TIBETAN SCHOLASTIC EDUCATIONThese texts, which are not counted among the thirteen great texts, are studied
with the help of literal glosses and combined with a few auxiliary texts teaching
grammar and history. During this period students are introduced to basic Bud-
dhist ideas, Mahayana practices, as well as the three sets of vow (pratimok~a,
bodhisattva and tantra) to which Tibetan practitioners usually commit them-
selves. At this early stage central tantric concepts already are introduced. For
example, the difference between siitras and tantras, a topic formally discussed
by dGe lugs scholars only after they have completed their exoteric studies, here
is taken as a preliminary of the whole curriculum.
2) The second part is centered on the study of the thirteen great texts. It can be
divided into two phases: a) The lower exoteric course, which last for three
years,^14 begins to expose the students to the different aspects of the classical
exoteric tradition as they are found in the most important Indian Buddhist treat-
ises. Students I have interviewed often describe Madhyamaka philosophy as the
main topic of these three years. This subject is examined through the following
three of the thirteen texts:- Nagarjuna's Treatise of the Middle Way
- Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas^15
- Candrakirti's Introduction to the Middle Way
To these three texts several other texts are added. A particularity of this curricu-
lum is its emphasis on Santarak~ita's Ornament of the Middle Way,^16 which is
studied together with its commentary by Mi pham rgya mtsho (mi-pam-gya-tso,
1846-1912). Like in the first phases of the curriculum, these texts are studied
with their commentaries, either literal glosses, often composed by gZhan phan,
or more substantial explanations, often by Mi pham. The other aspect emphas-
ized during these three years is the study of the Abhidharma, through an investi-
gation of the following two of the thirteen texts:- Asanga'sAbhidharma-samuccaya^17 (Compendium of Abhidharma)
- Vasubandhu's Abhidharma-ko~a (Treasury of Abhidharma)
Together with these other texts such as Mi Pham's Entrance Gate for the Wise,
an introduction to the methodology of scholastic studies that rather closely
follows Sa skya PaJ:ldita's (1182-1251 C.E., henceforth Sa paJ:!) text on the same
subject. The fourth year is also occupied by the study of Buddhist logic and epis-
temology on the basis of the main text of the Tibetan tradition on this subject:- Dharmak1rti's Pramii1;aviirttika (Commentary on Valid Cognition)
This text is studied together with Mi pham's word commentary. Throughout
this part of the curriculum, a variety of other auxiliary topics (grammar,