian Master Āryadeva. In it, the author gradually guides practitioners along the path, from establishing the correct view up to the engagement in meditation practice. Rendawa’s commentary is one of the most authoritative and possibly the earliest composed in Tibet.
201
The Words of Mañjuśrī: A Commentary on the Bodhicaryāvatāra
A commentary on a classic of Buddhist literature from the great Indian scholar and poet Śāntideva. This commentary was recorded by one of Sakya Pandita’s personal disciples and thus represents the closest presentation available to us today on a teaching of one of Tibet’s most renowned scholars on one of this masterpiece of Buddhist literature.
189
Pramāṇa, ‘Means of Valid Cognition’ (tshad ma):
The teachings on the means of valid cognition provide very effective tools to sharpen one’s intellectual faculties, which are then used to gain insight by analyzing the nature of reality. In the Buddhist tradition, sound reasoning is regarded as an invaluable help in the development of wisdom, indeed as a necessary component of the path. It assists one in dispelling doubts and confusions by distinguishing right from wrong understanding, thus helping one to develop unshakable confidence in the Buddhist path and in the actuality of its result, perfect enlightenment. One of the most important Tibetan treatises on the means of valid cognition was authored by the celebrated Sakya Pandita and it has been widely commented on. Translating the most important of the works listed below is therefore a priority for the Chödung Karmo Translation Group.
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
The Means of Valid Cognition: A Treasury of Reasoning
ཚད་མ་རིགས་པའི་གཏེར་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
Sakya Pandita
This versified text represents a landmark in the history of Tibetan epistemology, summarizing the doctrine of the means of valid cognition (pramāṇa) as presented by the Indian scholars Dharmakīrti and Dignāga. Despite its importance, no complete translation of this work has been available to this date.
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The Auto-Commentary on: The Means of Valid Cognition: A Treasury of Reasoning
ཚད་མ་རིགས་པའི་གཏེར་གྱི་རང་འགྲེལ་བཞུགས་སོ།།
Sakya Pandita
In this extensive auto-commentary on his Treasury of Reasoning, Sakya Pandita expounds on all the important topics related to knowable objects and the means of valid cognition discussed in his magnum opus.
A commentary on Sakya Pandita’s Treasury of Reasoning. This was composed by Gorampa to clarify all the difficult points of Sakya Pandita’s Treasury of Reasoning.
An elaborate commentary on the authoritative treatise on the means of valid cognition (Skt. pramāṇa) by Dharmakīrti. This branch of philosophy plays an important role in both Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, providing a framework based on logical reasoning for the validity of Buddhist practice.
143
Tathāgatagarbha ‘Buddha Nature’ (de gshegs snying po) and Yogacāra (rnal ‘byor spyod pa)
The teachings on Buddha Nature and the Yogacāra philosophy are based mainly on treatises of the bodhisattva Maitreya. Those texts of Indian origin expound a philosophy deeply rooted in the yogic experiential approach of Buddhist practice. They form what has been called the tradition of vast activities, the complement to the tradition of the profound view originating from Mañjuśrī, thus offering a balanced understanding of the Mahāyāna path. We have selected three commentaries by Rongtön Chenpo, a specialist on the works of Maitreya, on three crucial texts from this corpus:
An authoritative commentary on the classic treatise on Buddha Nature. Despite their mental afflictions and negative emotions, beings are essentially never stained by those faults. This immaculate nature forms the potential for their awakening to truth and liberation from suffering, it is their Buddha Nature. This text explains in great detail what Buddha Nature means, information which is pertinent to one’s understanding of how the Buddhist path can bring about the desired results, freedom from suffering and perfect enlightenment.
This is a commentary on the fourth of Maitreya’s important five great treatises selected for this collection. This text makes a precise distinction between conventional phenomena (dharmas) and their true nature (dharmatā) as presented in the practice-oriented Yogacāra tradition. It therefore represents a fascinating complement to the profound teaching on the two truths by scholars upholding the philosophy of the Middle Way.
A commentary on Maitreya’s differentiation of and relationship between the pure or right view of reality called ‘the middle’ (madhya) and erroneous views or mental fixations termed ‘extreme’ (anta). More than a merely theoretical treatise, this text also teaches the implications that the gradual discovery of the right view has on profound meditation practice.
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The Three Vows (sdom gsum)
The Buddhist path is composed of three elements: right conduct (śīla), meditation (samādhi), and wisdom (prajñā). The essence of right conduct is discipline, which is regarded as the essential base without which no further training in meditation can be successful. A lack of meditation training, on the other hand, would make it impossible for any genuine wisdom to arise. To strengthen this prerequisite for the authentic training in meditation and wisdom, practitioners take vows according to their level of practice. These are generally divided into three categories: the Vows of Individual Liberation (pratimokṣa), concerned mainly with outer, non-harmful conduct; the Vows of the Bodhisattvas, concerned mainly with the altruistic motivation to help others; and the Vows of the Mantra Vehicle, which deal with the most profound level of views and practice. For the genuine practitioner, it is imperative to have a clear understanding of these vows in order to implement them effectively into one’s practice.
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
The General Meaning of The Clear Differentiation of the Three Vows
A detailed commentary on Sakya Pandita’s versified treatise on the vows of the Individual Liberation, Bodhisattva and Mantra vehicles. Sapan originally composed The Clear Differentiation of the Three Vows to refute the doctrines straying from the original Indian Buddhist tradition.
Gorampa composed this treatise about 200 years after Sapan’s Three Vows in a continuation of the latter’s spirit. His aim in doing so was to correct newly introduced doctrines and practices that strayed from the authentic traditions. Gorampa divided his text into three sections: the base - an exposition of Buddha nature, the path - an exposition of the three sets of vows, and the result - the three kāyas of a Buddha.
42
A Commentary on ‘The Supplement to the Three Vows’
Panchen Ngawang Chödak’s commentary was chosen to be translated as it the most recent authoritative commentary of Gorampa’s Supplement, based on the previous commentaries by the eminent Sakya scholars Manthö Lhudrub Gyatso and Khenchen Chö Namgyal.
115
Mahāyāna Mind Training (Lojong):
The practice of bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment, is at the heart of the Mahāyāna tradition. The teachings on mind training encapsulate all the essential points of this practice, making it a relevant and effective method to transform and ultimately transcend one’s unwholesome mental conditionings. The teachings on mind training have been transmitted in Tibet mainly through two lineages: one going back to the Bengali master Atiśa and the other to the Tibetan Sachen Kunga Nyingpo.
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
Commentary on the Mind Training in Seven Points
བློ་སྦྱོང་དོན་བདུན་མའི་བཀའ་ཁྲིད།
Khenchen Appey Rinpoche
This volume contains pithy instructions of Khenchen Appey Rinpoche on one of the major traditions of mind training in Tibet, namely the one brought from India to Tibet by the Indian master Atiśa Dīpaṃkāraśrījñāna. Regarded as the essence of the path, the importance of mind training can never be over-emphasized. It is for this reasons that these teachings have been, and continue to be the heart of the transmission of the Dharma.
34
Commentary on the Parting from the Four Attachments
‘Parting from the Four Attachments’ is a set of teachings for practitioners, covering stage by stage all the Mahāyāna practices leading to buddhahood. The four lines at the origin of those teachings were spoken by Mañjuśrī, the bodhisattva of wisdom, to Sachen Kunga Nyingpo, the founder of the Sakya tradition. This text is contains the extensive oral commentary on those four lines by Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, the founder of the International Buddhist Academy.
142
Miscellaneous:
Title
Tibetan Title
Author
Conmments
pages
Elucidating Saṃsāra and Nirvāṇa: a Presentation of Dependent Arising
A treatise on the twelve links of dependent arising. This text clarifies the process of how beings are caught in cycles of perpetual suffering (saṃsāra), as well as the means to liberate themselves from it. This presentation is particularly interesting because it outlines the twelve links of dependent arising according to the four schools of traditional Buddhist philosophy.
43
How we work
The professional translation of texts of this nature demands the participation of a spectrum of highly educated specialists and involves many stages of work. To fulfill these requirements, the Chödung Karmo Translation group comprises Tibetan monastic scholars, Western academics, and editors. To ensure a high quality of translation, the members of our group work in close collaboration with each other. Draft translations are given to other translators for cross checking before being submitted to editors for final proof reading, with a view to correctness of understanding, improved literary flow and appropriate level of readability and comprehension.
With your donations you will bring the very necessary financial support to the members of our translation teams.
Please let us know which translation project you would like to support and which text you would like to see translated first.
There are three levels of sponsorship:
With US $ 180, you sponsor the translation of one page of a Tibetan text. This includes salaries for the monastic scholars, the translators, and the editors, as well as a percentage for the Chödung Karmo translation department. It involves all the stages of the translation process from the initial study of the text and related material, academic research, up to the translation and editorial work.
1- Become a PATRON and sponsor the translation of an entire text.
2- Become a SPONSOR and donate for any number of pages to be translated.
3- Become a SUPPORTER and donate any amount of money for the Chödung Karmo translation projects.
Places are Limited! Application deadline: August 31, 2012
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As this is an advanced course, an intermediate level of colloquial Tibetan (equivalent to eight months of study or the content of the Manual of Standard Tibetan) AND a basic knowledge of classical Tibetan grammar is required.
If you are interested in joining the 2nd year of this program please send your application to cbernert@sakyaiba.edu.np. Please enclose:
Your full name, age, and country.
