A Unique & Controversial Exploration of our Dharma Practice in relation to the Three Vows

A Dharma Course on the Study of one of the most Controversial Texts "The Differentiation of the Three Vows" A unique and insightful exploration, to learn how to practice and study the dharma in a balanced way - critical, traditional and innovative.

The Author

Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltshen (1182–1251) was a major figure in the intellectual and religious lineages of numerous strands of Tibetan Buddhism. Born into an ancient religious aristocracy, he played a significant role in the dissemination of knowledge across many fields in Tibet, owing to his exceptional intellectual gifts and his training with a number of Tibetan and Indian scholars. He composed several influential works that have shaped the development of various branches of Tibetan Buddhist learning, and which continue to be studied in seminaries to this day. He also contributed to the spread of teachings through his translations and the training of disciples. In addition, he played a significant political role through his historic visit to the court of the Mongol prince Godan Khan, where he eventually passed away.

The Work

The Differentiation of the Three Vows is a well-known work by Sakya Paṇḍita, in which the author critically examines the doctrinal positions and practices connected with three distinct but interrelated vows: the vow of individual liberation, the bodhisattva vows, and the pledges of tantra — a triad that comprehensively encompasses the entire range of Tibetan Buddhist practice.

The author reflects on what he perceived as mistaken and degenerate practices in connection with these three vows. The work is among the most commented-upon texts in the tradition, and equally one of the most controversial. Its central argument turns on the relationship between role of critical acumen, innovation and received tradition, and the proper place of each in the study and practice of Dharma.

The Course

We will gather via Zoom on Sunday mornings, between 8:00 and 9:30 am CEST, and work through the text in detail. The first session will be held on the 14th of June. This course will last for couple of months.

Time will be allocated for questions, comments, and discussion. The course aims to develop a nuanced understanding of the dynamics, relationships, and contexts among the three vows — which, according to the author, also form the core of the three vehicles: the Hīnayāna, the Mahāyāna, and the Vajrayāna.

The course will be conducted in English. We will use A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes: Essential Distinctions among the Individual Liberation, Great Vehicle, and Tantric Systems, translated by Jared Douglas Rhoton, published in the SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies, Albany, 2002. The verses will be sreenshared during the sessions. Each session will be recorded and made available shortly after its conclusion.

The Facilitator

The course is organized by Buddhismus in Berlin e.V. and facilitated by Lopön Sonam Jamtsho. He was born in Bhutan and graduated from Dzongsar Shedra in India. He holds a doctoral degree in Tibetan Studies from the University of Hamburg, where his research focused on the Treasury of Epistemology, another major work by Sakya Paṇḍita.

Registration Please email to Arne Schelling to register for this course.

⁠Donations

For those who wish to contribute, a donation of €10–20 per session is a helpful guideline. That said, no amount is too small, and those in more difficult financial circumstances are warmly welcome to give whatever feels manageable — or to simply participate without any financial contribution. Donations may be made directly to the organizer, via paypal.