142258 UE On Teaching and Learning: Kong sprul blo gros mtha' yas on Transfer of Knowledge (2026S)
5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 14 - Orientalistik, Afrikawissenschaften, Südasien-, Tibet- und Buddhismusk
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Su 01.02.2026 00:00 to Fr 27.02.2026 08:00
- Deregistration possible until Tu 31.03.2026 08:00
Details
max. 12 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Thursday 05.03. 16:00 - 17:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
- Thursday 19.03. 16:00 - 17:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
- Thursday 26.03. 16:00 - 17:30 Seminarraum 3 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-14
- Monday 13.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 20.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 27.04. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 04.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 11.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 18.05. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 01.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 08.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- N Monday 15.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
- Monday 22.06. 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum 2 ISTB UniCampus Hof 2 2B-O1-18
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
1) Active participation:
General participation in class; preparation of translations at home and presentation in class. Students must also be able to explain the grammar, syntax and vocabulary of the Tibetan text, and the reasons for their choices of translation.
2) Final exam:
Students will translate a short text that was not previously discussed in class. Offline resources may be used: printed dictionaries and grammars, self-created summaries and vocabulary lists, etc.
General participation in class; preparation of translations at home and presentation in class. Students must also be able to explain the grammar, syntax and vocabulary of the Tibetan text, and the reasons for their choices of translation.
2) Final exam:
Students will translate a short text that was not previously discussed in class. Offline resources may be used: printed dictionaries and grammars, self-created summaries and vocabulary lists, etc.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The language of instruction in this course is English. However, German may also be used as the language of instruction at the unanimous request of the students actually taking part.Required:
At least four semesters of Classical Tibetan.
As active participation and collaboration between students is required during the course, attendance is compulsory. Up to three excused absences will be tolerated.Grading:
Participation: Grades (1-5) will be given for every class; the final grade of this part is the average of all classes.
Final exam: One grade (1-5) will be given.
Both participation and the final exam must be completed successfully.
Weighting: Participation accounts for 75% of the final grade, the final exam accounts for 25%.
At least four semesters of Classical Tibetan.
As active participation and collaboration between students is required during the course, attendance is compulsory. Up to three excused absences will be tolerated.Grading:
Participation: Grades (1-5) will be given for every class; the final grade of this part is the average of all classes.
Final exam: One grade (1-5) will be given.
Both participation and the final exam must be completed successfully.
Weighting: Participation accounts for 75% of the final grade, the final exam accounts for 25%.
Examination topics
Active participation: all texts translated during the semester.
Final exam: the ability to tackle an unknown Tibetan text, even if the result may not be perfect.
Final exam: the ability to tackle an unknown Tibetan text, even if the result may not be perfect.
Reading list
ʼJam mgon kong sprul blo gros mthaʼ yas. “Chos bshad mtshams sbyong.” rGya chen bkaʼ mdzod, vol. 7, Shechen, 2002, pp. 1065–97. Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC), purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW23723_75C510. [BDRC bdr:MW23723_75C510]
and
ʼJam mgon kong sprul blo gros mthaʼ yas. “Dam paʼi chos ʼchad nyan bya baʼi skabs su nye bar mkho baʼi mtshams sbyor gyi yi ge mchog dman kun dgaʼ.” rGya chen bka’ mdzod/（dpal spungs par ma ’brug spa gro’i bskyar par ma/）, vol. 13, Ngodup, 1975–1976, pp. 157–90. Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC), purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW21808_2460F0. [BDRC bdr:MW21808_2460F0]Additional literature will be uploaded in Moodle.
and
ʼJam mgon kong sprul blo gros mthaʼ yas. “Dam paʼi chos ʼchad nyan bya baʼi skabs su nye bar mkho baʼi mtshams sbyor gyi yi ge mchog dman kun dgaʼ.” rGya chen bka’ mdzod/（dpal spungs par ma ’brug spa gro’i bskyar par ma/）, vol. 13, Ngodup, 1975–1976, pp. 157–90. Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC), purl.bdrc.io/resource/MW21808_2460F0. [BDRC bdr:MW21808_2460F0]Additional literature will be uploaded in Moodle.
Association in the course directory
MATB3b
Last modified: Th 02.04.2026 13:06
The main text we will be reading is Dam pa'i chos 'chad nyan bya ba'i skabs su nye bar mkho ba'i mtshams sbyor gyi yi ge mchog dman kun dga' by the first Kong sprul, Blo gros mtha' yas (1813-1899). The text describes various aspects of a successful learning process: the required qualifications of the teacher and the students, outer and inner actions taking place during a teaching session, pedagogical strategies, obstacles that may arise, etc. If time permits, we will also read excerpts from Kong sprul's other writings on related topics.
Even though this is mainly a reading class, we will also discuss the process of translation from Tibetan (different approaches translators may take, possible problems during the translation process, useful and less useful resources, etc.), contextualize the text and recapitulate grammar if necessary.