The Compassion and Wisdom Knowledge Base
Lama Yeshe said that he wanted Essential Education to encompass the entire teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, from topics such as dura and lo rig up to the most profound of subjects such as the Prasangika Madhyamika explanation of emptiness. The aim of the Compassion and Wisdom Knowledge Base is to present this subject matter in an accessible and straightforward way that will serve to define and inform all the work of the Foundation, and will offer a sound basis for future resources and training.
A team of specialists including three Tibetan Lamas selected by Lama Zopa - Geshe Tsulga, Geshe Thubten Soepa and Geshe Gelek Choedak - has been working together since October 2005 to develop the Knowledge Base. It is divided into 16 subject areas, under the two headings Exploring Reality and Practising Compassion. Within each subject area, explanations derived from ancient Indian masters such as Nagarjuna, Dharmakirti and Chandrakirti, as well as from the present Dalai Lama, will be supplemented by complementary material from the natural and social sciences, and from other philosophical and spiritual traditions. The aim is to stimulate questions and enquiry in the student rather than to demand that they accept any particular point of view.
The distinctive characteristic of the Knowledge Base, and of all the work of the Foundation for Developing Compassion and Wisdom, is that it encourages critical thinking about the nature of reality, in particular about the nature of the mind and the interdependence of all phenomena. By cultivating an awareness of these and other key principles, it will help individuals to develop the insight and understanding that intuitively gives rise to the integration of kindness and compassion into daily life.
The subject areas of the Knowledge Base are:
Exploring Reality
- What is real?
- What is the nature of the universe?
- How are things connected and why do things happen?
- Does everything change?
- What are the things that we know?
- How do we know things?
- What is my potential?
- Who am I?
- What ascertains reality?
Practicing Compassion
- How can we recognise states of mind?
- How can we behave in an ethical way?
- How can we develop positive relationships?
- How can we create a happy and peaceful society?
- How can we care for the environment?
- How can we develop peace of mind?
- How can we sharpen our intellect?