About the Living in the Path program
The primary intention of this program is to preserve the teaching and practice lineage of Lama Thubten Yeshe, the founder of FPMT (the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition) and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, FPMT’s Spiritual Director. As such, the program will draw almost exclusively from the teachings of these two great masters.
Living in the Path is a continually evolving program, with regular new content. The initial course materials are drawn from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s “Light of the Path” teachings, an annual event hosted by Kadampa Center in North Carolina, USA. The initial courses are organized around edited transcripts and short video clips from this event.
It is intended that, over time, a large and dynamic virtual community of students engaging with Living in the Path resources will form worldwide, creating a network of support and inspiration for one’s practice and study. FPMT centers and study groups will also start facilitating Living in the Path courses in 2011. By engaging with the methods presented here, which help transform every action of body, speech and mind into the ways of wisdom and compassion, one's day-to-day life will indeed become one of Living in the Path. In this way, it is our hope that this program will become a cause for an awakened transformation in the world.
Where Living in the Path fits within FPMT Education Programming (PDF)
Living in the Path is a continually evolving program, with regular new content. The initial course materials are drawn from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s “Light of the Path” teachings, an annual event hosted by Kadampa Center in North Carolina, USA. The initial courses are organized around edited transcripts and short video clips from this event.
It is intended that, over time, a large and dynamic virtual community of students engaging with Living in the Path resources will form worldwide, creating a network of support and inspiration for one’s practice and study. FPMT centers and study groups will also start facilitating Living in the Path courses in 2011. By engaging with the methods presented here, which help transform every action of body, speech and mind into the ways of wisdom and compassion, one's day-to-day life will indeed become one of Living in the Path. In this way, it is our hope that this program will become a cause for an awakened transformation in the world.
Where Living in the Path fits within FPMT Education Programming (PDF)
How to Access these Courses
Two of these courses 'Light of the Path Retreat Materials 2009: text, audio, video' and 'Light of the Path Retreat Materials 2010: text, audio, video' do not have an enrollment key and can be accessed with an Online Learning Center user account.
We are also pleased to offer LP Module 1 'Motivation for Life' at no charge. The enrollment key for this module is motivation03
The remaining online courses requires an enrollment key which are available as a benefit of becoming a Friend of FPMT at the Dharma Supporter level or higher or alternatively, individual enrollment keys can be purchased in the Foundation Store.
- This course contains materials from the Light of the Path Retreat from 2009.
LP Module One - Module One - Motivation for Life
This module helps us to take advantage of the opportunity of our lives by understanding how to set the most beneficial motivation, every day. Learn to appreciate our precious human life, the truth of impermanence, how actions and their results are unbetraying, and the power of bodhichitta to be happy today and prepared to die at any moment.
These teachings are extracted from the opening sessions of the Light of the Path Retreat, Sept 2009 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They are considered preliminary to receiving teachings on the Lam-rim, the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, and essential for making our daily life and practice most meaningful."I thought to follow, normally, in daily life how one should practice, how to begin the day. We will start with that for general understanding. This is an introduction. This is what to think first thing when you wake up in the morning, for the entire life."Lama Zopa Rinpoche
We are pleased to offer Living in the Path Module 1 'Motivation for Life' at no charge. The enrollment key for this module is motivation03LP Module Two - Taking the Essence
The Buddha gave his disciples countless ways to attain enlightenment quickly. In this module, discover mantras to empower your speech and body so that others can benefit from your presence.
Practice bodhichitta mindfulness to imbue every action of daily life with a good heart. Create continual merit through the yoga of eating and making offerings. Take the Eight Mahayana Precepts and experience the power of living in vows.
These methods hook blessings, clear obstacles, and transform our actions into what is beneficial.
These teachings are extracted from the Light of the Path Retreat, September 2009 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche."Taking the essence all day and night; that is what we have to do this one time when we have found this good body of freedom. Aaaaall day and night. It is not only when you are happy, when you feel good, when you are in a good mood. You must pick up the all, pay attention to that: To take its essence all day and night."Lama Zopa Rinpoche
LP Module Three - What Buddhists Believe
In this course, Lama Zopa Rinpoche makes certain that we understand the most fundamental and profound truth of Buddha’s teachings: how ignorance creates our problems and how wisdom creates our happiness.
We are given practical ways to apply impermanence, karma, and emptiness in daily life, and catch the hallucination of true existence in the moment that ignorance projects it.
These teachings are extracted from the Light of the Path Retreat, September 2009 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche."When we say ‘belief,’ it looks like it is something that is not true. Here, we are talking about a belief that accords with reality. When you understand what fundamental Buddhist philosophy, practice, and belief is. Woooow!"Lama Zopa Rinpoche- These teachings will be extracted from the opening sessions of the Light of the Path Retreat, September 2009 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
LP Module Five - Introduction to Atisha’s Text
This is a short course wherein the commentary on Lama Atisha’s text begins. It includes a brief telling of Atisha’s life story and the circumstances under which LIGHT OF THE PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT was written. Rinpoche also explains the three capable beings and how actions become Dharma.
Finally, Rinpoche gives the oral transmission of the text, a blessing of the entire path to enlightenment for all who hear it. These teachings are extracted from the Light of the Path Retreat, September 2009 in North America taught by Lama Zopa Rinpoche."All the 84,000 teachings, which come in three levels, are integrated. This created so much confusion in Tibet. But Atisha integrated all of this very simply, like lunch; like food made and set on the table for you to eat. All you have to do is eat."Lama Zopa Rinpoche