A motivation letter.
A description of your Tibetan and Buddhist studies so far.
We would like you to complete an evaluation quiz by email to assess your suitability for the program.
According to the Mahāyāna, it is said that the entire Buddhist path is contained in one thing only: the practice of bodhicitta, the mind of enlightenment. This text teaches methods of mind training for the cultivation of bodhicitta. These methods are easy to apply in everyday life and have the power to produce a profound inner transformation.
Candrakīrti was a Buddhist master famous for his exposition of the Madhyamaka (‘Middle Way’) philosophy, generally regarded in Tibet as the pinnacle of Buddhist thought. More than just an introduction to this philosophy, his Introduction to the Middle Way is an extensive and profound treatise studied by all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism up to the present day, aimed at revealing the view of ultimate reality.
This treatise was composed in Tibet by Kamalaśīla, the famous disciple of the celebrated abbot Śāntarakṣita. It is Kamalaśīla's most widely renowned work, comprising three books, the objective of which is to teach the authentic procedure for progressing on the spiritual path. In this course we will study the first book, which is the most extensive of the three and is rarely taught.
To help students build up their personal meditation practice, Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin will supplement his explanations on the text with daily sessions of guided meditation. In this way, this will be a comprehensive course, covering both the theoretical as well as the practical aspects of the Buddhist path.
Khenchen Appey Rinpoche’s Teachings on Sakya Pandita’s Clarifying the Sage’s Intent. 這典籍已翻譯成英文。中,俄及西班牙文翻譯正在進行。 Sakya Pandita’s Bodhicitta according to the Madhyamaka Tradition. 這手冊描述關於產生菩提心的理論和修習方法,及生起”願成佛以利眾生”的無上心願。 Rongtön Chenpo’s Commentary on the Uttaratantraśāstra 這是一本對印度大乘無上要義論(佛性論)的權威性註釋。(sponsored) Rongtön Chenpo’s Commentary on the Abhisamayālamkāra 這是一本講解修習大乘佛法中菩薩道上各階次成就和證悟細節的綜合性評述。 Rongtön Chenpo’s Dharmadharmatāvibhāga 這是一本就”一般現象”和”最終本質/實相” 區別的思維探討。 Rongtön Chenpo’s Madhyāntavibhāga. 未來佛-彌勒佛講評”正見”觀點, ”不滅主義”及”虛無主義”錯誤觀點間的區分。 Künkhyen Gorampa’s Abhidharma treatise on aggregates, fields and elements of perception 根據大乘阿毗達磨明確地講解構想基本人生體驗的種種因素 Künkhyen Gorampa’s General Meaning of the Middle Way 以百科全書形式解說中觀在印度和西藏發展過程, 徹底澄清和駁斥個派的中觀哲學觀點。
SOTIP - School of Translation Intensive Program - Application Information
How to Apply
Admission Process
General Information
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How to Apply To apply to the Translator Intensive Program at the International Buddhist Academy, you must complete the following three steps:
Prepare a statement
Fill out the evaluation quiz
Submit the application form
1. Prepare a statement The statement should be submitted in English and should contain no more than 500 words. You may consider writing it separately on a word processor and pasting it into the essay portion of the application form. The statement should include these 3 points:
Your experience in the study of Buddhadharma
Your experience with the Tibetan language (remember that to apply, no prior knowledge of Tibetan is required, except for a familiarity with the alphabet).
Your purpose in learning the language or joining the program
In addition, the following are considered advantageous and should be mentioned in the statement if they apply to you:
Practicing Buddhist
Interest in joining translation projects at the IBA after the completion of the course
Experience of living in South Asia
Languages you know and level of fluency
2. Fill out the evaluation quiz The evaluation quiz is just that, a short test to gauge your level of Tibetan. It will not be used as an entry exam but rather aid us in creating a homogeneous group. It is to your own advantage to fill out this evaluation on your own, without any external help, as it is important for you to participate in a class with students at your level. You can download the evaluation quiz here. You can upload the quiz in the application form or submit it separately by email.
3. Submit the application form The online form will contain your basic personal information and enable us to get in touch with you. You can fill out and submit the Application form here. —————————————————————————————————————————————
Admission Process
Once all components of the application have been received, we will send you an email to confirm receipt. If you do not receive this email, please contact us.
The Program Director will review the application, and you will receive an email notification in approximately two months. In making his decision, the Director will be judging the applicant on an all-around assessment of the application.
You will be notified of the outcome via email.
Successful applicants must then accept or decline the offer of admission within two weeks in an email reply.
To secure his or her place in the program, a student who accepts the offer of admission must then submit a tuition deposit of US $1000. Deposit form.
The deposit is refundable, minus administrative costs and transfer fees (US $100), until June 30. After June 30 the deposit is non-refundable.
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General Information Please note that only a limited number of students can be admitted to the Translator Intensive Program. The admission process is continual, and the program may fill prior to the deadline. Applications to the Translator Intensive Program are now being accepted.
The deadline to submit your application is June 30, 2011.
Though in the past we have attracted dedicated and talented volunteer teachers, our current policy for the Monastic Leaders' Program is to employ professional teachers capable of working together under the clear guidance of a curriculum designed especially for our monastic scholars' unique needs.
Since a central goal of our program is the acquisition of English for the use of our highly-educated future Dharma teachers and translators, we are fortunate to have the expert curriculum development assistance of Dr. Clea Schmidt, Professor of English as an Additional Language (EAL), at the University of Manitoba, Canada. She has been working with us since June 2010, and has made a 5 year commitment to oversee our development of a program not only for our own use, but also as a fully-documented potentially transferrable pilot-project for other monastic institutions.
Academic English language acquisition, as opposed to conversational English, is of vital importance for IBA monks preparing to teach the Dharma, to assume high leadership positions, and to study post-secondary subjects in English. For this reason, our program will focus primarily on the acquisition of academic English.
This will be accomplished through:
language features such as grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, spelling, structure and discourse
strategies for academic learning like effective listening, note-taking, summarizing, paraphrasing and editing
relevance to contexts in which our scholars will be working: dharma teaching and learning, translation, leadership in monastic communities (e.g., administration; communication with sponsors, staff, and students) and western academic studies in a monastic setting
inter-culturalism – self-awareness of world views; engaging with diversity (religious, cultural, linguistic, ethnic, gender) and working collaboratively
While offering techniques and exercises for acquiring academic English, our program will make use of academic content drawn from the following subjects: Dharma teachings, basic science, environmental science, psychology and western philosophy.
Almost no resources exist specifically to guide EAL curriculum development in monastic settings, let alone for use with monastic college post-graduates. For this reason, in addition to the careful adaptation and use of existing academic English text resources, Dr. Schmidt, working with IBA, plans to produce a textbook especially written for teaching English in the monastic college setting, for use at IBA and other high-level monastic institutions.
Our program is ambitious. It's aimed at helping Buddhist scholars to make the important leap that will allow them to share their depth of Dharma understanding with you and with others, in your own languages.
We can not accomplish these goals without your practical help, your participation with us in gathering support funding and letting others know about our unique initiative. Our present staffing will allow us to begin to accomplish this goal in English. But we will need your help to envision, as well as to support, future efforts to place us in a position to offer translation programs for Chinese, Spanish and other languages.
How well we will be able to develop each of these academic language programs, is largely up to your far-sightedness and your willingness to invest in our initiative to make the Dharma more accessible to you.
How to Prepare a Nest for Your Meditation – June 1 to 29 True transcendence and inner transformation can only be realized through meditation. Meditation itself is an art and must be cultivated carefully. Before we plunge into practice, we must first equip ourselves with the theory, the teachings of the great yogis and yoginis who have mastered the path of the Enlightened One. This course is four intense weeks of Dharma focused on developing your practice in the inspiring setting of Boudha, Kathmandu.
The Four Hundred Verses of Madhyamaka by Āryadeva —First Part on Practice – July 4th - 29th —Second Part on the View – August 3rd - 31st The Treatise of the Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas is divided into two parts, each taught in two consecutive months. The first eight chapters teach us how to accumulate merit by showing how to transform disturbing attitudes and master the practices of bodhisattvas. The second eight chapters teach us the wisdom aspect of the path by explaining the ultimate truth, the selflessness or the lack of intrinsic nature of all phenomena. Although students are encouraged to take the complete two-month course, those with less time can participate for just one month since each part is a complete teaching in itself.
There are many ways you can join in with the life of the I.B.A. and help further our work and vision - from supporting the work and study of the monastic Sangha and the translation of texts, to donating things like books and medical requisites. We are always happy to receive your support.
You may make a one-off donation by following the links below, or decide to sponsor a monk or a translation project. If you would like any further information, or would like to discuss any ways in which you might generously be able to help, then please contact our Fundraising and Development Manager, who will be delighted to hear from you.
For mailing checks:
Pay to: International Buddhist Academy
Mail to: International Buddhist Academy
PO Box 23034
Kathmandu, Nepal
For bank transfer please send your payments to:
Standard Chartered Bank Nepal LTD ACCOUNT TITLE: International Buddhist Academy ACCOUNT NO: 18-0150150-01
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The practice of generosity is a core virtue for those practicing the Buddha Dharma, and is a means of accumulating great merit, particularly when one financially supports the Monastic Sangha.
