The Asian Classics Institute has condensed the essence of these Six Great Books of Buddhism into a series of 15 Formal Study Courses. Geshe Michael Roach taught these Courses to a group of teacher-trainees in Manhattan over a period of seven years.
These on-line Courses make all of the Formal Study Courses that Geshe Michael taught available to those who did not attend in person. You can pursue a comprehensive Buddhist education wherever you are, and at your own pace and commitment level.
We would like to emphasize that, although recordings and written materials can be extremely helpful, it is essential for serious Buddhist practitioners to meet and study directly with a qualified Teacher who can give the necessary guidance and personal instructions of the lineage.
The following topics are available at present. For a description of the topic and to access the text and audio, click on a link below:
COURSE 1: The Principal Teachings of Buddhism
Level One of the Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim)
COURSE 2: Buddhist Refuge
Level One of the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajna Paramita)
COURSE 3: Applied Meditation
Level Two of the Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim)
COURSE 4: Proof of Future Lives
Level One of Buddhist Logic and Perception (Pramana)
COURSE 5: How Karma Works
Level One of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma)
COURSE 6: The Diamond-Cutter Sutra
Level One of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika)
COURSE 7: The Bodhisattva Vows
Level 2 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika)
COURSE 8: Death and the Realms of Existence
Level 2 of Higher Knowledge (Abhidharma)
COURSE 9: The Ethical Life
Level 1 of Buddhist Discipline (Vinaya)
COURSE 10: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part I
Level 3 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika)
COURSE 11: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part II
Level 4 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika)
COURSE 12: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, Part III
Level 5 of Middle-Way Philosophy (Madhyamika)
COURSE 13: The Art of Reasoning
Level 2 of Buddhist Logic and Perception (Pramana)
COURSE 14: Lojong, Developing the Good Heart
Level 3 of the Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim)
COURSE 15: What the Buddha Really Meant
Level 2 of The Perfection of Wisdom (Prajna Paramita)
COURSE 16: The Great Ideas of Buddhism, Part I.
A review of The Great Books in Courses 1-5
COURSE 17: The Great Ideas of Buddhism, Part II.
A review of The Great Books in Courses 6-10
COURSE 18: The Great Ideas of Buddhism, Part III.
A review of The Great Books in Courses 11-15
Audio class lectures may be downloaded for playing offline in Real Audio format or listened to in streaming Real Audio format which will play as they are downloaded. The Real Audio 8 Basic Player is necessary and is available for free at this link. For ease of listening and downloading, each class lecture has been broken into up to smaller individual parts.
Supporting Course materials such as the formal readings, class notes and exams are available in PDF format. The Acrobat Reader is required to view the document and is available for free from this link.
Should you have any technical difficulties with any of these classes, please contact ACI.