Unlock Your Potential with RMTA USA

A. Introduction 

The Right Mindfulness Training Academy (RMTA), in partnership with the Postgraduate Institute of Pali and Buddhist Studies (PGIPBS) at the University of Kelaniya, one of Sri Lanka’s leading Buddhist universities, is pleased to offer the online Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies (MABS) program.

Applications are now open for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program will commence on March 13, 2026, and the application deadline for full consideration is January 16, 2026. 

All applicants are strongly encouraged to read through all sections below before beginning and completing their applications.

B. Scope and Content of the Program

The MABS is a fully online, part-time program designed to provide students with up-to-date knowledge and critical understanding of Buddhist history, philosophy, and culture across Asia, along with insight into its modern perspectives and applications in the West. The curriculum covers a wide range of topics, including primary sources, Buddhist thought, social organization, and literature.

Courses are led by a diverse team of experienced monastic and lay scholars, who bring both a strong foundation in Eastern traditions and practical teaching experience in Western settings. This program serves as an excellent foundation for advanced academic research, careers in Buddhist or religious studies, or as an opportunity for personal enrichment within a broader liberal education framework.

C. Program Structure: 

· The MABS program consists of both coursework and an extended essay.

· Online classes are primarily held in the evenings (U.S. Central Time), from Fridays through Mondays.

· In addition to coursework, students are required to write a minimum 5,000-word extended essay on a topic related to one of the courses taken. The essay will be developed with support from designated workshops (MABS 72) and under the guidance and approval of the relevant professors. It must be submitted by the end of the second year, with the possibility of a one-year extension, if necessary.

D. Our Faculty 

1. Ven. Dr. Dhammadipa SAK (PhD in Religions, University of Bristol)

2. Ven. Dr. Soorakkulame Pemaratana (PhD in Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh)

3. Ven. Dr. Longyun (PhD in Religious Studies, University of the West)

4. Dr. LI, Jingjing (PhD in Philosophy of Religion, McGill University)

5. Dr. TENG, Weijen (PhD in Religious Studies, Harvard University)

6. Dr. YING, Lei (PhD in East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University)

• MABS 72 Research Methodology and Extended Essay 

           -  Instructors: Ven. Dr. Dhammadipa, Dr. Teng, Weijen

E. Scope of Study

Students who are registered through RMTA are required to complete the seven courses listed below within two-year period.

1. MABS 01: Buddhist Doctrines of the Pali Nikāyas: Analysis and Interpretation

2. MABS 64: History of Chinese Buddhism

3. MABS 73: Modern Buddhism*

4. MABS 74: Introduction of Buddhist Chaplaincy* 

5. MABS 70: Buddhist Doctrine: Modern Philosophical Perspectives 

6. MABS 71: Buddhist Ethics: Concepts and Philosophical Interpretations 

7. MABS 72: Research Methodology and Extended Essay

* New courses offered by RMTA.

· 2026-2027 MABS Program Schedule available here. 

F. Click here for Admission Requirements