The Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya) Study Course – Part A
5-week online class
Gil Fronsdal and David Lorey
January 21 – February 25, 2018
Registration deadline: January 14, 2018 (see registration form here).
The Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya) is one of the most important anthologies of the teachings and religious practices attributed to the Buddha. These rich and dynamic discourses which include the circumstances and people that prompted the Buddha’s teachings, provide context for better understanding the content and nature of early Buddhist teachings. A careful study of this collection can provide a meaningful foundation for the study and practice of Buddhism.
This course, Part A, is the first of a three-part series of online courses on the Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya) to be offered by the Sati Center during 2018. In this course, topics will include (in addition to an introduction to this key canonical text) “Relating to the Teachings of the Buddha,” “Faith and Confidence in the Teachings,” “The Path of Practice” and “The Buddha.”
The course consists of weekly readings of suttas from the Middle Length Discourses plus short videos, audio recordings and study guides written by Gil Fronsdal. The videos and study guides function as the “lectures” for the class, helping to bring the richness of this early literature alive. Participants will have access to a Google Drive where the material will be located and can participate in an online forum to promote a sense of community and learning which will be in Google Groups.
Sample study guides are available here and here to review to get a sense of the nature, assignments and scope of the course. In addition, participants might wish to review the “Introduction” to the Middle Length Discourses (Majjhima Nikāya), written by Bhikkhu Bodhi in the course textbook, before the course begins. It both provides a useful overview of the Majjhima Nikāya and gives a sense of the approach we will be taking in the class.
We will be using Bhikkhu Nanamoli and Bhikkhu Bodhi’s translation of the Majjhima Nikaya (4th Edition, 2009; Boston: Wisdom Publications; ISBN: 0-86171-072-X).
The course is open to all registrants and freely offered (if you would like to make an online donation, you can use the PayPal button below).
Registration deadline: January 14, 2018 (see registration form here).