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New FPMT Pilot Program!

Exploring Buddhism:
Exploring Common Prayers and Practices

with Ven. Lozang Yönten and Don Handrick

Saturday and Sunday, April 23/24, 2022
    9:00am – 10:00am PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
    break
    10:15am – 11:30am PDT

Saturday and Sunday, May 7/8
    9:00am – 10:00am PDT
    break
    10:15am – 11:30am PDT

Wednesday, May 18
    6:30pm – 8:00pm PDT

Saturday and Sunday, May 21/22
    9:00am – 10:00am PDT
    break
    10:15am – 11:30am PDT

Wednesday, May 25
    6:30pm – 8:00pm PDT

We are using the Zoom video conferencing system for this course.  Please register below to receive your online access information.
In order to make progress on the spiritual path, we must support our practice of study, contemplation, and meditation with the practices of accumulation of merit and purification of negative karma. In this module of Exploring Buddhism, we will examine the need for prayers, dedications, as well as various other practices and pujas, and investigate how they are meant to affect the mind and bring about the realizations of the path to enlightenment. Teachings will be given on how to do the main prayers, practices, and pujas that are commonly performed by FPMT students on their own and also conducted in our centers.

Please note that, while this module does contain general instruction on some tantric pujas, students are not expected to have received a highest yoga tantra initiation, nor will they be taught the meaning of the pujas in terms of tantric practice.
If you combine listening to, reflecting on, and meditating on
The essence of the teachings of Victorious Lozang Dragpa into one,
Supported by effort in collecting merits and in purification,
Buddhahood will be at your fingertips.

– Gungthang Jampai Yang
Previous study of at least some modules of Discovering Buddhism, either in a center or online is highly recommended before enrolling in this program.

New students are welcome.  You do not have to have attended previous modules.
Shakyamuni Buddha
Exploring Buddhism is a new program currently being developed by FPMT to serve as a bridge between Discovering Buddhism and The Basic Program. It is designed to help students of Buddhism delve more deeply into a broad array of topics that form a solid foundation for furthering one’s study and practice.  The program will initially be run as a pilot program in FPMT centers to further test and refine the curriculum.  

Syllabus

Purpose: To show students how they can make progress on the path by supporting their practice of study, contemplation, and meditation with the practices of accumulation of merit and purification of negative karma. This module covers these subjects:

1. Common Prayers
To teach students how and why to do various kinds of prayers, including the following:
  • Taking refuge and generating bodhichitta
  • The four immeasurables
  • The seven-limb practice
  • The mandala offering
  • Requesting prayers
  • Common dedication prayers
  • Food offering prayers.

2. Common Sutra Practices
To teach students how and why to do various kinds of sutra practices, including the following:
  • The Method for Transforming a Suffering Life into Happiness (Including Enlightenment), with particular emphasis on how to do the practice of Blessing the Speech
  • Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga
  • King of Prayers
  • Concise Medicine Buddha Puja
  • Light Offering Practice

3. Common Tantra Practices
To teach students how and why to do various kinds of tantra practices, including the following:
  • Lama Chopa
  • Four Mandala Offering Puja to Tara

Please note that, while this module does contain general instruction on the above tantric pujas, students are not expected to have received a highest yoga tantra initiation, nor will they be taught the meaning of the pujas in terms of tantric practice.
Materials List

Please obtain these materials prior to the beginning of the module as it would be helpful if you could review the various practices mentioned below to see where you might have any questions.

General Prayers
  • FPMT Essential Prayer Book
    https://shop.fpmt.org/FPMT-Essential-Prayer-Book-PDF-_p_1365.html
    PLEASE NOTE: Although a number of earlier editions of this prayer book have been released, we will be using the 2021 edition since it contains several practices that will be taught in the module, including The Method to Transform a Suffering Life Into Happiness (Including Enlightenment), Blessing the Speech, Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga, and King of Prayers.

Practice Texts
  • Extensive Offering Practice
    https://shop.fpmt.org/Extensive-Offering-Practice-PDF_p_3442.html
  • The Concise Essence Sutra Ritual of Bhagavan Medicine Buddha Called “The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel”
    https://shop.fpmt.org/Medicine-Buddha--The-Wish-Fulfilling-Jewel-PDF_p_1370.html
  • Lama Chopa and Tsog Offering
    https://shop.fpmt.org/Lama-Chopa-and-Tsog-Offering-eBook-PDF_p_1949.html
  • The Abbreviated Four Mandala Ritual to Chittamani Tara
    https://shop.fpmt.org/Four-Mandala-Offerings-to-Chittamani-Tara-PDF_p_1034.html

Ven. Lozang Yönten is an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Gelug Tibetan tradition who was ordained in 2003. Her (merely labeled) pronouns are she/her and she is a fully ordained Bhikshuni/Gelongma in the Dharmaguptaka tradition.

Buddhist since her teenage years, Ven. Yönten moved to Chenrezig Institute in QLD, Australia when she was 19 and studied intensively under Khensur Rinpoche Geshe Tashi Tsering (Lharampa Geshe from Sera Je Monastery and former Abbot of Gyü-me Tantric College) for seven years, completing their Buddhist Studies Program (including FPMT’s Basic Program as well as other advanced topics) and retreats.

​She then continued to study, retreat and offer service at Dharma Centers in India and Taiwan as well as Australia and New Zealand, becoming an In-Depth Registered Teacher within the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) in 2012.

Ven. Yönten was then the Resident Teacher of Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia from 2012 – 2015 and then at Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity in New Zealand until 2018. She continues to offer classes and retreats at both Centres annually (unless there is a global pandemic).

Ven. Yönten also offers Buddhist classes 4–5 months a year in Israel. With FPMT’s Shantideva Study Group and also, from a secular perspective, for a seven-year postgraduate program called Human Spirit which is a Buddhist Psychoanalytic Training Program.

Ven. Lozang Yönten

​Don Handrick is a touring teacher for the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT), sharing the Dharma with centers and study groups in North America and other parts of the world, both in-person and online.

Don's study of Buddhism began in 1993 after reading The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. Over the next two years he practiced with Sogyal Rinpoche's organization, until he began attending classes in 1996 with Venerable Robina Courtin at Tse Chen Ling in San Francisco.

Don left the Bay Area in 1998 to attend the FPMT's Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a seven-year residential study program conducted at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Tuscany, Italy, taught by the scholar and kind Spiritual Friend, Geshe Jampa Gyatso. He successfully completed all five subjects of this program in 2004, receiving an FPMT final certificate with high honors.
Don Handrick

This program is being jointly offered by:
  • Dharmakaya Center (Reno, NV) 
  • Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Centre (BC, Canada)
  • Ocean of Compassion Buddhist Center

Our ability to continue offering these teachings is dependent on the generosity of donors.  We appreciate any donation and support for this class.  Thank you!
Support Ocean of Compassion Buddhist Center
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Support Lozang Yönten directly
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Support Don Handrick directly
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Registration: $15 per class or $100 for the entire module (eight classes).  Members of a certain level get courses for free (see the membership program for details). Registration is required to receive your online access information.

Your generous donations are essential for the continuation of programs like this. No one turned away due to lack of funds.

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