Study Programmes
Geshe Kelsang Gyatso has designed three special spiritual programmes for the systematic study and practice of Kadampa Buddhism that are especially suited to the modern world. These programmes are modelled on the three traditional Tibetan methods of study. The three programmes are: the General Programme (also referred to as weekly classes), the Foundation Programme, and the Teacher Training Programme. |  |
The General Program introduces basic Buddhist view, meditation and action, along with various other teachings and practices, all within the Mahayana Buddhist tradition of Atisha and Je Tsongkhapa, to help practitioners deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.
All the teachings are based on commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.
Subjects covered by the program
- Who was Buddha?
- Understanding the mind
- Past and future lives
- What is karma?
- Our precious human life
- What is meditation
- Death
- The Buddhist way of life
- What is liberation?
- Developing renunciation
- The three higher trainings
- Becoming a Bodhisattva
- The Bodhisattva’s way of life
- Ultimate truth
- Enlightenment
The Foundation Programme (FP)
The Foundation Programme provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of Buddhism through a systematic study of five texts:
Joyful Path of Good Fortune - a commentary to Atisha's Lamrim instructions, the stages of the path to enlightenment. By studying this book we gain the ability to put all Buddha's teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment. From a practical point of view, Lamrim is the main body of Buddha's teachings, and the other teachings are like its limbs.
Universal Compassion - a commentary to Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points. By studying this book we gain the ability to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.
Heart of Wisdom - a commentary to the Heart Sutra. By studying this book we gain a realization of the ultimate nature of reality. By gaining this realization we can eliminate the ignorance of self-grasping, which is the root of all our suffering.
Meaningful to Behold - a commentary to Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. By studying this book we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva's way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.
Understanding the Mind - a detailed explanation of the mind based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga.By studying this book we understand the relationship between our mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind, we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually we shall gain the ability to control our mind and in this way solve all our problems.
Eight Steps to Happiness - a commentary of the revered poem Eight Verses of Training the Mind, by Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa. By studying this book we understand the profound yet totally practical methods given by Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa to enable a powerful opening of the heart, the source of all true happiness.
The Foundation Program takes approximately four years to complete and requires an enrollment procedure.
What book is currently being studied? Joyful Path of Good FortuneThe Complete Buddhist Path to Enlightenment By Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Also available as an audiobook on CD Buddha demonstrated how to follow a path of inner transformation that leads to the complete eradication of all traces negativity and confusion from the mind and the attainment of sublime qualities such as universal compassion and wisdom realizing the true nature of all phenomena. During his life he gave many teachings revealing how the practices that lead to this realization of enlightenment. Later, the great Indian Pandit Atisha arranged all these teachings in the order in which they are to be practiced. This special arrangement became known as the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, or Lamrim. In Joyful Path of Good Fortune, Geshe Kelsang provides a systematic, step-by-step commentary to these teachings rendering them completely accessible to the modern reader. It is an invaluable compendium of essential Buddhist practices.
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When is Foundation Programme taught?
Foundation Programme is taught on Sundays, from 4.00 - 9.00 p.m. with a one hour break for dinner at 6.00p.m.
I'm interested in joining, where do I find out more?
If you have any questions, or if you wish to find out more about Foundation Programme please don't hesitate to contact us at the centre.
Teacher Training Programme (TTP)
The purpose of the Teacher Training Program is to provide an extensive presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism, and to train as qualified - we hope in the future to have TTP at Ratnasambhava Kadampa Buddhist Centre