Currently, individual sponsors from the United States, Switzerland, Canada, France, Taiwan, Germany, Chile, Singapore and the Netherlands have generously helped cover the living costs of a number of our resident monk scholars. However, there are a number of monks who are without sponsors, and need the generosity of practitioners to help them continue their studies to benefit Dharma pracitioners across the globe.
Our sponsored students write to their sponsors, fostering and strengthening Dharma friendships that are beneficial for each participant. Even though we have pledges of support for the basic living costs of some of our monastic scholars, we still need to find support for fourteen new monks. We therefore invite you to help us by supporting the living costs and educational costs of for these monastic scholars.
Sponsoring a monk can open the door to a meaningful exchange between you and your sponsored student, who will correspond with you. It is also possible to visit him here at the IBA. Sponsoring a monk also benefits you, and is means of accumulating great positive merit for yourself.
You may make an educational sponsorship pledge of a year or more, or alternatively, you may be interested in giving a one-time donation for an amount of your choice.
Here are some examples of ways your resources can translate into benefits for our scholars:
$50. will buy good quality writing pens for all thirty students
$150. will buy school stationery for all thirty students' use
$300. will buy reference books for the use of each of the three class levels
$500. will buy textbooks for each student in the three class levels
$1200. will sponsor research and translation-tool computer software and storage hardware for the use of monastic translators
$1800. will completely support the annual educational costs of one individual scholar (one thirtieth of our total annual educational costs for the thirty monks in the program).
If you would like to help or have any questions, please feel free to correspond directly with our Fundraising and Development Manager, the Ven. Kunga Dondrup, who will be delighted to hear from you.
For information on individual monks who are in need of educational sponsorship please send your contact details using our form e-mail
For general donations to our program, along the lines of the above examples, Please use the Donate button below
Our monk scholars assemble every morning for their group prayer session, taking the time to align their motivations with the very highest goal, for the sake of all others, and to offer prayers for the benefit of their sponsors, their teachers, and all who request us to pray on their behalf.
We receive regular requests from sponsors to pray for their health or for the well-being of family members during times of crisis.
Many sponsors choose IBA for these prayer requests because of the enhanced effectiveness of having pujas and prayers performed by mature monks who are skilled in visualization and who, because of their understanding of the philosophical basis of the pujas, are able to perform them as rituals in their full context, and not merely as memorized recitations. We invite you to sponsor pujas for yourself or for family and friends who need spiritual support.
Please contact us with your requests for specific pujas that you would like to sponsor, or with a specific beneficial goal in mind, and we can recommend pujas for you that are structured to accomplish your goal. Since different pujas require different degrees of elaboration in their preparation and performance, we will try to help you to determine which one is right for you, and to help you plan your donation to cover the costs to us of this helpful service, at a level appropriate to your personal circumstances.
Introducción En este texto, Gorampa explica la presentación del origen dependiente conocido por todas las escuelas, a través de la naturaleza individual de los 12 vínculos, el modo en que están relacionados como causas y condiciones, y dentro de cuántas vidas estos 12 vínculos se manifiestan completamente. Khenpo Ngawang Jorden ofrecerá una explicación detallada del proceso por el que los seres conscientes estamos atados al samsara a través de la aparición secuencial de los 12 vínculos del origen interdependiente, y del modo en que los practicantes desarrollan la capacidad de abandonar estas ataduras, una por una, de forma revertida. para mas información...
Introducción Nuestro retiro anual de 10 días ofrece una magnífica oportunidad para ahondar más profundamente en el dharma y reconectar con nuestro centro de práctica estable. En la tradición budista Mahayana, el camino de la meditación puede dividirse en dos aspectos: entrenarnos en la bodhicitta relativa, que se relaciona con el desarrollo del amor bondadoso y la compasión, y el entrenamiento en la bodhicitta última, que se relaciona con la sabiduría. Basado en estos dos principios, los maestros budistas han desarrollado y esquematizado los métodos más eficaces para entrenar nuestra mente. para mas información...
La ABI fue fundada por Khenchen Appey Rinpoche para dar a la gente de todo el mundo la oportunidad de estudiar el verdadero Dharma. Desde el año 2001 la ABI ha estado ofreciendo un programa de tres meses cada año. Los cursos se imparten en inglés y existe la posibilidad de traducción para los grupos de habla no-inglesa.
Los cursos ofrecidos se seleccionan entre los textos principales de las cinco materias que se estudian en las escuelas monásticas del budismo tibetano de todas las tradiciones: la perfección de la sabiduría, la filosofía del camino medio, fenomenológica, lógica y disciplina moral. para mas información...
Translation Projects Khenpo Ngawang Jorden (PhD), Director of IBA, compiled a list of priority translation projects, including important texts by the main upholders of the Sakya tradition.
The first texts to be translated include:
• Khenchen Appey Rinpoche’s Teachings on Sakya Pandita’s "Clarifying the Sage’s Intent" (thub pa'i dgongs gsal) This text has been translated into English and is being translated into Mandarin, Russian and Spanish.
• Sakya Pandita’s "Bodhicitta according to the Madhyamaka Tradition" (dbu ma lugs kyi sems bskyed kyi cho ga) This text serves as a manual describing the theory and practice of generating bodhicitta, the altruistic disposition to attain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings.
• Rongtön Chenpo’s "Commentary on the Uttaratantraśāstra" (theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos legs par bshad pa) (sponsored) This text is an authoritative commentary on the classic Indian Treatise concerning Buddha Nature.
• Rongtön Chenpo’s "Commentary on the Abhisamayālaṃkāra" (tshig don rab gsal) This comprehensive text details the stages and realizations a Bodhisattva experiences on the Mahāyāna path.
• Rongtön Chenpo’s "Commentary on the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga" (chos dang chos nyid rnam 'byed rnam bshad) This commentary distinguishes conventional phenomena from the ultimate nature.
• Rongtön Chenpo’s "Commentary on the Madhyāntavibhāga" (dbus mtha' rnam 'byed rnam bshad mi pham dgongs rgyan) Commentary on the future buddha Maitreya’s differentiation of the pure view from the erroneous views of eternalism and nihilism.
• Künkhyen Gorampa’s "Abhidharma treatise on aggregates, fields and elements of perception" (phung khams skye mched kyi rnam bzhag) A clear presentation of the various factors underlying our fundamental human experience according to the Mahāyāna Abhidharma.
• Künkhyen Gorampa’s "General Meaning of the Middle Way" (dbu ma spyi don) An encyclopedic treatment of the development of Madhyamaka in India and Tibet with thorough clarifications and refutations of its various philosophical points.
Course on Interdependence – August 2 – 27 This text provides a thorough explanation of the process by which ordinary sentient beings are bound to saṃsāra through the sequential arising of the twelve links of dependent origination, and the way in which practitioners develop the ability to relinquish these fetters, one by one, in reverse order.
Course on Logic and Debate – July 5 – 30 Khenpo Dr. Ngawang Jorden will lecture directly in English focusing on the third chapter of Sapan’s Gateway: the practice of debate. This particular chapter, on pramāṇa, elucidates the Indian and Tibetan traditions of valid cognition and logical reasoning. In this text, Sakya Pandita clearly defines the way in which a debate is to be carried out in order for it to become a useful method of investigation.
Many of you already help us in so many ways, some of you have taken courses here already, and others are hoping to do so soon! We are inviting you to participate with us in IBA's goal of creating opportunities for people all over the world to experience the authentic Buddhadharma, through teachings and translation in any way you can!
There are many ways you can get involved in our life and help further our vision - by supporting our monastic scholars and translation team, helping with building maintenance costs, giving medical requisites and so forth. Nothing is too small. We value any contribution you make.
Course on Abhidharma – June 7 to July 2 Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin will present a detailed line by line explanation of Gorampa’s authoritative summary of Abhidharma directly in English. The main topic in question is how our senses interact with different objects to produce the various consciousnesses. The third section is a very interesting examination of the difficult points of the aggregates, specially the 4th and 5th, that of volition and consciousness. Here he delineates the different types and levels of mind.
The retreat will commence on September 1st and conclude on September 10th. Participants are welcome to arrive on August 30 to get acclimated. All participants are asked to attend an orientation at 4pm on August 31st. At this time the rules and format of the retreat will be explained and materials will be handed out.
The Importance of Studying Buddhadharma[Download Now] By Khenchen Appey Rinpoche Tibetan and English Translation File Size: 446KB Page: 77
Parting from the Four Attachments[Download Now] Booklet of core teachings on Parting from the Four Attachments prepared published for IBA 10-day retreat By Various Tibetan and English Translation File Size: 077KB Page: 48
This is a fun 13 minute introduction to IBA and the surrounding Bouddhanath Stupa area of Kathmandu. It was produced in the Summer of 2005 by our very own Belen Soldevila, Gabor Jampa and Tenzin Dakpa. It also includes H.E. Chogye Trichen's monastery and many of his monks.
This is a recent 16 minute video introducing the IBA program and the Kathmandu campus. It was produced in the summer of 2007 by Vicente Latre, a student from Spain. You will also get to meet some of the khempos that teach at the IBA and see some short interviews of the students.
Student video of the International Buddhist Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal. See what it is like to study Dharma in Nepal. This video was produced with the help of BodhiTV in 2009.
On arrival, please ensure that you have some Nepalese currency available (exchangeable at the airport) for the taxi fare. You will be able to catch a taxi from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu to the IBA. Please direct the taxi driver to the IBA in Tinchuli - Boudha near the FM station (our neighbor). The estimated cost is around Rs450 for prepaid taxi (the desirable choice), available at the pre-paid taxi booth before you exit the glass doors. IBA tel: 447-9218.
