Intensive Buddhist Study Course

13th August - 24th September 2011

* Details of Content
* Year Five of the Basic Program at Kopan
* Subject Description
* Requirements
* Registration
* Download application form
* Recommended reading as preparation for the BP

Date

The course is currently schedule for mid August to the end of September. It is possible that this will change to early August to mid September. Please check with us closer to the time about the actual starting date.

Details of Content

Designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Basic Program provides a comprehensive, practice oriented transmission of the Buddha’s teaching as exemplified by the tradition of the great Tibetan master, Je Tsong Khapa.

The Basic Program is not a purely intellectual program, on the contrary: the goal is to integrate intellectual knowlege and study with in depth meditation on the subjects. To study these texts at Kopan Monastery provides a rare opportunity to study and practice traditional Buddhist texts in a traditional Buddhist environment, which greatly supports the generation of insights and understanding. The daily teachings will be complemented by daily meditation classes to deepen ones understanding of the topics.

The Basic Program subjects may be studied in any order; however, the Stages of the Path (lam-rim) provides the overall context for the other subjects and for meditation practice throughout. Understanding Tenets and Mind and Cognition will help with the ninth chapter of Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds, and Seventy Topics and Ornament will be difficult without studying the other subjects first.

Download an Application form (MS Word Format)

The basic program consists of nine core subjects and three supplementary topics. These 12 subjects of the program have been spaced over five years and are complemented by a three month Lam-rim retreat in the sixth year. Only those who have passed the exams relating to the nine core subjects and the three month Lam-rim retreat will be eligible to participate in the final exam and obtain a FPMT Basic program teacher's certificate.

* Year One
Lam Rim
Awareness and Cognition

* Year Two
Heart Sutra
Introduction to the Bodhisattva Deeds
Tenets

* Year Three
Mahayana Mind training (Wheel of Sharp Weapon)
Seventy Topics

* Year Four
Sublime Continuum
Ornament of Clear Realisation

* Year Five
The Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra
The Three Basic Bodies
Highest Yoga Tantra (this topic will be presented in 2012)

* Year Six
Three months Lam-rim retreat (this retreat is now planned for 2013)

For more detailed description of the basic program subjects please click here

Year Five of the Basic Program

The topics for this year are:
Grounds and Paths,
Presentation of the three basic bodies
Please note: Usually in Year Five, three topics are presented, but due to constraints the module on tantra will be offered next year. Dagri Rinpoche has been requested to give the highest yoga commentary next year. More details will be published when available.

1. Grounds and Paths:

Even though one may not be a bodhisattva it is important to know how to progress along the bodhisattva path. A detailed explanation will be given of the five paths of accumulation, preparation, seeing, meditation and no more learning as well as the ten bodhisattva grounds. Find out about the paths of hearers, self-liberatiors as well as bodhisattvas and their differences. What do bodhisattvas have to do to progress from one ground to the next, which of the five paths means definite liberation and which not, which of the practices are emphasised by the bodhisattvas on which ground and so forth. All these questions you always had and never could get answered will be clarified here.

2. The Three Basic Bodies:

Although it is said that in life there are only two things that are certain, namely 'death and taxes', in reality it is only death that is certain. While for worldly people death holds lots of fears, for the spiritual practitioner death can be the greatest opportunity in life.

Through the practice of the two profound stages of highest yoga tantra one can transform birth, death and intermediate state into the three bodies of a buddha, and thus attain the state of unification in one brief lifetime of the degenerate age.

Birth, death and intermediate state are the basis to be purified, the two stages of highest yoga tantra are what purifies, and the three bodies of a buddha are the purified result. To understand the process of purification over the two stages to the purified result of the three buddha bodies, it is extremely important to understand the presentation of the three basic bodies to be purified: birth, death and intermediate state.

The Teaching schedule

The days are divided into teachings, meditation sessions and discussion/debate sessions. The study week will be six days similar to the monastery schedule. Daily morning and evening meditations session will provide an uninterrupted continuum of practice.

Daily Schedule:

* 6.45 Morning meditation
* 7.30 am Breakfast
* 9.00 - 11 00
* 11.30 Lunch
* Free study time after lunch
* 3.30 - 5.00 Teaching
* 6.00 - 6.45 Meditation
* 6.45 Dinner
* 7.30 Study group

Exams are held every week, to help prepare the student for the final exam at the end of the module. To pass the exam, the knowledge of the students will be taken into consideration as well as other factors such as attendance, discipline and behavior. Having completed exams on the nine core subjects is the prerequisite to attend the final exam of the Basic Program. To receive this certificate, all modules have to be attended, and the required exams have to be passed.

Requirements

Designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the Basic Program is especially suitable for students wishing to progress beyond introductory level courses, who are ready to commit themselves to more in-depth study and practice. Consisting of nine subjects plus three optional supplements, the curriculum uses standard root texts and commentaries. A support program of meditation, discussions, retreats and study tools such as exams, homework and reading assignments ensures that participants develop an accurate understanding of the Dharma as a basis for daily practice, contemplative retreat and further study.

An FPMT Basic Program Certificate will be awarded by the FPMT to students who successfully complete the final, comprehensive exam. Candidates for this exam must have completed all the subjects of the core curriculum and a three month Lam rim retreat as part of the program. They also have to satisfy the Basic Program criteria for behavior and conduct: to sincerely engage in the practice of refraining from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct (adultery) and intoxicants, while developing their concern for others and awareness of positive and negative states of mind, and developing the practice of patience and the bodhichitta motivation over the course of their Basic Program studies.

The program offers students an opportunity to become qualified teachers certified by the FPMT, based on their academic understanding, meditation experience, and exemplary behavior. This is part of Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s vision for the Basic Program.

Registration for the Program

Please ask for an application form if you are interested in this exciting opportunity to learn more deeply about the philosophy and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, and how to apply this knowledge to your daily life.
Cost: 850 US$ (subject to changes in exchange rate)
The course fee includes food, accommodation in dormitory and extensive course material. (Other rooms are available at an extra charge)