Foundation Programme Course
The Foundation Programme (FP) course is designed for those who want to deepen their knowledge of Buddhism and meditation.
Structured Study
Many people have a sincere wish to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddha's teachings and to improve their spiritual insights through a structured study programme. The Foundation Programme is designed to fulfill this wish by providing a systematic presentation of the basic subjects of Mahayana Buddhism through the study of six of Geshe Kelsang's books:
- Joyful Path of Good Fortune
- Universal compassion
- Heart of Wisdom
- Meaningful to Behold
- Eight Steps to Happiness
- Understanding the Mind
The FP course is currently studying Understanding the Mind. This explains the Nature and Power of the Mind focusing on: what the mind is and how it works; how to recognize and abandon harmful minds; how to develop and maintain minds that lead to peace and happiness; and how to attain lasting joy, independent of external conditions.
Foundation Programme Class
Studying on the Foundation Programme provides a perfect basis for a daily meditation practice that pervades the day and brings lasting results.
What happens in an FP class?
We begin with traditional prayers to calm and prepare the mind. After these the teacher guides a meditation on a topic of the previous class. The teacher then cover a section from the book clarifying the important points and illustrating ways in which the ideas can be put into practice. Anyone can ask questions that they may have at any time. We then split up into pairs to recall the main points of the teaching, the idea being to help commit them to memory. We discuss any other points in order to overcome doubts or misunderstandings and to arrive at a clear understanding of the meaning and a practical application in our daily life.
Who can join?
If you have been coming to General Programmes and wish to study Buddha's teachings in a more systematic way, then feel free to try it out for 2 or 3 sessions. See for yourself how this study programme helps to improve the quality of your life by putting the teachings into practice.
To Find out More
Please contact the centre and we can explain more about the progamme and trying it out.
