Sanchi University for Buddhist-Indic Studies is going to launch four certificate courses shortly with the objective of providing basic introduction to candidates interested in certain philosophical doctrines.
While talking to media persons here on Tuesday, University’s VC Shashi Prabha Kumar said, “the first course ‘Buddhism’ will begin on January 5, 2015. Sarnath-based Central University of Tibetan Studies’ ex-Vice-Chancellor (VC) NG Samtem will conduct the course.”
Professor SR Bhatt, a former head of University of Delhi’s Department of Philosophy, would lead the second course titled Indian Philosophy, which will be started on January 12, 2015.
Prof Kumar will herself conduct the course ‘learning Sanskrit language’ that gets underway on February 12, 2015, while the course ‘Kashmir Saivism’ commencing on March 15, 2015, will be led by Varanasi-based Samvidalaya Director Bettina Baeumer on March 15, 2015.
All the courses will be of two-month duration. Admission forms are available online from today onwards. However, the minimum eligibility is XIIth Pass or equivalent. There would be a minimum of 15 students and a maximum of 20 students per batch.
“The courses have been designed by blending traditional and modern methods of teaching. There would be lectures and presentations in morning sessions while there would be meditation practices towards evening. A guru-shishya tradition would be followed with the teacher and students residing together,” said Prof Kumar.
To a query, she said the University will launch full-fledged courses in the next 2-3 years. However, it was decided to begin certificate courses for the benefit of such students who have not been able to undertake full-fledged courses.