To facilitate students' ability to stay in touch with friends and family, the IBA has developed a wireless network for internet users on campus. Internet access also enables research, file sharing and information storage. The network is accessed by students' wireless laptops in most places on campus or by desktop computers in the student lounge room. Be forewarned that the connection speed is very slow by international standards.
In addition to regular and express mail services, there are internet cafes and public phone service shops available at the Boudha area which provide internet services, fax and long distance phone calls (some provide Voice Over Internet Protocol - long distance service at substantially reduced prices) which will enable you to maintain contact with your family and friends easily.
The following is suggested as a guideline to facilitate in planning your trip. Many personal use items are available in Kathmandu. There are supermarkets, pharmacies and retail stores in the Boudha area where the IBA is located, as well as bigger establishments in other areas of Kathmandu (around 20 minutes away by car/taxi from Boudha). Although you will find that you can purchase almost anything here, it is a safer bet to bring whatever you know you will need with you as the choices here may be limited.
Sunhat and sunglasses
Short sleeved shirts
Long sleeved shirts
1 light jacket or windbreaker
Durable pants such as jeans or corduroys
Skirt, mid-calf or longer length is optional for women instead of pants (no short skirts please)
1 pair of sandals (rubber beach thongs are ideal for wearing in showers)
Personal toilet articles-soap, toothbrush, shaving needs, towel, shampoo, tampons or sanitary pads, etc.
Good flashlight, batteries
Sunscreen lotion
Insect repellent or mosquito net
Prescription medicine and vitamins & supplements (unobtainable here)
Cold remedies and over the counter medicines you normally use
Laptop computer
MP3 or other audio recording device with rechargeable batteries
USB stick (external mini-drive)
Special foods (for example, herbal teas, good coffee, health foods and snacks which you like)
Rain poncho or folding umbrella (you can buy very good umbrellas here)
Alarm clock
Tea or Coffee mug if you wish to take to your room
The climate in Kathmandu typically varies between 20 and 35 degrees Celsius between June and September. As it is also the rainy season in Kathmandu, one can expect heavy rainfall occasionally.
The IBA is only a short walk from Boudhanath Stupa, which is surrounded by monasteries where many lamas of all Tibetan traditions live and teach. The area around Boudhanath Stupa offers many modern conveniences, including ATMs, Internet and laundry services. There are several supermarkets catering to most needs and first-class medical facilities, employing both foreign and local staff.
Weekend activities and holy sites: Throughout Nepal, there are literally hundreds of holy sites, stupas and shrines that the students can visit. Students can also practice their Tibetan by befriending and mingling with the local Tibetan community in the shops and restaurants surrounding the main Bouddhanath Stupa. The longer holiday breaks in the program are a good opportunity to visit India’s many holy sites and attend or request teachings from lamas.
Nepal is a developing nation and one of the poorest in the world. This causes a range of issues for some. You can expect to see people living in poverty and many stray and sick dogs. You may develop stomach trouble if you buy food from street vendors. There is sometimes a severe shortage of electricity which causes many hours of controlled load-shedding (blackouts).
The key to a successful stay in Nepal is not to have high expectations of what we are accustomed to in the West. If you have traveled in South Asia or visited other developing countries, you will have no trouble adjusting to a simple life in Nepal, with its friendly and vibrant culture.
Although there is very little personal security risk, for the peace of mind of the students, the IBA campus has a guard on duty 24 hours a day.
In the Summer of 2012 we will offer three separate month-long courses in Buddhist meditation and philosophy, all of which are essential for deep and genuine Buddhist practice. The first and third months have a practical emphasis: dealing with the procedures of Buddhist practice, including teachings on mind training. The second month is more philosophically-oriented.
JUNE: understanding the Buddhist path as a whole (method and wisdom),
JULY: establishing the right view (wisdom)
AUGUST: the practice of mind training (method
The courses are taught directly in English by experienced and fully-qualified teachers (Khenpos) and are supplemented with afternoon revision and Q&A sessions.
We are pleased to announce that the dates for our September retreat have been confirmed: Monday, 3rd to Wednesday 12th September. The retreat leader and theme will be announced shortly. Registration is open.
This year at IBA we have a popular 10-Day Retreat and two enriching Dharma courses of in-depth philosophical study, each with a different focus. Students are welcome to attend any one of the courses or the entire program. Our courses are taught directly in English by senior khenpos (abbot scholars). There is a daily review session in the afternoon with Q&A.
The following is suggested as a guideline to facilitate in planning your trip. Many personal-use items are available in Kathmandu. There are supermarkets, pharmacies and retail stores in the Boudha area where the IBA is located, as well as bigger establishments in other areas of Kathmandu (around 20 minutes away by car/taxi from Boudha). Although you will find that you can purchase almost anything here, it is a safer bet to bring whatever you know you will need with you as the choices here may be limited.
A teller or debit card (this being more useful than a credit card)
Pens, notebooks, highlighters are necessary but can also be bought locally
Sunhat and sunglasses
Short sleeved shirts
Long sleeved shirts
1 light jacket or windbreaker
Durable pants such as jeans or corduroys
Skirt, mid-calf or longer length is optional for women instead of pants (no short skirts please)
1 pair of sandals (rubber beach thongs are ideal for wearing in showers)
Personal toilet articles-soap, toothbrush, shaving needs, towel, shampoo, tampons or sanitary pads, etc.
Good flashlight, batteries
Sunscreen lotion
Insect repellent or mosquito net
Prescription medicine, vitamins and supplements (unobtainable here)
Cold remedies and over the counter medicines you normally use
Laptop computer
MP3 or other audio recording device with rechargeable batteries
USB stick (external mini-drive)
Special foods (for example, herbal teas, good coffee, health foods and snacks which you like)
Rain poncho or folding umbrella (you can buy very good umbrellas here)
Alarm clock
Tea or coffee mug if you wish to take to your room
Aside from travel, toiletries, etc. and the IBA course fees stipulated on the web site, students should allow for expenditures on textbooks, laundry, field trips, tourist visa renewals (see details), gifts for friends and relatives back home and any ritual practice materials you may wish to acquire inexpensively (since they are made here).
In Nepal 95% of the people wear rubber sandals. These are convenient to clean, especially during the muddy monsoon season. Some unpaved roads are rough and some students prefer to wear protective footwear that rinses easily while being sturdy and giving good traction. Ideally footwear should also be easily removable for going in and out of the shrine room.
The public transportation in Kathmandu includes taxis, public buses and three wheelers. Taxis cost around Rs150 from the Boudha area to the Thamel shopping area; the cost of public buses and three wheelers are usually less than Rs20. Meals can range from Rs100 per person at local restaurants to Rs1000 at a big Hotel.
All practice materials such as bells and dorjes, offering bowls, statues, thangkas, and brocades are either made in Nepal or can be purchased here at a fraction of the prices in the West. Inexpensive Indian editions of major Buddhist classics can also be purchased in the bookstores in Kathmandu. Made to measure clothing is available at very favorable prices. Pashmina shawls, rice paper crafts are wonderful lightweight items to take back as gifts.
Students can make local calls from the IBA office phone. Long distance calls must be made outside. There are internet cafes and public phone service shops available at the Boudha area which provide internet services, fax and long distance phone calls (some provide Voice Over Internet Protocol - long distance service at substantially reduced prices) which will enable you to maintain contact with your family and friends easily. Some students may wish to bring their cell phone for use in Nepal.
The IBA facilitates student field trips to holy pilgrimage sites in the Kathmandu Valley. The trip costs are shared equally by participating students and are generally very affordable. Some of the destinations have included Namo Buddha, Pharping, caves of Milarepa and ofPadmasambhava, Swayambhu Stupa and many monasteries and lamas of the 4 traditions.
Pickup and drop-off laundry service is available during the semester at approximately 10 to 30 RS per item. You can also wash some or all of your clothes by hand. Washing detergent and soap are available for purchase locally but softeners and other products for delicate clothing are harder to find.
Each student room is furnished with a single bed, closet, desk and chair. There is a spacious bathroom, with several toilets and two shower areas on each floor, shared between approximately ten rooms. Windows have glass and screens so they can be opened at night for fresh air. Most rooms have a balcony, overlooking the farming lands and residential areas of Kathmandu. Each room has only one electrical outlet that can be expanded, if needed, with power strips purchased here. Nothing can be hung or affixed to the walls or furniture.
The electric current in Nepal is 220 volts. If bringing electronic equipment, pack a couple of two prong round or two prong flat adapter plugs and the appropriate transformers. Plug adapters and transformers can be purchased inexpensively here. Laptop users should not worry since all laptops include voltage transformers built-in to their plug adapters. We currently experience scheduled blackouts two days a week for a couple of hours.
To facilitate students' ability to stay in touch with friends and family, the IBA has developed a wireless network (WIFI) for internet users on campus. Internet access also enables research, file sharing and information storage. The network is accessed by students' wireless laptops in most locations on campus or by desktop computers in the student lounge. Be forewarned that the connection speed is very slow by international standards.
The library has a beautiful view of both the IBA courtyard and the surrounding hills dotted with monasteries, schools and rice fields. The library houses significant collections of texts in 3 languages: Tibetan, English and Chinese. There are several editions of the Tibetan Canon along with magnificent collections of commentaries. The English language books are organized in general subject categories: art, Buddhist Studies, culture, history, language, philosophy, politics, practice, Sutra and Vajrayana.
