Mahayana 303 – Not Even a Middle 2023

ON ZOOM: Saturdays, September 9 – December 16, 2023, 9:00 am – 10:30 am PT

The teachings of the Buddha are based on knowledge and wisdom. Our curiosity and enthusiasm about reality is an expression of our wisdom. The Buddha used his curiosity and persistence to explore the nature of reality. He discovered that genuine wisdom is finding a middle way between the extremes of nihilism and permanent existence. This “middle way” approach is most prominently and famously articulated by the Madhyamaka School of Mahayana Buddhism. Its teachings on emptiness are derived from the prajnaparamita sutras.

This course is the third in a six-course series that examines Mahayana Buddhism. It explores how the brilliant scholar and teacher, Nagarjuna, explained the Buddha’s teaching from a logical perspective. It includes a description on the development of the Madhyamaka philosophical school in India and Tibet and explains the distinctions between its major branches.  It explores the definitions of the two truths and the “five great Madhyamaka reasonings.”

Classes are facilitated by Sal Tufano. There are ten facilitated classes, five discussion groups and one practicum for a total of sixteen class meetings. The schedule is as follows:

Sept 9    Class 1 – Wisdom and the Middle Way

Sept 16  Class 2 – The Ground of Madhyamaka

Sept 23  Discussion Group

Sept 30  Class 3 – Prajña and the Two Realities

Oct 7      Class 4 – Distinguishing Svatantrika and Prasangika

Oct 14    Discussion Group

Oct 21    Class 5 – The Progressive Stages of Letting Go

Oct 28    Class 6 – No Self, No Problem

Nov 4     Discussion Group

Nov 11   Class 7 – The Five Great Madhyamaka Reasonings

Nov 18   Class 8  Practicum – The Vajra Slivers Reasoning

Nov 25   Discussion Group

Dec 2     Class 9 – The Fourfold Mindfulness About What is Unreal

Dec 9     Class 10 – The Benefits and Results of Realizing Emptiness

Dec 16   Discussion Group

The prerequisites for this course are MAH 301 and MAH 302. 

All classes will be hosted on Zoom and will be recorded. Access to recordings will be available until two weeks after the course has concluded. After registration, you will be sent an email with the Zoom link and password as well as a link to the Resource Page with the recordings.

Sal Tufano is a senior student of Ponlop Rinpoche and experienced Nalandabodhi study class facilitator. He began a dharma path nine years ago in Boulder, Colorado at Naropa University with a masters degree in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. His path has continued through the study and meditation programs offered by Nalandabodhi and Nitartha Institute.  He has been a student of Ponlop Rinpoche since November of 2016. Sal has served as Nalandabodhi’s Chief Strategy Officer and spent four years on the NB Senior Administrative Team. He has contributed to some key mandala projects like acquiring the Contemplative Resource Center in Texas and the ongoing Digital Content Delivery project.