Live Online 4-Month Courses

Our teachers hold classes online in real-time through four-month-long courses, a wonderful opportunity to learn in a live environment with a teacher present to answer your questions. Videos of the classes are recorded and made available on our online campus in case you miss a class or are unable to attend live. Each class concludes with a celebratory exam, which is aimed at helping you to check your understanding of the material and receive feedback from your teacher. These exams are required if you would like to request a Nitartha Institute certificate of completion, seek academic credit at another institution or wish to enter the teacher-in-training program.

Fall Semester Courses

  • BUD 501 Mind and Its World I 了義學院課程大綱

    This course is an introductory exposition of topics drawn from the Pramāna tradition, based on the Classifications of Mind root text. Students explore the criteria for the validity of cognition, the fourfold classification of direct valid cognition, seeming direct cognition and non-valid cognition.

    PREREQUISITES

    None

    DATES AND TIMES

    January 9 - May 15, 2026/2026年1月10日至5月16日,

    5:00 pm - 6:30 pm US Pacific Time/京港台时间 每週六上午9:00-10:30am

    COURSE DETAILS

  • BUD 510 Mind and Its World II

    This course completes the introductory exposition of topics drawn from the Pramāna and Abhidharma traditions, based on the Classifications of Mind and Collected Topics root texts.

    PREREQUISITES

    BUD501

    DATES AND TIMES

    January 25 - April 19, 2026,

    11:30 am - 1:00 pm US Pacific Time/8:30pm CET

    COURSE DETAILS

  • A woman surrounded by 5 sense objects, singing bowl, apple, lotus flower, rose, mittens.

    BUD 530 Mind and Its World IV: Vaibhasika and Sautrantika Philosophical Traditions

    This course is a presentation of the path and result of foundational Buddhism as found in the Vaibhāṣika and Sautrāntika philosophical traditions, based on The Gateway that Reveals the Philosophical Traditions to Fresh Minds root text.

    PREREQUISITES

    BUD501

    DATES AND TIMES

    January 20 - May 5, 2026,

    4:00 – 5:30 am US Pacific Time

    COURSE DETAILS

  • Hero image for Analytical Meditation II. Magnifying glass magnifying an infinity symbol.

    BUD 600 Analytical Meditation II 分析式禪修II

    This course is a systematic training in the meditation of special insight in the tradition of Mahāyāna Buddhism.

    PREREQUISITES

    BUD 630 or similar prior studies of Buddha Nature tradition

    DATES AND TIMES

    January 12 - May 11, 2026,

    3:00 pm - 4:30 pm US Pacific Time/ 7:30 am - 9:00 am CST

    COURSE DETAILS

  • BUD 630 Buddha Nature

    This course is an exposition of the Tathāgatagarbha philosophical tradition, based on the The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra: Fourth Vajra Point root text.

    PREREQUISITES

    BUD 501, BUD 510, BUD 520, BUD 530

    DATES AND TIMES

    January 20 - April 28, 2026,

    6:00 - 7:30 pm US Pacific Time

    COURSE DETAILS

  •

    SCA 510 Buddhist Visual Literacy

    This 12-class module explores symbolism as a necessity for everyday communication and its role for practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism. Using the principles of visual literacy, traditional Tibetan Buddhist iconography, and teachings on valid cognition, we will open the door to the Science of Creativity and the Arts and step into the world of buddha nature as expressed through Buddhist art

    PREREQUISITES

    None

    DATES AND TIMES

    February 4 - April 29, 2026,

    9:30 am - 11:15 am Pacific Time/6:30 pm - 8:15 pm CET

    COURSE DETAILS