There are senior students and sangha members who can assist students with personal problems but there is no professional counsellor or psychologist on staff.
Students are given bedding, bath and hand towels which they are responsible for keeping clean. Some students find it helpful to use a mosquito net made for covering a single bed. Students should bring their own personal care items such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.
There is an open group meditation every morning at 6:30am in the shrine room. The shrine room can be used all day but most people do their personal practice in their rooms
Some students find it convenient to have beverage heaters in their rooms. The student bedrooms are not equipped for cooking. We also do not allow students to use the IBA kitchen without supervision. We sometimes have a fun cultural exchange in which students, cooking together in the kitchen, prepare a taste of their traditional cuisine to share with everyone.
We offer a wide assortment of mostly vegetarian choices in a weekly rotation. Lunch and dinner frequently also feature non-vegetarian dishes. The meals are wholesome, tasty, and nourishing. We do not have any sweet desserts, but lunches and dinners often include some fresh fruit and/or fresh yogurt. We are not equipped to meet the needs of those who have food allergies or specific nutritional requirements.
Each course and the retreat have an orientation for students. It is held the day before each course starts, at 3pm. At this informal meeting, students will meet the staff, teachers and fellow students. The rules and regulations will be introduced and questions regarding the schedule will be clarified. Students are expected to arrive a day or two before the commencement of their courses in order to attend the orientation and to adjust to a new time zone
Nepal rises with the sun. Many people take the opportunity to meditate in the mornings. The days starts with a hearty breakfast at 7am. The main philosophy teaching begins at 8am in the spacious shrine room. The various Tibetan classes take place before lunch time. Everyone gathers at noon for a relaxing buffet lunch in the main dining room. Apart from the review class, the afternoon offers free time for students to spend in different ways: walking to the Boudha Stupa, studying in the library, practicing Tibetan with speaking partners, visiting with other students during tea breaks and so forth. The long afternoon comes to a close with dinner at 6:30pm. Evenings are a quiet time for study, reflection and meditation and the occasional lively discussion. It often rains at night during monsoon season. See daily schedule here.
Our one month course attracted 37 students and was translated into Spanish and Mandarin. The two month philosophy course was attended by 26 students of various backgrounds. Our annual retreat, led by Khenchen Appey Rinpoche drew 76 eager students from all parts of the world.
Due to the in-depth nature of our program, we do not offer any courses by correspondence. If you are unable to travel, you may wish to consider online programs offered by other Institutes. (eg. Lama Tzong Kapa Institute)
Within 15 days after the commencement of classes students who wish to withdraw must submit a written request to the office. Refunds will be made in Nepalese rupees, according to the exchange rate in effect at that time, after deducting a US$150 administration fee. No refunds will be provided to students after 15 days of school attendance.
Students are expected to attend all classes and review sessions. Certificates will be issued to students who have at least 80% attendance and who meet the examination requirements for that course. Students must attend a minimum of 2 weeks to participate in a course.
Students can attend a minimum of 2 weeks of any course. We provide accommodation only for students who attend courses. We also do not offer short-stay facilities in the manner of a hotel. There are many accommodation options in Kathmandu including monastery guesthouses and hotels in close vicinity to the IBA.
Students can record classes for their own personal study purposes. We encourage students to take advantage of current technology to further their studies. Many students also find it helpful to bring their laptops and a USB mini-drive to transfer files
Ideally students would progress through the courses gradually, developing their knowledge of concepts and key terms. Although it would be helpful to have some familiarity with the subject matter or terms, it is not essential. Each course is presented as a separate and discrete unit without relying on previous studies.
Our doors are open to all people who have a genuine interest in the Buddhadharma. Besides students who have deep roots in the Tibetan tradition, we currently have students from purely academic backgrounds. We also attract meditators without any affiliation who wish to deepen their knowledge of Buddhist spiritual theory that will enhance their practice.
Of course! Our main focus is the study of classical Mahayana Indian texts. These form the basis of traditional programs for monastic universities of all Tibetan traditions. Our Khenpos rely mostly on the commentaries of Sakya scholars to elucidate the main texts. We do not teach Vajrayana tantras or practices, so there is no conflict of lineages.
If you have already studied the Tibetan Language, it is always a good idea to review your text and notes before coming to the IBA. Please visit our Tibetan Language course descriptions for the prerequisites for each level and recommendations on how to prepare.
It would be beneficial to prepare by reading materials related to the course you plan to take. You will find suggestions in the course description along with any available translations of the main texts. We will include links to sources of study material when available.
We welcome people from all walks of life, backgrounds and levels of education. The course material is challenging and requires an investment of time and attention in order for students to receive the benefit of the teachings. We are not equipped to take care of students who have a pre-existing medical condition (physical or mental) which requires monitoring or can potentially result in disruption for other students.
Unless otherwise stated, the courses are offered directly in English. We are fortunate to have teachers who are fluent in English and familiar with the English Dharma terms. This year we are also offering a course directly in Mandarin for Chinese students. We offer translation into other languages for groups of 6 or more students. Please contact us for availability. Simultaneous translation is delivered via FM radio broadcast. Students need to supply their own radio receiver (Walkman or any regular FM radio) and earphones.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ACCOMMODATION IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE TIBETAN 101, 102 AND 201 LANGUAGE COURSES UNLESS THEY ARE TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER SUMMER COURSES.
Choose your courses and read the fees page before you register.
When you have read the information please send us the registration form. Your confirmation letter will include information on the availability of on-campus accommodation.
When your accommodation status had been confirmed you must pay your non-refundable deposite.
After sending your deposit, you can pay the balance of your fees in advance of your arrival by PayPal or bank transfer, or, upon your arrival by cash in local currency. If registered in more than one course, payment for each course must be made no later than one week before the end of the previous course.
All participants, including those staying off-campus, must attend the Orientation meeting at 4pm on the day before the course is to begin. Details will be send with your registration confirmation letter. If you stay off campus, and plan to request arrangements for taking the noon meal on campus during the time of your participation, you must enquire at the office about the costs and pay in advance for the time period of your course.
Registration Registration is subject to approval by the IBA. Please send your online registration form one month prior to the start of the course. You will receive an email confirmation from IBA. If you do not receive confirmation within a week, please contact us. Once accommodation availability has been confirmed your deposits must be paid by PayPal, since bank transfers can take up to a month before we receive notice of them.
Refund policy: Within one week of the commencement of a one month or a two month course, students who wish to withdraw must come to the office in person. Refunds (after deduction of a $100 administration fee) will be made in Nepalese rupees, according to the exchange rate, which is set at the start of the season. The $100 deposite is non-refundable, as are the fees for the 10 day retreat (on or off-campus).
The IBA's Monastic Leaders' Program trains talented graduates of monastic philosophy colleges to become textual translators, oral translators, administrators and teachers to serve the wider Dharma community. Our program focusses on language courses in English and Chinese, along with computer literacy and translation classes, and additional courses in Sanskrit, administrative methods, and leadership.
Our specific aim is to prepare many of these scholars for leadership roles within their own monastic communities, while those with the keenest aptitude for textual translation will work in the IBA's Translation and Publishing Department.
This Monastic Leaders' Program is intended to work in conjunction with our School of Translation Intensive Program training courses for international scholars. We foresee that teams of translators drawn from both our Schools will form the working foundation of our Translation Department.
Under the guidance of our experienced Khenpos and distinguished guest scholars, our translation teams will endeavour to make the Buddhadharma more widely available in non-Tibetan languages, through translation into English, Chinese and other languages.
We hope that our efforts will also enhance the vitality of the international community of Buddhist scholars with significant numbers of new translators and scholars who are deeply rooted in the authentic Buddhadharma and have the communication skills to help in its transmission.
This intensive Tibetan language program runs for seventeen-months, from October 2011 to May 2013. Students will be trained in colloquial and classical Tibetan. The aim of the program is to develop text translators who can then begin hands-on training on a translation project alongside a Tibetan scholar.
Program Description This program is designed to provide a comprehensive training in the Tibetan language within a concentrated period of time. All aspects of the Tibetan language will be covered; however, an emphasis will be placed on translating classical Buddhist texts.
The program is divided into five phases:
The first 10 weeks will be an intensive colloquial crash course to get students conversing in Tibetan.
The second phase will gradually introduce classical grammar and build a general vocabulary.
The third phase of the program will focus on specific vocabulary and translation skills within the major Tibetan Buddhist literary genres.
This fourth phase is mainly about Buddhadharma. Students will participate in the IBA’s summer philosophy courses supplemented by lectures in Tibetan on the same subjects as an integral part of the program.
The second year of the program is designed to deepen all skills previously aquired, with the focus on textual translation training.
The final trimester of each academic year will feature a guest scholar-translator introducing different approaches to translation. SOTIP participants will have conversation partners throughout the program to help them improve their colloquial speaking skills. The course will be limited to a maximum of 15 participants to ensure a low student/teacher ratio.
The course will be complemented by classes on Buddhist history, literature, philosophy and culture. These classes will be conducted by the Lotus Academic College based in Patan, Kathmandu. The four subjects will be treated equally totaling 2 hours of class time per week. These classes will provide students with the context that is helpful and sometimes crucial for the translation of Buddhist texts. They will also facilitate a student visa allowing an extended stay in Nepal which is necessary for the completion of the SOTIP course.
