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Tenets of the Yogācāra-Svātantrika Madhyamaka School, with Geshe Losel - From 24th February 2026 (Online or Onsite)
Date: Starting 24th February 2026
Time: Weekly, every Tuesday 7pm UK / 8pm France
Duration: 1hr - 1hr 15min
Program: Estimated 3-4 months until chapter completion
Format: Zoom, Online / In Person at Nalanda Monastery
Collaborators: Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Wales & Nalanda Monastery, France
About
Welcome to a read-through and appreciation of these tenets on Tuesday evenings at 7pm UK time / 8pm 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.
Images: 1. Śantarakṣita founder/foremost master of YSM view, 2. Pic taken in 1936 of the monastery he founded in Tibet. Tibet's first. Before that he was abbot of Nalanda Monastery, India, 3. Beautiful Adornment of Mount Meru, A Presentation of Classical Indian Philosophy, 4. Teacher of the course, Geshe Tenzin Losel.
About the Teacher
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 >
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download >
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.
Access to Teachings
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.
In Person ,Nalanda Monastery - Teachings will be primarily taught from Nalanda Monastery in the South of France. Those onsite there are welcome to join the teachings in person in the main Shrine Hall.
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.
Donations
We are firmly convinced that donations (either in work or financially) must only be given in accordance with ability and no-one should ever feel unable to attend teachings due to financial difficulty. Buddhist teachings are traditionally given freely, however centres do rely entirely on donations. Donations for these teachings will be gratefully received and will be shared across Lam Rim Wales and Nalanda Monastery.
Course is Provided Free or Donate What You Feel
For those that want guidance on donation levels, suggestions are below.
For Full Course
Waged: £250
Concessions £150Weekly Contributions
Waged: £15
Concessions £10
Donate via BACS - If you prefer to donate via BACS, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register. Then follow the instructions for BACS donation >
Important on Booking: Our online system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’.
Date: Starting 24th February 2026
Time: Weekly, every Tuesday 7pm UK / 8pm France
Duration: 1hr - 1hr 15min
Program: Estimated 3-4 months until chapter completion
Format: Zoom, Online / In Person at Nalanda Monastery
Collaborators: Lam Rim Buddhist Centre, Wales & Nalanda Monastery, France
About
Welcome to a read-through and appreciation of these tenets on Tuesday evenings at 7pm UK time / 8pm 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.
Images: 1. Śantarakṣita founder/foremost master of YSM view, 2. Pic taken in 1936 of the monastery he founded in Tibet. Tibet's first. Before that he was abbot of Nalanda Monastery, India, 3. Beautiful Adornment of Mount Meru, A Presentation of Classical Indian Philosophy, 4. Teacher of the course, Geshe Tenzin Losel.
About the Teacher
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 >
A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019). Free Download >
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.
Access to Teachings
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.
In Person ,Nalanda Monastery - Teachings will be primarily taught from Nalanda Monastery in the South of France. Those onsite there are welcome to join the teachings in person in the main Shrine Hall.
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.
Donations
We are firmly convinced that donations (either in work or financially) must only be given in accordance with ability and no-one should ever feel unable to attend teachings due to financial difficulty. Buddhist teachings are traditionally given freely, however centres do rely entirely on donations. Donations for these teachings will be gratefully received and will be shared across Lam Rim Wales and Nalanda Monastery.
Course is Provided Free or Donate What You Feel
For those that want guidance on donation levels, suggestions are below.
For Full Course
Waged: £250
Concessions £150Weekly Contributions
Waged: £15
Concessions £10
Donate via BACS - If you prefer to donate via BACS, please select this ticket option and complete the booking form register. Then follow the instructions for BACS donation >
Important on Booking: Our online system uses PayPal to take donations. If you do not have a PayPal Account you can pay as a Guest. Please click the link ‘Try Another Way’ , then follow instructions for ‘Pay by Debit or Credit Card’.