Basic Program Online
- a brief introduction,
- the curriculum, including standard texts and subject descriptions,
- the prerequisites for successful study of BP Online,
- how to choose the order in which to study the BP Online subjects,
- how BP Online study is supported by discussion, meditation, short retreats and practice,
- an explanation of the certificate option and the BP Online completion requirements
- and an introduction to the Basic Program subjects by Geshe Jampa Gyatso.
- the curriculum, including standard texts and subject descriptions,
- the prerequisites for successful study of BP Online,
- how to choose the order in which to study the BP Online subjects,
- how BP Online study is supported by discussion, meditation, short retreats and practice,
- an explanation of the certificate option and the BP Online completion requirements
- and an introduction to the Basic Program subjects by Geshe Jampa Gyatso.
We are pleased to announce that six Basic Program Online courses are now available: AWARENESSES AND KNOWERS; MINDS AND MENTAL FACTORS; TENETS; STAGES OF THE PATH; HEART SUTRA and MAHAYANA MIND TRAINING. The remaining Basic Program subjects will be gradually added.
The suggested amount of time for completing AWARENESSES AND KNOWERS, MINDS AND MENTAL FACTORS and HEART SUTRA is three months each, TENETS takes four and a half months, STAGES OF THE PATH a year and MAHAYANA MIND TRAINING four months
A brief description of each of these subjects can be found below.
An enrollment key is required to access these courses, which can be purchased in the Foundation Store or which can be obtained as a benefit at certain levels of the Friend of FPMT program.
Instructions for creating a user account and using the site can be seen in the Site User Guide.
Please contact the Site Administrator with any questions or comments.
- This is a free course where you can find everything you need to know if you want to take part in Basic Program Online:
- a brief introduction,
- the curriculum, including standard texts and subject descriptions,
- the prerequisites for successful study of BP Online,
- how to choose the order in which to study the BP Online subjects,
- how BP Online study is supported by discussion, meditation, short retreats and practice,
- an explanation of the certificate option and the BP Online completion requirements
- and an introduction to the Basic Program subjects by Geshe Jampa Gyatso. - The study of mind, both in its valid and distorted forms, helps develop our understanding of the way the mind knows phenomena. A number of important themes are introduced, including the relationship between subject and object, supramundane (yogic) knowing and the connection between thought and reality. Venerable George Churinoff’s teachings for the BP at Land of Medicine Buddha are based on Yongdzin Purbuchok’s Explanation of the Presentation of Objects and Object-Possessors as well as Awarenesses and Knowers.
The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is three months. - An introduction to Buddhist psychology, identifying the mental factors that constitute the basis of our daily experience and defining the various positive and negative emotions as well as the cognitive states relevant to practice of a liberative path. The teachings by Venerable George Churinoff at Land of Medicine Buddha are based on Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen’s A Necklace for Those of Clear Awareness Clearly Revealing the Modes of Minds and Mental Factors.
The suggested amount of time needed to complete this course is three months. - The four main schools of Buddhist tenets represent the differing levels of interpretation of the sutras delivered by the Buddha. Kurukulla Center’s Geshe Tsulga gives a clear and practical commentary on Jetsün Chökyi Gyaltsen’s Presentation of Tenets, showing how the Madhyamaka teachings on profound emptiness and buddhahood evolve from and complement the more elementary teachings of the Vaibhasika, Sautrantika and Cittamatra schools.
This subject supports a gradual development of insight in emptiness. It is an essential preparation for understanding the wisdom chapters of the Basic Program subjects Stages of the Path and Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds.
The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is four and a half months. - The stages of the path to enlightenment of beings of low, middling, and great capacity; an oral commentary to Lama Tsong Khapa’s Medium Exposition of the Stages of the Path by Geshe Jampa Gyatso at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute, with application in meditation and retreat.
The aim of this BP Online course is to acquire a thorough understanding and structured overview of Lama Tsongkhapa’s lam-rim presentation, and to develop experience of applying these teachings in meditation and retreat. Upon completion, students should be able to conduct their own lam-rim retreats and to use the lam-rim as a basis and context for their meditation, further study, and daily life experience.
The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is one year.
Please also note that the study of Tenets and Awarenesses and Knowers is recommended to facilitate a good understanding of the Calm Abiding and Special Insight sections, constituting a major part of this text.
- In this commentary, offered for the five year residential Basic Program at Nalanda Monastery, Geshe Sonam Ngodrub gives a detailed introduction to the modes of practice of the perfection of wisdom on the five Mahayana paths, as indicated by the Heart Sutra and its renowned mantra.Completed with a short guided retreat, this course is aimed at acquiring a thorough understanding of the meaning of this precious text and the different levels of meditation on emptiness taught by it, while also deepening students’ own practice and explaining how to meditate on the Heart Sutra when engaging in the auspicious recitation of it.
The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is three months.
- The Wheel of Sharp Weapons, composed by the great Indian yogi Dharmarakshita, is among the most esteemed of the celebrated mind training teachings. Mahayana training in perfect altruism is seen as the means to achieve lasting happiness and peace for oneself and others, and Dharmarakshita's Wheel as the supreme means to cut through our true enemies - self-grasping and self-cherishing.The suggested amount of time needed to complete this subject is four months.
- The purpose of the forums is for students of Basic Program Online and Basic Program Homestudy to explore the content of the BP subjects, supporting each other in the study and practice of the materials presented. The forums will be attended by BP Online well qualified elders who may occasionally post questions and topics for discussion as well.