Faculty The teaching faculty consists of translators and Tibetan language teachers with years of experience teaching international students. Gen Mingyur Dorje la will be the main instructor for colloquial Tibetan and classical grammar. He will be assisted by a non-Tibetan junior translator familiar with the difficulties students of classical Tibetan encounter in their studies.
Gavin Kilty from the UK will be the senior translator leading the translation workshops at the end of each academic year (phase 3). We are very fortunate to have him teach these classes, as he training and experience make him the ideal teacher for this program. He studied at the School of Dialectics in Dharamsala and has been a translator for the Tibetan Classics series.
In the second year, Khenpo Ngawang Jorden, director of the institute, will be teaching the main translation class. (see the faculty page for biographic details.) Tibetan Lopöns graduated from major monastic universities will be serving as both drilling instructors and 1-on-1 conversation partners throughout the program.
Venue The courses will be conducted at the International Buddhist Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal. The modern IBA campus houses a large teaching hall, spacious classrooms, basketball and badminton courts, beautiful lawns and comfortable, furnished bedrooms with balconies overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Students can bring a laptop computer to facilitate their studies, and wireless Internet is available for their convenience. There is a natural water filtration system, and the kitchen staff provides healthy vegetarian and non-vegetarian Nepali and Tibetan dishes. IBA provides a perfect environment for study, contemplation and meditation.
Living in Nepal – the good, the bad and the ugly The Kathmandu Experience: IBA is only a short walk from Boudhanath Stupa, which is surrounded by monasteries where many lamas of all Tibetan traditions live and teach. The area around Boudhanath Stupa offers many modern conveniences, including ATMs, Internet and laundry services. There are several supermarkets catering to most needs and first-class medical facilities, employing both foreign and local staff.
Weekend activities and holy sites: Throughout Nepal there are literally hundreds of holy sites, stupas and shrines that the students can visit on the weekends. Students can also practice their Tibetan by befriending and mingling with the local Tibetan community in the shops and restaurants surrounding the main Bouddhanath Stupa. The longer holiday breaks in the program are a good opportunity to visit India’s many holy sites and attend or request teachings from lamas.
The bad and the ugly: Nepal is a developing nation and one of the poorest in the world. This causes a range of problems. You can expect to see people living in poverty and many sick dogs. You can also expect to develop stomach trouble if you buy food from street vendors. There is a severe shortage of electricity which causes many hours of controlled load-shedding (blackouts) during the winter and spring months.
The key to a successful stay in Nepal is not to have high expectations that demand what we are accustomed to in the West. If you have traveled in South Asia or visited other developing countries, you will have no trouble adjusting to a simple life in Nepal. For example, we have an ecologically friendly water heating system. Since it is heated by natural sunlight, students who prefer the warmest showers will have to wait until after lunch.
The Nepali people are generally warm and friendly, and there is very little personal security risk. For the peace of mind of the students, the IBA campus has a guard on duty.
Schedule The program will begin on October 1, 2011, and conclude on May 17, 2013. It will be interspersed with holidays and seminars led by guest translators. Students are welcome to stay at the IBA campus during breaks and enjoy the peace and quiet in a spiritual environment.
SOTIP Chart
Aims
Classes
Hrs/week
Phase 1
1st trimester
Oct.3 - Dec.16, 2011
•–Introduction to Colloquial Tibetan
Colloquial theory and practice
10
1on1 Conversation
5
Drilling
5
Lotus Academic College
2
Phase 2
2nd trimester
Jan.9 - Feb.17, 2012
•–Develop fluency
•–Overview of Tibetan Grammar and key vocabulary
Colloquial theory and practice
5
1on1 Conversation
5
Drilling
5
Introduction to Classical Tibetan language
5
Lotus Academic College
2
Phase 3
3rd trimester
Feb.27-May 11, 2012
•–Fluency in colloquial Tibetan
•–Deepen understanding of Tibetan Grammar
•–Vocabulary buildup
•–Introduction to translation
Colloquial theory and practice
5
1on1 Conversation
5
Introduction to grammar in classical Tibetan
5
Introduction to translation by guest scholar
5
Lotus Academic College
2
Phase 4 (summer courses)
June-August, 2012
•–Deepen understanding of the Buddhadharma
Buddhist philosophy/practice - classes in English
10
Oral comprehension - lectures in Tibetan
5
Lotus Academic College
2
Phase 5 (2nd year)
1st to 3rd trimesters
Oct. 1, 2012 to May 17, 2013
•–Fluency in colloquial Tibetan
•–Deepen understanding of Classical Tibetan
•–Oral comprehension
•–Textual translation
Colloquial theory and practice
3
1on1 Conversation
5
Study of Tibetan Grammar (sum rtags)
2
Hands-on textual translation
5
Oral comprehension - Lectures in Tibetan
5
SOTIP Schedule
Dates for 2011
Oct 1
Orientation
Oct 3–Dec 16
SOTIP(trimester 1)
Dec 17–Jan 8
break - no classes
Dates for 2012
Jan 13–Feb 17
SOTIP (trimester 2)
Feb 18–Feb 26
break - no classes
Feb 27–May 11
SOTIP (trimester 3)
May 12–May 31
break - no classes
June 3–Aug 31
IBA summer philosophy courses
September
break - optional 10 day retreat
Oct 1–Dec 7
SOTIP (2nd year: trimester 1)
Dec 8–Jan 13
break - no classes
Dates for 2013
Jan 14–Feb 22
SOTIP (2nd year: trimester 2)
Feb 23–Mar 3
break - no classes
Mar 4–May 17
SOTIP (2nd year: trimester 3)
May 18
Graduation
Jun 1–Sep 11
ptional IBA summer philosophy courses
Sample Daily Schedule for 5th Phase – Monday through Friday
Time
Activity
Location
7:00
Breakfast
8:00
Translation
Classroom2
9:15
Oral Comprehension
Classroom1
10:15
Tea Break
10:45
Classical Grammar
Classroom2
12:00
Lunch
14:00
1-on-1 conversation
On campus
15:30
Tea Break
16:00
Self study
18:30
Dinner
Is this program right for you? Generally, intensive translation training programs of this type have a high dropout rate. This is because after some time the participants find it difficult to keep up with the pace of the class and learning the vocabulary. We aim to minimize this problem by selecting the right students.
Two types of students do well: those with an aptitude for learning languages and those with a burning desire to learn Tibetan. For example, some students have promised their lama they will learn Tibetan and are willing to totally invest themselves in the endeavor. You should apply for this program only if you have a natural ability to learn languages or if you are committed to investing whatever time and energy it takes to learn Tibetan.
Obviously, completing this program will have a tremendous impact on you. Learning Tibetan will empower you and change your life significantly. You will have access to the treasure of Dharma contained within the vast collection of scriptures in Tibetan, and you will be able to communicate directly with lamas. As a translator, you will contribute to the dissemination of the Dharma and thereby help many sentient beings.
There are no application fees. All applications will be considered, and we encourage all those who are serious about learning Tibetan to apply. Preference will be given to applicants who are younger, who already know more than one language and who are willing to stay on after the two-year translation program to work on Sakya translation projects.
Important features of the program include:
Colloquial courses strengthened with 1-on-1 conversation partners and drilling classes
Classical courses developed with practical hands-on translation
Translation workshops with guest scholars
Study of classical Buddhist texts in both Tibetan and English
Room and board included for duration of the program
Daily access to Tibetan Khenpos and Lopons
Environment conducive to study
Entry requirements The Translator Training Intensive Program is rigorous, with 20 to 25 hours of work per week. At a minimum, students applying to the program should have the following prerequisites:
Should be at least 18 years of age.
Should possess a BA diploma or higher. If you do not have an academic degree please contact us to discuss other possibilities.
English proficiency: The classes will be conducted in English initially and then turn almost exclusively to Tibetan as students make progress in their ability to speak and understand the language. Although we encourage native speakers of other languages to apply, it should be clear that the group translation efforts will be conducted in English. Therefore, students should be proficient in English to participate in the program.
Should have a basic knowledge of the Tibetan alphabet. Students should be able to recognize the Tibetan characters, know their pronunciation, syllable structure, etc. Although more knowledge of Tibetan will be helpful as the course develops, this much is required.
Should be diligent and possess an enthusiasm for learning Tibetan.
Application Process
The application consists of 3 parts:
online form
short statement of motivation
evaluation quiz
Deadline for submitting the online registration and all application materials: June 30, 2011.
Fees The fees for the first academic year (Oct 2011-May 2012) will amount to $4550 USD, including tuition, room and board, as well as the tuition fees for the Lotus Academic College. The fees for the Summer Course (June-Aug 2012), which forms an integral part of the program, will amount to $1250 USD. The second academic year (Oct 2012-May 2013) will amount to $4000 USD.
In addition to the Tibetan and additional courses on Buddhist philosophy, history etc., each student is entitled to a private room, three meals a day, tea during breaks, use of IBA’s library and other facilities, and unlimited Wi-Fi Internet.
Program fees do not cover transportation, visa fees ($50 per month for a student visa), medical insurance or other personal expenses.
Payments for each academic year are to be made at the beginning of each October.
Discount Ordained Sangha receive a 25% discount on all fees.
For those seeking a more complete understanding of Buddhist texts we offer Tibetan Language instruction at various levels. Our daily classes provide an important opportunity for interested students to learn this classical language while pursuing their Dharma studies. The Tibetan classes are ongoing and taught side by side the Buddhist Philosophy courses beginning in June. Students who arrive after the term has begun can join a class in progress that is most appropriate to their level of experience.
