NITARTHA COURSES

In the Buddhist educational tradition of ancient India there were ten aspects or ten major fields of human knowledge. The ten aspects of knowledge are sometimes condensed into five categories: valid cognition, language, healing, creative arts, and inner science of mind. These provide the traditional framework for Buddhist education and form the basis of the Nitartha curriculum and its vision.

Nitartha offers two options for study throughout the year: semester courses that are taught weekly in real-time, both in person and online, and self-paced online courses for those who prefer to study according to their own schedule. All our courses use Nitartha’s Online Campus (known as Moodle) as a support for providing course materials.

We recommend that you take the courses in sequence, as listed in the Nitartha Course Catalogue, beginning with the Foundation curriculum. It is particularly important to begin with the Foundation course Mind and Its World I: Valid Cognition and its companion course Clear Thinking before proceeding through the rest of the Foundation curriculum.

Scroll down the page to read more about Semester Courses and Self-Paced Online Courses (SPOC).

Curious about our curriculum? Click a button to read more about Buddhist Philosophy (valid cognition & the inner science of mind), Tibetan Language, and Creative Arts.

Enroll in a Nitartha Institute Course Today!

Semester Courses

  • BUD 530 Mind and Its World IV: Vaibhasika and Sautrantika Philosophical Traditions
    January 21 - April 14, 2024
  • BUD 553 Collected Topics Debate I
    January 21 - April 21, 2024
  • BUD 692 Treasury of Valid Cognition and Reasoning
    February 26 - June 24, 2024
  • Mahamudra Review Courses
  • Presummer Mahamudra Vipashyana I
  • Tibetan Language Courses
    Starting February 12

About Semester Courses

Our faculty usually teach semester-long courses in person locally, with online live streaming for those who live elsewhere. Due to the pandemic, all of our semester courses are currently offered online.

These real-time, semester-long courses offer a wonderful opportunity to learn in a live environment with a teacher present to answer your questions, while in the safety and comfort of your own home.

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.

All live online classes are held via Zoom. You do not need a Zoom account to attend and we will provide instructions for students who are new to Zoom.

Each course concludes with a final exam, which helps the student internalize their understanding of the material studied. These exams are required for students who would like to request a Nitartha completion certificate, for those seeking academic credit at other institutions, or for those wishing to enter the Nitartha Teacher-In-Training Program.

Self-Paced Online Courses

  • BUD 500 Analytical Meditation I (SPOC)
  • BUD 501 Mind and Its World I: Valid Cognition (SPOC)
  • BUD 502 Clear Thinking (SPOC)
  • BUD 510 Mind and Its World II: Modes of Engagement & Mental Events (SPOC)
  • BUD 520 Mind and Its World III: Vaibhashika Philosophical Tradition (SPOC)
  • BUD 530 Mind and Its World IV: Sautrantika Philosophical Tradition (SPOC)
  • BUD 601 Cittamatra Philosophical Tradition: Appearances Are Mere Mind (SPOC)
  • BUD 610 Madhyamaka Philosophical Tradition: Not Even a Middle (SPOC)
  • BUD 620 Paths and Bhumis: The Path to Enlightenment (SPOC)
  • BUD 630 Buddha Nature: Luminous Heart of the Tathagata (SPOC)

About Self-Paced Online Courses

Our entire Foundation and Intermediate curricula offer a gradual path of study and are available as self-paced, online courses. These are complete versions of courses that were previously taught by Nitartha faculty.

You can take these courses online through streaming video or downloadable audio, and in that way progress through the Nitartha Institute curriculum on a flexible time schedule that suits your circumstances.

You also have access to study questions and recommended readings, as well as the option to consult with designated faculty about questions, in order to deepen and clarify your understanding.

Each course concludes with a final exam, which helps students internalize their understanding of the material studied. These exams are required for students who would like to request a Nitartha completion certificate, for those seeking academic credit at other institutions, or for those wishing to enter the Nitartha Teacher-In-Training Program.

There is a 9-month time frame for completing each course in the self-paced online format.