Buddhist Tenet Systems

Gelugpa teachings offer a framework for understanding the nature of reality that progresses from gross to the most subtle. The purpose of this intricate and systematic presentation is to cultivate a mind able to investigate appearances and determine how they really exist.

Teachings highlighted in bold are listed at the bottom of the page.

Who it’s for

These teachings will appeal to those interested in the philosophical presentation of how to understand reality according to Buddhist scriptures, a presentation that places emphasis on the wisdom side of the path. Wisdom teachings examine how to realize emptiness and dependent arising. Here that approach is presented according to each of the four different Buddhist tenet systems: Vaibashika (Great Exposition), Sautantrika (Sutra), Cittamatra (Mind-Only) and Madhyamika (Middle Way).

Teachers, content, and resources

Geshe Dorji Damdul

Venerable Thubten Chodron gave two extensive commentaries on mind and awareness.

The first set of teachings was a commentary on Geshe Jampel Sampel’s text Presentation of Mind and Awareness, Composite of All the Important Points, Opener of the Eye of New Intelligence: A Presentation of Mind and Awareness (2012-13).

This series covers topics such as:

• Divisions of the selfless
• Classification of objects
• Object possessors and the seven types of cognizers

Separately, Venerable Chodron taught extensively on mind and mental factors, the sautantrika tenet system presentation of the mind and its functions: Mind and Mental Factors (Teachings 1995-96)

This 25-part series includes topics such as:

• Primary minds and mental factors
• Omnipresent mental factors
• Virtuous mental factors
• Afflictive mental factors
• Mind training
• Antidotes to the afflictions

Venerable Chodron also taught a more concise (4-part) presentation of mind and mental factors at a retreat in Singapore: Creating the Causes of Happiness Retreat (Singapore 2014).

An outline of the 51 mental factors and their definitions can be accessed here.

In 2019, Venerable Sangye Khadro gave an overview of mind and awareness during the weekly Thursday evening Course in Buddhist Reasoning and Debate (2017-19).  Her teachings from this longer series can be accessed at:

• Seven Kinds of Awareness with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2019)
• Mind and Mental Factors with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2019).

Geshe Dadul Namgyal

Audio recordings from Venerable Thubten Chodron’s in-depth commentary to the text, given from 2004–06: Wheel of Sharp Weapons (2004–06).

Audios from a shorter 12-part commentary by Venerable Chodron, given in 2004: Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Castle Rock 2004).

Two short retreats focused on the text: Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Missoula 2013), and Wheel of Sharp Weapons Retreat (Australia 2014).

Venerable Chodron recently published a commentary to The Wheel of Sharp Weapons as Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering. Since 2021, she has been giving commentary on this book as part of the annual Memorial Day Retreat at Sravasti Abbey: Good Karma (2021–present)

Access information about this book and various teachings Venerable Chodron has given from it here: Good Karma: How to Create the Causes of Happiness and Avoid the Causes of Suffering.

Dr. Guy Newland

Dr. Guy Newland, a scholar of Tibetan Buddhism at Central Michigan University, has taught two series on tenets at Sravasti Abbey.

In 2011, he offered teachings on Madhyamaka: Varieties of Madhyamaka with Guy Newland (2011) . Topics he covered include:

• The variety of perspectives on Madhyamaka
• How the teachings of the different Tibetan Buddhist lineages relate to Madhyamaka
• Practical applications of studying philosophy
• Approaching and coping with diversity

In 2010, Dr. Newland gave teachings on the two truths, that is, conventional and ultimate truths: Two Truths with Guy Newland (2010) . This set of teachings covers such topics as:

• What are the two truths?
• The two truths and karma
• The two truths according to the four Buddhist tenet systems
• Understanding the mind, emptiness, and dependent arising
• Debates on coming to the correct conclusion about the nature of reality

Venerable Sangye Khadro

Venerable Sangye Khadro, author of the best-selling How to Meditate, has taught several courses at Sravasti Abbey, including an exploration of The Presentation of Tenets by Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen (1469–1544): Tenets with Venerable Sangye Khadro (2022).

Topics include:

• The philosophical assertions of the Vaibhashika school including the view of the two truths
• The Sautrantika school and the mode of asserting objects including conventional and ultimate truths
• The Mind-only or Cittamatra school including views on the two truths and the three natures
• The Svatantrika Madhyamaka assertions
• Explanation of the Prasangika assertions about the mind and the selflessness of persons and phenomena