The
Discovering Buddhism Program
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There are a total of 14 subject
areas within the Discovering Buddhism program.
Within each subject area
students are expected to attend lectures covering
required topics of understanding, engage in meditation
practices relevant to those topics, read texts and
teaching transcripts, and do short retreats.
The final subject area "Special
Integration Experiences" includes a list of longer
retreats and other experiences required in order
to "graduate" from the program.
This program
is not designed as an academic study of Buddhism
but is intended to change your life.
The Discovering Buddhism program
is the result of the combined efforts of a number
of FPMT teachers and spiritual program coordinators,
under the guidance and advice of Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
It is an estimated 2-year course for
which students may receive a certificate of completion
upon fulfillment of all requirements.
The aim of the Discovering Buddhism
program is to give participants a solid footing
in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism.
By engaging in this program, participants
will receive an experiential taste of the Buddha's
teachings, some retreat experience, and will have
the skills they need to make their lives most meaningful.
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Discovering Buddhism
Subject Areas
1. Mind and Its Potential
— Examine what is "mind," its nature and function, and
how it affects our experience of happiness and suffering.
Come explore the differentiation between mind and brain,
mind as the creator of our experiences, and the implications
of possessing a mind that has no beginning and no end.
In addition, learn methods to transform destructive thoughts
and attitudes and create a positive and joyous mind.
2. How to Meditate
— Basic meditation techniques. Learn the definition and
purpose of meditation, how to sit properly, how to set
up a meditation session, the different types of meditation
techniques one may employ, and how to recognize and deal
with obstacles to meditation.
3. Presenting the
Path — Get an overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist
path to awakening. Hear about the life story of the Buddha
and study the basic teachings of Buddhism. Discover the
unique system for putting Buddhist philosophy into practice
contained in the lam-rim, or "graduated path to enlightenment."
4. The Spiritual Teacher
— Take the time to investigate the role of the teacher
on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities
of a teacher, the qualities of a student, and how to relate
to a teacher for greatest benefit in one's spiritual life.
Consider the challenges we face when thinking of entering
into a "guru-disciple" relationship and learn how to overcome
these skillfully.
5. Death and Rebirth
— Explore the process of death and rebirth and its impact
on how we live our lives. Be guided in skillful reflection
on the meaning of death and what to expect at the death-time.
In this way, fulfill your purpose in life, resolve conflicts,
and develop the skills to help both yourself and others
at the time of death. Eventually, through Buddhist practice,
one can overcome death altogether.
6. All About Karma
— Learn the essential facts about the law of cause and
effect and generate a clear understanding about how karma
works. Discover effective tools to accumulate merit –
the cause of happiness and success – and purify mistaken
actions done in the past. In addition, explore ways to
become adept at dealing with life most effectively and
thereby take control of your future.
7. Refuge in the Three
Jewels — Get informed about what it means to take
refuge in the Three Jewels (Buddha, Dharma and Sangha),
and the essential practices of refuge. Find out more about
the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing
our spiritual growth.
8. Establishing a
Daily Practice — Assemble the tools you need to develop
a successful daily practice. Using Lama Zopa Rinpoche's
A DAILY MEDITATION PRACTICE as a guide, become familiar
with the elements necessary to generate realizations in
the mind. Also, receive some tips for making every action
of the day meaningful.
9. Samsara and Nirvana
— Investigate what "samsara" is and how we are stuck in
it. Find out what "nirvana" is and how to achieve it.
Develop the determination to be free from suffering and
empower yourself with practical tools to deal with and
eliminate disturbing emotions forever.
10. How to Develop
Bodhichitta — Come discover the clear meditation instruction
available in Tibetan Buddhism that enables us to develop
our innate qualities of loving kindness and compassion.
Become skilled at applying these techniques to generate
the mind of bodhichitta, the wish to attain enlightenment
for the benefit of others, known to be the heart of Buddha's
teachings.
11. Transforming Problems
— Consider well the disadvantages of self-cherishing and
the advantages of cherishing others more than ourselves.
Get inspired to "exchange yourself with others," and then
be guided in how to employ the special techniques of mind
training or "lo-jong" as a means to transform problems
into happiness and learn to like problems as much as ice
cream!
12. Wisdom of Emptiness
— The realization of emptiness is crucial for the attainment
of liberation and enlightenment. Take this opportunity
to enhance your ability to bring about this realization.
Learn how to develop calm abiding and different methods
to use in meditation on emptiness. Practice accumulation
of merit and purification of obstacles - indispensable
for generating realizations within the mind.
13. Introduction to
Tantra — Learn the definition of tantra, how tantra
works and why it is a powerful form of practice. Get a
broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn
how to practice simple Kriya tantric methods. In addition,
find out how to integrate the practices of tantra with
lam-rim meditation for optimal results.
14. Special Integration
Experiences — By undertaking intensive practices of
purification and a minimum two-week lam-rim residential
retreat, prepare your mind in the best possible way
to gain realizations on the path to enlightenment. Purification
practices include: 100,000 prostrations, 3-month
Vajrasattva retreat, and Nyung Ne. This is
a great way to seal the blessings of this program.
See more about FPMT study
programs at
http://www.fpmt.org/education/programs.asp