You can register for the various Tibetan Language courses offered in June, July and August on the Registration Page for the Buddhist Studies courses. Please note, however, that accommodation can not be provided for those wishing only to take the Tibetan language courses.
Tibetan 101 - Colloquial This course follows the Manual of Standard Tibetan as its principal text up to Chapter 25. The classes begin by teaching the reading, writing and pronunciation of the Tibetan Alphabet. As the course progresses students will be introduced to the basic vocabulary, fundamentals of Tibetan grammar, sentence structure and colloquial dialogs. This class meets one hour a day, five days a week for up to 3 months each year.
This course focuses primarily on Colloquial Tibetan although the instructor will also incorporate elements of Classical Tibetan. Students can buy a copy of the Manual of Standard Tibetan to review before attending the class or they can purchase the text at the IBA. Tournadre, Nicolas (2003) Manual of Standard Tibetan, Snow Lion Publications. Tibetan 102 - Colloquial This course follows the Manual of Standard Tibetan as its principal text from Chapter 21 to the end. After a short review of the material that is generally covered in Tibetan 101, students continue to study the dialogues in the book, chapter by chapter. The prerequisite for this class is having taken Tibetan 101 or possessing the equivalent knowledge. This class meets one hour a day, five days a week for up to 3 months each year.
This course focuses primarily on Colloquial Tibetan although the instructor will also incorporate elements of Classical Tibetan and introduce Dharma vocabulary. Students can buy a copy of the Manual of Standard Tibetan to review before attending the class or they can purchase the text at the IBA. Tournadre, Nicolas (2003) Manual of Standard Tibetan, Snow Lion Publications. Tibetan 201 – Aural Comprehension The format of the class will be a lively teaching in Tibetan with questions and answers. The instructor will teach a brief Dharma lesson each day with simple words. Students can request clarifications in Tibetan. To participate in the course, students should have a basic understanding of spoken Tibetan. It is also possible to attend the class silently as a non-participating student absorbing the material.
The School of Translation oversees the different Tibetan Language related programs at the Academy. It translates and publishes Tibetan texts, and offers Tibetan Language courses at various levels. The Tibetan Language Summer Program offers introductory and intermediate courses alongside philosophy courses. The School also offers an intensive 2 year translator training program.
Vision To develop a textual European language dharma tradition through a supportive community that empowers individuals with the skills and resources needed to maintain and flourish the Buddhadharma.
Goals
Translation projects in pairs or groups in the Pandita with Lotsawa structure.
Training and supporting translators who work from the classical dharma languages.
The co-operative creation of necessary lexicons, philosophical terminologies
To publish translated texts and digitalized Tibetan texts
Activate communication and liaison within the community
School of Translation Current Projects
School of Translation Intensive Program (SOTIP)
Summer Language Courses
Tibetan input project
White Conch translation committee
Sponsorship Opportunities
The patronage of the translation of a particular text on the committee’s translation list
Support of individuals studying or undertaking translation
General sponsorship of the IBA School of Translation
Annual 10-Day Retreat – 3 September to 12 September Our annual ten-day retreat offers a wonderful opportunity to delve more deeply into the Dharma and to reconnect with one’s stable center of practice. The retreat master will guide the participants on how to concentrate their minds and also on how to tame their self-centered emotions in order to develop an altruistic disposition.
Our dates for the retreat have been confirmed: Monday 3rd September - Wednesday 12th September. The retreat leader will be announced shortly.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ACCOMMODATION IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WISHING ONLY TO TAKE THE TIBETAN 101, 102 AND 201 LANGUAGE COURSES
Fees in US$ for a 4 week duration
Dharma Course
$210
2 sessions per day
Tibetan Language Classes
$110
1 hour class per week day (Mon-Fri), offered in June, July and August only
Accomodation
$160
Private room with shared bathroom
Meals
$180
3 meals, plus morning & afternoon tea
Other Fees
10-Day Retreat
$280
Includes food, private room and tuition $110 for tuition only
Registration Fee
$40
Paid once by every person registering in 2012
Non-Refundable Deposit
$100
For any one course or to cover all courses, on or off-campus
Additional Information
Fees are expressed in US funds.
Ordained Sangha receive a 25% reduction on the total cost of all courses, excluding the registration fee which is $40 for all participant. The $100 deposite must be paid in full in advance.
Students may arrive one day before their course begins and stay one day after their course ends. Those who register for more than one course may stay without extra charge during the days between the courses in which they are registered. Those attending the June course may arrive two days before the course begins. We need to have time between changes of room occupancy, for cleaning.
The full amount for all the courses students have registered in should be paid upon arrival. Deposits will be applied to the final course in which a student is registered. For example, if a student registers in two courses and cancels the second course after their arrival, all advance payments for their second course fees will be refunded, but their deposit will not be refunded. If a student cancels a second course before their arrival, the deposit will be applied to reduce the fees due upon arrival for the one course in which they are still registered.
Partial attendance on any Philosophy course is solely at the discretion of the teacher, from whom permission must be sought and granted in advance. This can only be for a minimum of two weeks at the beginning of a course. Only students attending one month Philosophy courses or the Retreat are eligible for on-campus accommodation and meals. (Please note accommodation in 2012 is limited.)
Please see the registration page for more details about registration and read the information. If you still have questions, then contact our volunteer who will endeavour to reply with seven days.
Payments This year, your on-line registration should not be accompanied by the $100 US deposit until accommodation availability has been confirmed. The deposit is non-refundable. It is applied first to your registration fee, then to the fees for the last course in which you are registered. The full amount can be paid upon arrival, either in dollars or by Nepali cash equivalent. Or you may pay with PayPal on-line or well in advance of your arrival, by bank ("wire") transfer. Since mail delivery is not reliable, we ask you not to send cheques through the mail. If you use a cheque to pay when you arrive, you must be registered on at least two months of courses, since international cheques can take a long time to clear. Please do not send any cash in the mail! It is illegal, and makes us vulnerable to having our mail routinely opened, if cash is ever discovered.
For Paypal: Please delay paying your deposite until on-campus accommodation availability has been confirmed.
For bank transfer please send your payments to: NABIL Bank Ltd."Jorpati Branch", PO Box 3729, Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal
GENERAL IBA ACCOUNT WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION: Bank Name : NABIL Bank Ltd Account Name : International Buddhist Academy Account number : # 0201017503399 Swift Code : NARBNPKA
If you choose the bank transfer method, please send us an e-mail to let us know that you have made a bank transfer, along with your name, transferring bank's name, the exact amount, the date, and the country from which the transfer was made. We will need all these details in order to get the confirmation from our bank that your transfer has been completed. Thank you!
Refund policy: Within 10 days of the commencement of classes students who wish to withdraw must contact the office. Refunds will be made in Nepalese rupees, according to the exchange rate in effect at that time, after deducting a US$100 administration fee. No refunds will be provided to students after 10 days of school attendance. No refunds will be issued for the 10-day retreat or the registration deposit.
Lessons are conducted 5 days a week from Monday to Friday. The courses are intensive requiring students to invest considerable time and energy to prepare for the classes. Saturday afternoons and Sundays are free time for students to explore the Kathmandu Valley, visit friends, go shopping, and mingle with the local Tibetan community of Boudhanath. IBA will also organize guided tours of major cultural sites of the Valley from time to time.
Dr. Khenpo Ngawang Jorden studied the five branches of Buddhist philosophy at Sakya College in India under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche. Khenpo Jorden later taught at Sakya College before going to America to study at Harvard University where he completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies. Khenpo Jorden has retired from his teaching post at the University of Chicago and is now the Director of IBA in Kathmandu.
Academy Facilities
The Academy is situated in the Tinchuli suburb of the Boudha area, which is home to the famous Boudhanath Stupa. The campus architecture provides an harmonious setting with a high standard of design, building materials and custom-made furnishings.
The school has a shrine hall which can accommodate up to 500 people for special lessons and events. There are 10 classrooms available, as well as a common lounge for the students' relaxation and use. There are three dining halls, which accommodate up to 80 people. The Academy maintains a scholarly library which provides all the reference books required for students' use, available to students during the school term, as well as a large selection of Buddhist academic and practice texts. A further library is under construction.
There are 64 individual rooms available for student accommodation. The dormitory rooms in both mens' and womens' wings have an attached balcony overlooking the Kathmandu Valley. Student rooms are provided with a single bed, wardrobe, desk and chair. Every floor in each wing is equipped with clean, modern shared bathrooms with showers and Western, flush toilets. There are also basketball and badminton courts, as well as a garden with shaded pavilions for recreation, relaxation and study. The Academy campus is secured by a 24-hour security guard.
Dr. Khenpo Ngawang Jorden studied the five branches of Buddhist philosophy at Sakya College in India under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche. Khenpo Jorden later taught at Sakya College before going to America to study at Harvard University where he completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies. Khenpo Jorden has retired from his teaching post at the University of Chicago and is now the Director of IBA in Kathmandu.
Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin studied at Sakya College under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche until 1984 and later served as the acting Khenpo until 1989. He then undertook a three year retreat under the guidance of H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. He has been teaching philosophy and Tibetan language at his monastery in Mundgod, India, since 1994.
