Academy of Tibetan Culture
The purpose of AOTC is to provide a course of higher education in traditional Tibetan studies. The core subjects are: Buddhist Philosophy, Religion, Poetry, History, Literare and Medicine. Additionally, the students learn English, Chinese and computing. Until recently, students took a three-year course leading to an equivalent Batchelors degree and had the option to stay on for a further three years to complete a Masters degree. Now these two courses have been merged into a four-year course where the fourth year is spent writing a thesis on any aspect of their studies.
Below is a very brief summary of what is being taught for each subject:
Buddhist Philosophy, Religion, Poetry, History, Literature, Medicine, English, Chinese, Western Philosophy
Buddhist Philosophy and Religion
The students are taught from four main textbooks. These are:
a) Nangpe-Drubtha-Kor, The Buddhist Doctrine and Philosophy;
b) Jang-Chup-Lamrim-Drenpo, The Middle Graded Path of Bodhisattva, text by Tsongkapa;
c)Jang-Chup-Sempey-Choydpa-La-Jukpa, The Practitioner of the Greater Vehicle, teaching
of the Bodhisattva's character; and
d) Lek-Shey-Losel-Mig-Jeyd, The restoring eyesight of excellent qualities.
Poetry
The students are taught from two main textbooks. These are:
a) Tsang-Sey-Shayda, The melodious sound of the Lord Braham's daughter; and
b) Nyen-Ngag-Chidhen, The basic principles of poetry and literature.
They are also taught poetry from other sources, with the teacher writing out the poems for
the students and explaining their meaning. The students are also encouraged to write poetry.
History
The students are taught from two textbooks. The main textbook is: The Political History of Tibet by Shakabpa, volumes 1 and 2. This is supplemented by another textbook, Tep-De-Marpo by Tselpa Kunga Dorjee. In addition to teaching from these books, the teacher organizes debates on important events in Tibet's history.
Medicine
The students are taught the philosophy and principles of Tibetan Medicine. Specifically, they are taught the 1st and 2nd Tantras, about the theories of the three humors, the different energies and the basics of diagnosis and treatment.
English
There are two groups for English. One group is a beginner's class so the teacher speaks in both English and Tibetan. The other group is taught in only English. For the first two years of the course, the emphasis is on improving the students' basic grammar, and giving them practice in speaking and writing English. In the third and final years, we widen the scope of the course to include other skills such as report writing, giving interviews, form-filling and making presentations. We also organize poetry competitions and debates in English.
Chinese
There are two classes of Chinese students, beginner and intermediate. In the beginning class, we have been learning the pinyin alphabet as well as correct pronunciation. We mainly focus on how to construct basic sentences and carry out everyday conversation in Chinese. We also learn through songs and movies. In the intermediate class, we learn more advanced grammar structures and as well as reading, character writing, and essay composition.
Western Philosophy
There are very few texts in Tibetan on Western Philosophical Thought, and given that most students had little training in the English language prior to joining AOTC, much of the class is focused on lecture and discussion, not reading. We began the course by going through the debates found in the Socratic dialogues Eythephoro, Meno and Phaedo - introducing a style of reasoning crucial to Western Thought in general. We then began to race the origins of the scientific world view, beginning Socrates's view of physical reality, followed by Aristotle’s refutation of his predecessor and the rise of the view which he himself advocated, which was to lay the ground work of modern science. We are currently engaged in outlining some of the fundamental principles discovered by modern science, in chronological order by date of discovery. After learning the basic principles and theories of modern science, we will move on to Western Political Theory.
The students are taught from two main textbooks. These are:
a) Tsang-Sey-Shayda, The melodious sound of the Lord Braham's daughter; and
b) Nyen-Ngag-Chidhen, The basic principles of poetry and literature.
They are also taught poetry from other sources, with the teacher writing out the poems for
the students and explaining their meaning. The students are also encouraged to write poetry.
History
The students are taught from two textbooks. The main textbook is: The Political History of Tibet by Shakabpa, volumes 1 and 2. This is supplemented by another textbook, Tep-De-Marpo by Tselpa Kunga Dorjee. In addition to teaching from these books, the teacher organizes debates on important events in Tibet's history.
Medicine
The students are taught the philosophy and principles of Tibetan Medicine. Specifically, they are taught the 1st and 2nd Tantras, about the theories of the three humors, the different energies and the basics of diagnosis and treatment.
English
There are two groups for English. One group is a beginner's class so the teacher speaks in both English and Tibetan. The other group is taught in only English. For the first two years of the course, the emphasis is on improving the students' basic grammar, and giving them practice in speaking and writing English. In the third and final years, we widen the scope of the course to include other skills such as report writing, giving interviews, form-filling and making presentations. We also organize poetry competitions and debates in English.
Chinese
There are two classes of Chinese students, beginner and intermediate. In the beginning class, we have been learning the pinyin alphabet as well as correct pronunciation. We mainly focus on how to construct basic sentences and carry out everyday conversation in Chinese. We also learn through songs and movies. In the intermediate class, we learn more advanced grammar structures and as well as reading, character writing, and essay composition.
Western Philosophy
There are very few texts in Tibetan on Western Philosophical Thought, and given that most students had little training in the English language prior to joining AOTC, much of the class is focused on lecture and discussion, not reading. We began the course by going through the debates found in the Socratic dialogues Eythephoro, Meno and Phaedo - introducing a style of reasoning crucial to Western Thought in general. We then began to race the origins of the scientific world view, beginning Socrates's view of physical reality, followed by Aristotle’s refutation of his predecessor and the rise of the view which he himself advocated, which was to lay the ground work of modern science. We are currently engaged in outlining some of the fundamental principles discovered by modern science, in chronological order by date of discovery. After learning the basic principles and theories of modern science, we will move on to Western Political Theory.
