Shedra
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shedra is a Tibetan word meaning "place of learning" but specifically refers to the educational program in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. It is usually attended by monks between their early teen years and early twenties. Not all young monks enter a shedra; some study ritual practices instead.[1][2] Shedra is variously described as a university, monastic college, or philosophy school. The age range, however, corresponds to both secondary school and college. After completing a shedra, some monks continue with further scholastic training toward a Khenpo or Geshe degree, and other monks instead pursue training in ritual practices.
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[edit] Curriculum
 Tibetan Buddhism
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Three marks of existence |
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Gautama Buddha |
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Buddhahood · Avalokiteśvara |
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Changzhug · Drepung · Dzogchen |
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Comparative Studies |
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The curriculum varies with the lineage and monastery[3] but most cover the main foundational texts in the Tibetan Buddhist canon such as the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (The Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way) by Nagarjuna and the Madhyamakavatara (Entering the Middle Way) by Candrakīrti.[4] Some non-Buddhist courses like grammar, poetry, history, and arts may be included.[5] The initial years focus on the Buddhist sutras and the remaining years on tantras. Care is taken to introduce foundational topics first, building key concepts and vocabulary for later study.[6]
Compared to western educational systems, the shedra places much greater emphasis on memorization. Some traditions require monks memorize complete texts before studying them. They may be required to recite in class the new sections they've memorized each day.[7] In some lineages, debate becomes a major focus and practice for refining one's understanding. In those lineages students may spend a major portion of the day in debate with each other.[8][9]
There are also differing views on the importance of shedra. Geluk and Shakya lineages consider the shedra training essential, whereas in the Nyingma and Kagyu lineages this is less the case.[10]
[edit] Five Topics
Tsongkhapa standardized the Buddhist sutra curriculum into five major topics, and this was later adopted by many other schools.[11]
- Paramitas - study of mahayana
- Madhyamaka - philosophy
- Pramana - logic and epistemology
- Abhidharma - psychology
- Vinaya - monastic rules
[edit] Geluk Lineage
The shedra system at Sera Monastery, now relocated to southern India from Tibet, has a twelve to twenty year curriculum organized in the five topics. The first five years are foundational and cover logic, epistemology, vinaya, and the terms and distinctions built upon in later philosophic study. The next four years then study specific texts including Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara, Maitreya's Abhisamayalankara, and Dharmakirti's Pramanavarttika. The remaining four to eight years then continues with Vasubandu's Treasury of Manifest Knowledge and Gunaprabha's Vinayamula Sutra, and for some students study of Guhyasamaja tantra.[12]
[edit] Nyingma Lineage
The shedra at Namdroling Monastery includes specific phases of study with particular texts used within each phase. Commentaries by Ju Mipham or Khenpo Shenga (Shenpen Chökyi Nangwa)[13] may be used with each text. The phases and texts include:[14][15]
- First year
- Training on the Pratimoksha, Bodhisattva, and Samaya vows using Treatise Ascertaining the Three Vows by Pema Wangyal
- Bodhicharyavatara by Shantideva
- Grammar, Poetry, and History
- Second through fifth years
- Psychology using Abhidharmakosha by Vasubandu, Abhidharmasamuccaya by Asanga, and Pramanavarttika by Dharmakirti
- Madhyamaka philosophy texts including Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, Chatuhshataka-shastrakarika (The Four Hundred Verses on the Middle Way) of Aryadeva, Madhyamakavatara, and Madhyamakalankara
- Upper phase
- Yogacara philosophy using the five treatises of Maitreya via Asanga, including Gyulama (Mahayanottaratantrashastra or Ratnagotravibhaga), Abhisamayalankara, Mahayanasutralankara, Madhyantavibhanga (Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes), and Dharmadharmatavibhaga (Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being)
- Additional study on the vows and monastic discipline
- Tantra phase for two or three years
- Specific tantras like the Guhyagarbha tantra
- Dzogchen commentaries like Yuntenzu by Jigme Lingpa, Rangdrul Korsum (Trilogy of Self Liberation), and Nolsum Korsum (Trilogy of Resting)
- Additional study on the eight precepts of practice and related topics
[edit] Kagyu Lineage
The following texts were recommended by the 16th Karmapa as the basis for study in the shedra at Rumtek Monastery:[16]
- Vinaya, Abhidharma and Epistemology
- Vinayamula Sutra by Gunaprabha with a commentary by Mikyö Dorje (8th Karmapa)
- Abhidharmakosha by Vasubandhu with a commentary by Mikyö Dorje
- Pramanavarttika by Dharmakirti with a commentary by Chödrak Gyatso (7th Karmapa)
- Madhyamaka
- Madhyamakavatara by Chandrakirti with a commentary by Mikyö Dorje and another by Wangchuk Dorje (9th Karmapa)
- Abhisamayalankara by Maitreya-Asanga with a commentary by Mikyö Dorje which includes commentary by Indian scholar Haribhadra.
- Tantra
- Uttaratantra Shastra by Maitreya-Asanga with commentaries by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and another by Gölo Shönu Pal as a basis for studying buddha nature
- Zabmo Nangdön by Rangjung Dorje (3rd Karmapa) with commentaries by Rangjung Dorje and Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye as a basis for tantra
- Hevajra Tantra with commentaries by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Dakpo Tashi Namgyal
[edit] History
Monastic education and a tradition of scholarship was not unique to Tibet, but was imported when Buddhism was brought from India initially by Shantarakshita. Major Buddhist universities such as Nalanda University existed as places for advanced studies in India up until the twelfth century.
[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- ^ Yust (2006) p.181
- ^ Brown and Whitecross (2007) p. 73
- ^ Steward (2004) p.134
- ^ Gyamtso (2003) p.168
- ^ Lobel, Adam (2007) Mipham Academy Talk, June 11th, 2007
- ^ Ray (2002) p.368
- ^ Dreyfus (2003) pp.79-97
- ^ Gyatso (1998) pp. 70-72
- ^ Dreyfus (2003) pp.195, 229
- ^ Steward (2004) p.134
- ^ Ray (2002) p. 195
- ^ Jules Levinson. Shedra Education. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
- ^ Jules Levinson. Shedra Education. Retrieved on 2008-03-22.
- ^ Lobel, Adam (2007) Mipham Academy Talk, June 11th, 2007
- ^ Nitartha Institute school catalogue published 2007
- ^ Nitartha Institute school catalogue published 2007
- Brown, L., Armington, S., and Whitecross, R. W. (2007) Bhutan ISBN 1-74059-529-7
- Chodron, Thubten (2000) Blossoms of the Dharma: Living As a Buddhist Nun ISBN 1-55643-325-5
- Dreyfus, Georges J.B. (2003) The Sound of Two Hands Clapping: The Education of a Tibetan Buddhist Monk Berkeley: University of California Press ISBN 0-52023-260-7 online excerpts
- Gyamtso, Khenpo Tsultrim (2003) The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings on the Noble Nagarjuna's Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way ISBN 1-57062-999-4
- Gyatso, Lobsang (1998) Memoirs of a Tibetan Lama ISBN 1-55939-097-2
- Mukpo, Diana J & Gimian, Carolyn (2006) Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chögyam Trungpa ISBN 1590302567
- Ray, Reginald (2002) Indestructible Truth: The Living Spirituality of Tibetan Buddhism ISBN 1-57062-910-2
- Stewart, Jampa Mackenzie (2004) The Life of Gampopa ISBN 1-55939-214-2
- Yust , Karen-Marie (2006) Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World's Religious Traditions ISBN 0-74254-463-X
