Tenets of the Yogācāra-Svātantrika Madhyamaka
Read-through and commentary by Geshe Losel
Program details
- Starting 24th of February 2026
- Ending June 2026 - estimated 3-4 months
- Every Tuesday 19h-20h (UK) / 20h-21h (FR)
- English & French
- In-person at the main Gompa of Nalanda Monastery
- Zoom link provided after registration below
- Nalanda Monastery & Lam Rim Wales Buddhist Centre
Registration
Who should join?
This course is ideal for those who are familiar with the philosophical landscape of Mahayana Buddhism and especially of tenet systems themselves.
Those who have an interest to learn more about this subject are welcome to join too. Students are also welcome to join initial sessions to see if it is a good fit for them.
About
Welcome to a read-through and appreciation of these tenets on Tuesday evenings at 19h UK time / 20h French time, beginning Tuesday 24th February. From the text: Beautiful Adornment of Mount Meru, A Presentation of Classical Indian Philosophy by Changkya Rölpai Dorje, Library of Tibetan Classics translation by Donald S. Lopez. 37 pages beginning p. 367.
Here we have a late-flourishing Middle Way school that rejects external objects conventionally and intrinsic existence ultimately, an ambitious tie-up between Mind-only and Middle Way thought supported on a basis of Dharmakirtian reasoning. It was promulgated in 8th century Tibet by the most prominent master of the system, Śāntarakṣita. Central to the presentation here: the lack of one or many reasoning to prove the lack of true existence and the magician’s illusion example illustrating the Svātantrika view of emptiness.
The Beautiful Adornment of Mount Meru, A Presentation of Classical Indian Philosophy is the most accessible of the longer Tibetan presentations of tenets although it remains a potentially challenging book because of the amount of background knowledge of Buddhist philosophy it assumes. ‘The class will follow the text of the book closely so students will require access to a copy. Only a few initial pages can be shared on screen.
The goal of studying these varied tenets systems is to refine our understanding, ultimately leading to the final and correct view of emptiness, the doorway to liberation.
About venerable Geshe Losel
Geshe Tenzin Losel was born in mid-20th century Britain. He first met Buddhist teachings in England thanks to the exceptionally kind efforts of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa, reaching out to westerners. He left for India in 1990 for further studies and received full ordination as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition from His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1994.
He is one of the handful of Westerners trained for two decades in the traditional Tibetan way as a geshe. While a student at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, he attended many public teachings by His Holiness there. In 2006 he received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling, the monastery where the late Geshe Damcho, founder of Lam Rim Wales also trained.
After returning to Britain to care for his parents in their last years, he moved in 2018 to Nalanda Monastery in France. As well as teaching, he has been involved in translating vinaya materials, which deal with ethical conduct and vows, especially for monastics. In fulfilment of Geshe Damcho’s request to him to teach in his centres, he is now associated with Lam Rim Wales and Lam Rim Bristol.
Translations
Tsongkhapa’s Praise for Dependent Relativity (2011, Wisdom Publications)
A Glowing Light of Scripture and Reasoning, Lamp Illuminating the Essentials of the Four Seals that Authenticate the View by Gen Lamrimpa Ngawang Phuntsok. (2019). Free Download on Geshe Losel’s website.
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download on Geshe Losel’s website.
Access to teachings
In-person, Nalanda Monastery – teachings will be primarily taught from Nalanda Monastery in the South of France. Those onsite are welcome to join the teachings in person in the main Gompa.
Onsite, Lam Rim Wales – those that wish to join us at Lam Rim’s shrine room as we air the teachings over Zoom are welcome to join us.
Online – The teachings will be hosted online via Zoom Link. It will be the same link each week. Please join 5 minutes before the start time and wait to be admitted. Link will be sent automatically after registration.