The Foundation Programme (FP) is designed for students who have gained a basic understanding of Kadampa Buddhist practice and are interested in pursuing a formalised and committed study programme.
*** This is not a drop-in class. Please email [email protected] to schedule a taster class
Thursdays
Time: 7-9pm
Benefits of Foundation Programme
- Increased personal insight, wisdom and experience of Dharma (Buddha’s teachings)
- Studying and meditating more effectively following a specially-designed programme and qualified meditation teacher
- An opportunity to discuss and ask questions
- Gain the ability to integrate Dharma into busy modern life.
Commitments of the Foundation Programme
Foundation Programme is not a drop-in class. Enrolment is required and we ask that everyone who enrols:
- has a sincere personal commitment to try to attend each class
- will commit to at least 6 months after having one or two taster sessions
- will prepare for each class by studying and memorising to the best of your ability the essential points of the text for that class (including the condensed meaning)
- try to take a written exam at the end of each part of the book
- From 2nd May 2024 we will be studying ‘Meaningful to Behold‘ by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Fees and How to Enrol
Foundation programme fee is £30 per month
Your FP membership includes:
- All regular courses, classes and retreats held at the centre and all our branch classes.
- Foundation Programme and weekend courses
- 30% discount for empowerments.
If you have any questions about joining the Foundation Programme please email the Education Programme Coordinator at [email protected]
Many people have the compassionate wish to benefit others, but few understand how to accomplish this successfully in daily life. Bodhisattvas are friends of the world, who have such strong compassion that they are able to transform all their daily activities into ways of benefiting others. The path of the Bodhisattva was exquisitely explained in the universally loved poem Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by the 8th century master Shantideva. With this commentary, the full effectiveness and profundity of this wonderful poem are revealed in full and made applicable for our time. This practical handbook is essential for those wishing to follow a way of life characterised by greater empathy and compassion for others.
Our present situation can be understood in terms of the following analogy. If a person comes across a nugget of gold but does not recognize its rarity and worth, he may easily throw it away. At this moment we have attained a precious human life far more valuable than gold, but if we do not recognize its worth we are apt to squander it in meaningless and purposeless pursuits.
This highly acclaimed work is based on the great Indian Buddhist Master Shantideva’s famous spiritual poem Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, one of the best loved and most important Mahayana Buddhist texts, which reveals with poetic beauty and deep spiritual insight how to enter, make progress on, and complete the Buddhist path to enlightenment.
Shortly after he arrived at Manjushri Kadampa Meditation Centre in 1977, at the request of his root Spiritual Guide, Vajradhara Trijang Rinpoche, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche gave a detailed verse-by-verse commentary to Shantideva’s Guide. Teaching twice a day for over three months, Venerable Geshe-la revealed the full effectiveness and profundity of the Guide, and showed in a practical and inspiring way how in the midst of modern busy daily life we can follow the path of a Bodhisattva – someone who out of compassion dedicates his or her life to attaining enlightenment.
It is these early teachings that became Meaningful to Behold, the first of Venerable Geshe-la’s many books to be published.
You can purchase the book online from here.