Courses offered are based on selected principal texts from four of the five subjects studied in Tibetan Buddhist monastic colleges from all traditions (excluding the Vinaya section traditionally studied only by monastics):
Madhyamaka (དབུ་མ་ - Philosophy of the Middle Way)
Abhidharma (ཆོས་མངོན་པ་ - Phenomenology)
Prajñāpāramitā (ཤེར་ཕྱིན་ - the Perfection of Wisdom)
Pramāṇa (ཚད་མ་ - Logic and Epistemology)
Each year, IBA aims to teach both Buddhist philosophy from the above mentioned topics, as well as "pith instruction" texts supporting practice.
These courses are designed to complement each other, providing a balanced approach between understanding the profound meaning of the Buddha's teachings and applying it in one's life. The courses cater to students at all levels of academic experience and from all Buddhist traditions. This diversity creates a stimulating and enriching environment, and many find it a joy to interact with Dharma students from different walks of life, different countries, different traditions and of all ages. Courses are conducted in English.
Welcome to our website! The International Buddhist Academy (IBA) was founded by The Most Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, who also founded Sakya College in Dehradun, India , to provide a place to study and practice the Buddha's teachings with a non-sectarian emphasis. Situated in a quiet suburb of Boudhanath, in the heart of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, it provides a peaceful and conducive environment in which we can learn, practice and integrate the Buddhadharma in our daily lives. The IBA is also committed to translating many works from Tibetan into English and other languages so that students from all over the world can benefit from the Buddha's teachings.
NEWS AND UPDATES
* APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2ND YEAR OF THE TRANSLATOR TRAINING PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN
Places are Limited! Application deadline: August 31
As this is an advanced course, application requirements are: - intermediate level of colloquial Tibetan (equivalent to eight months of study, or the content of the Manual of Standard Tibetan) - basic knowledge of classical Tibetan grammar
If you are interested in joining the 2nd year of this program, please send your application to cbernert@sakyaiba.edu.np.
Please enclose: - Your full name, age, and country. - A description of your Tibetan and Buddhist studies so far. - A motivation letter.
Our dates for the retreat have been confirmed: MONDAY, 3rd SEPTEMBER - WEDNESDAY, 12th September. The retreat leader will be announced shortly, registration is open.
Tashi delek! The IBA, in the heart of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley, provides an ideal "retreat" atmosphere for Buddhist study, contemplation and meditation. Our Academy teaches the key Classic Indian Buddhist treatises that are studied by all Mahayana and Tibetan traditions. The IBA program is balanced between studies in Philosophy theory and texts that show how to implement it in our lives, on and off the cushion. We offer courses at various levels in Tibetan Language for interested students from all over the world.
The late Most Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche was the founder of the International Buddhist Academy. Rinpoche studied under outstanding masters, including Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro, Deshung Ajam Rinpoche and Dragyab Lodro. He taught in several distinguished institutions in Tibet and India, before coming to Nepal, where he began the work of establishing the International Buddhist Academy. The IBA is dedicated to making the great Buddhist tradition of rigorous scholarship and soundly-based practice accessible to international scholars. Rinpoche was renowned for the precision, vastness and inspirational power of his teachings. His detailed knowledge of vast numbers of commentarial texts has made him a precious, and greatly-missed treasury of the Buddha's teachings.
"The main objective of sentient beings in this universe is to avoid suffering and obtain happiness. This objective can only be partially and temporarily realized through worldly methods. Only the Dharma can eradicate all suffering and accomplish permanent happiness. So it is essential to practice the Dharma. For this, it is important to first study and contemplate. Since many people in this age are interested in Tibetan Buddhism, I founded the IBA with the hope that they can study the Dharma and that it will flourish worldwide."
H.H. the Sakya Trizin is considered second only to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the spiritual hierarchy of Tibetan Buddhism. His Holiness was born into the noble Khon family, upholders of the Sakya religious tradition for over nine hundred years. His Holiness is distinguished among the great Lamas by the vast amount of teachings he has received. His Holiness spends most of his time practicing the Dharma, and has completed many solitary retreats. His Holiness has also taught extensively both in Asia and the West, generously bestowing his wisdom for the benefit of living beings through such major sets of initiations and instructions as the Collection of Tantras, Collection of Sadhanas, and the Path and its Result (Lam-Dre).
In short, His Holiness the Sakya Trizin upholds the entire Buddhist doctrine and has caused it to flourish far and wide, throughout the world. He has been an unfailing source of wisdom and compassion for all of his Dharma students.
"Many people are now interested in the Buddha's teachings and it is very important for them to study properly in order to follow the Dharma correctly. In the IBA our aim is to give the facilities to those foreigners who are interested in studying the Buddha's teachings. It is our wish that the IBA will become a great learning center where foreigners can come and study, contemplate, and meditate, so that eventually they will be able to accomplish the great realization."
Audio: History of the Sakya Tradition and the importance of studying at IBA
The International Buddhist Academy (IBA) was founded by the late, Most Venerable Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, and was inaugurated officially in 2001. After the establishment of Sakya College (note 1) and extensive interaction with lay students, Rinpoche felt that there was a lack of proper facilities and systematic instruction for lay students who wished to engage in comprehensive studies of Buddhism. With the help of sponsors, friends and students, Rinpoche started the construction of the IBA in 1994.
On completion of the construction, the Academy started offering classes to international students in 2001. In the years since, we have been delighted to welcome students of all traditions and backgrounds who are drawn to the in-depth classical Dharma studies presented by the IBA's faculty of highly qualified Khenpos.
In addition to providing teachings on the Buddha Dharma, some of the Academy's many on-going projects include the computerization of Tibetan scriptures, translation projects and publications.
Thus far, the IBA has published over 70 volumes of rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures for distribution to monastic institutions and lay scholars. Contact the IBA.
Note 1: Sakya College is located in Dehra Dun, north India: a monastic University providing Buddhist philosophy and Tantric teachings to monks
對於那些追尋對佛經能更加完整理解的學生，我們開了各級西藏語文課程。在佛法課程外我們每天日提供藏語藏文課讓有興趣的學生有機會學習這個古典語言。藏文課會在六月和佛教哲學課程一起開始。學生在六月抵達的可以自由選擇加入已在進行中最適合他們程度的藏文課。
這門課採用標準藏語1-25章作為其主要的課本。入門由藏文字母的發音,書寫, 和讀誦開始。隨著課程的進展學生將被逐步接觸基本詞彙，藏文文法，句子結構和口語對話。這門課每年只開3個月，每週五天, 每天上課一小時。
這門課以標準藏文手冊第21章到結尾為題材。在簡單複習西藏文101的內容後，學生逐章學習各章的對話。修這門課的學坐必需先修過藏文101或具有同等能力。這門課以每天上一小時, 每週五天, 每年不超過3個月為準。
Ga Rabjampa Kunga Yeshe's extensive treatise on Mind Training:
白法螺翻譯小組 
Ven. Dhammadipa lectures upon mindfulness (smrti; dran pa) and awareness (samprajanya; shes bzhin).
Jetsünma Tenzin Palmo - Question and Answer Session at the IBA.
To facilitate students' ability to stay in touch with friends and family, the IBA has developed a wireless network for internet users on campus. Internet access also enables research, file sharing and information storage. The network is accessed by students' wireless laptops in most places on campus or by desktop computers in the student lounge room. Be forewarned that the connection speed is very slow by international standards.
This intensive Tibetan language program runs for seventeen-months, from October 2011 to May 2013. Students will be trained in colloquial and classical Tibetan. The aim of the program is to develop text translators who can then begin hands-on training on a translation project alongside a Tibetan scholar.
Faculty
Weekend activities and holy sites:
Generally, intensive translation training programs of this type have a high dropout rate. This is because after some time the participants find it difficult to keep up with the pace of the class and learning the vocabulary. We aim to minimize this problem by selecting the right students.
For those seeking a more complete understanding of Buddhist texts we offer Tibetan Language instruction at various levels. Our daily classes provide an important opportunity for interested students to learn this classical language while pursuing their Dharma studies. The Tibetan classes are ongoing and taught side by side the Buddhist Philosophy courses beginning in June. Students who arrive after the term has begun can join a class in progress that is most appropriate to their level of experience. 
Tibetan 101 - Colloquial
Tibetan 102 - Colloquial
The School of Translation oversees the different Tibetan Language related programs at the Academy. It translates and publishes Tibetan texts, and offers Tibetan Language courses at various levels. The Tibetan Language Summer Program offers introductory and intermediate courses alongside philosophy courses. The School also offers an intensive 2 year translator training program.
Annual 10-Day Retreat – 3 September to 12 September
Dr. Khenpo Ngawang Jorden studied the five branches of Buddhist philosophy at Sakya College in India under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche. Khenpo Jorden later taught at Sakya College before going to America to study at Harvard University where he completed his PhD in Buddhist Studies. Khenpo Jorden has retired from his teaching post at the University of Chicago and is now the Director of IBA in Kathmandu.
The Academy is situated in the Tinchuli suburb of the Boudha area, which is home to the famous Boudhanath Stupa. The campus architecture provides an harmonious setting with a high standard of design, building materials and custom-made furnishings. 
Khenpo Jamyang Tenzin studied at Sakya College under Khenchen Appey Rinpoche until 1984 and later served as the acting Khenpo until 1989. He then undertook a three year retreat under the guidance of H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche. He has been teaching philosophy and Tibetan language at his monastery in Mundgod, India, since 1994.
