Deepen your experience of Buddha’s teachings with the Foundation Programme (FP)

 

 

Systematic study each week is essential in developing and nurturing both our wisdom and compassion, which are necessary qualities leading to the lasting inner peace of a Buddha. By studying the essential Buddhist texts as presented by our Spiritual Guide, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, we can internalise Buddha’s teachings and develop the qualities that enable us to become a source of peace and happiness for others and we can then be of real benefit to our family and friends, our society and our world.

Each session is led by Kelsang Tumo, our resident teacher, and includes preliminary prayers, guided meditation, teachings and transmission of the text, with discussion and dedication to conclude each session.

We have 2 seperate Foundation Programme classes at the monent:
- The intial scope of Joyful Path of Good Fortune on Sundays from 10am to 3pm, including a lunch break, and we also offer the option to study by correspondence, whereby you receive recordings of the teachings and join the rest of the group for the discussion classes.
- Universal Compassion on Mondays from 7pm-9pm, which we will start in February 2011.

A 3 week trial is available; if you would like to find out more please contact our Education Programme Co-ordinator, or read more on kadampa.org.

“The benefits of studying on FP are inexhaustible” - Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso

 

The heart of Buddha’s teachings is unconditional love and compassion. In this inspired explanation of the popular Buddhist poem Training the Mind in Seven Points, Geshe Kelsang reveals powerful and far-reaching methods for us to develop these altruistic states. Ancient meditative techniques that have been tried and tested for centuries are brought alive and made relevant to our everyday experiences. Also included is a practical and uplifting explanation of how we can transform our day-to-day living – including even the most demanding and difficult conditions – into opportunities for personal and spiritual development. By pointing the way to an unchanging freedom and happiness, this immensely readable book challenges us to grow, and will have a remarkable impact on our life.

We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualities, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do along every stage of our spiritual journey. With this book, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness.   With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha’s teachings in the order in which they are to be practised, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies. Following these practical instructions, we will come to experience for ourselves the joy that arises from making progress on a clear and structured path that leads to full enlightenment.   This is a perfect guidebook to the Buddhist path.

Requirements

Students enrol for one subject or section of the book at a time, and to ensure their studies are successful they are asked to:
- Attend each class
- Study and memorise the essential meaning of the text
- Take an examination at the end of the section. This is an opportunity for you check for yourself how much you have learnt over the course

Foundation Programme costs £35 per month, which also includes all other drop-in classes and retreat session in the centre and across South and Mid Wales.