The course will consist of a study of the following themes : (1) the literary and philosophical treatises of such authors as Asvaghoṣa, Āryadeva, Asańga, Nāgārjuna, Vasubandhu, etc. (2) Prajñāpāramitā literature : its origin and development ; life and teachings of the Buddha as represented in works such as Buddhacarita, Mahāvastu, Lalitavistara, Saddharmapuṇḍarīka and the Avadāna Literature; Bodhisattva concept and the related notions as found in Jātakamālā, Bodhicaryāvatāra, Bodhisattvabhūmi, Samādhirāja Sūtra and Raṣtrapālaparipṛccha; a brief introduction to the Dhāraṇīs and Tantras.

The Buddha’s teachings recorded in the Pāli literature will be the main focus on this study. Attention is drawn to the definition of Theravāda Buddhism and the differences existing between Theravāda Buddhism and Early Buddhism, Early Buddhism and Pāli Buddhism. Candidates are expected to study the basic concepts of Theravāda Buddhism in comparison with the concepts of early Indian culture.