A Member of the New Kadampa Tradition - International Kadampa Buddhist Union

Foundation Program
Asheville, Sunday 10:30-12:30 and 1:30-3:30 pm location: 9 Walnut St.

Charlotte, Tuesdays 7-9pm location: Phoenix Rising 9512 Monroe Road
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Studying on the Foundation Program is a profound method of deepening your knowledge and experience of Dharma and of making progress on your inner spiritual journey.

The Foundation Program of Mahayana Buddhism :

*Expand your knowledge and understanding of Buddha's teachings on compassion and wisdom
*Deepen your experience and practice of meditation
*Discover how to practice Buddhism in the West
*Make progress on a spiritual path
*Share this learning experience with others in discussion
*Follow a structured Program of Dharma Studies
*Become part of a World-wide community following the same study program

Home Study
Live too far away from Asheville or Charlotte, or your schedule of commitments doesn't allow you to get to classes? You can study at home, and receive cd's of the live teachings. The format for correspondence study is the same as the live format shown below. In addition there is a chat group where you can post questions and receive answers, and you can attend the retreats scheduled throughout the year.

Subject and Text
We are just beginning the study of "Joyful Path of Good Fortune".

We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of god qualities, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do on every stage of our spiritual journey.

With this book, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step by step guidance on the meditation practices which will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha's teachings in the order in which they are to be practised, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies.

By studying this text on the Foundation Program you will come to experience for yoursef   the joy that arises from making progress along a clear and structured path to full enlightenment.

You can purchase this book at the Center and by following the links in Books on Buddhism. Foundation Program Commitments
The commitments are to help and guide students in their study and practice. Students enrol for one subject at a time and undertake:
1. To try to attend every class in that subject.
2. To study and memorize the essential points of the subject (including the root text and/or the condensed meaning)
3. To sit an examination at the end of the course
4. Each week to attend at least one puja of preliminary practices organized by Kosala Center.

Enrollment
To join the class please contact Gen Tilopa or (828) 350 1106. Everyone is invited to attend a session of the class before committing to the program.

Class Fees
The fees are $55 per month for both live classes and home study classes.

The Foundation Program Subjects
The five subjects and texts studied are from Buddha's Sutra teachings:
1. The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim) based on the commentary "Joyful Path of Good Fortune"
2. Training the Mind (Lojong) based on the commentary "Universal Compassion"
3. The Heart Sutra based on the commentary "Heart of Wisdom"
4. Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life based on the commentary "Meaningful to Behold"
5. Types of Mind based on the commentary "Understanding the Mind"
The above commentaries by the Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso are published by Tharpa Publications, and may be ordered from Kosala Center.

Class Format
In Kosala Center there are two classes each week, both on Sundays beginning at 3pm, with a short break between sessions. In Vajradhara Center in Charlotte, there is one class per week on Tuesdays at 7pm.
Each session begins with the preparatory prayers, Essence of Good Fortune, 15 mins
Meditation on previous session's conclusion, 20 mins
Recitation of Outlines, 5 mins
Transmission of text and explanatory commentary by teacher, 45 mins
Discussion in pairs, 25 mins
Conclusion, mantra recitation & dedication, 10 mins
Total 2 hours

During the discussions students try to clarify the meaning of the subject and help each other to come to a firm understanding. There are regular breaks throughout the year, usually with a longer break in the summer.

Examinations
Each subject is assessed by written examination with the longer subjects being divided into a number of sections, each of which is examined separately. Students are examined on their understanding of the material presented in the commentaries. Memorization of root texts, outlines, and other important material such as key definitions is also assessed. The examinations are set and marked by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso and the Teachers of the Program.

Failure in an examination does not disqualify a student from continuing with the Program, and all examinations can be retaken. Certificates are awarded to students who pass examinations in all five subjects.

Extracts from a talk on the Foundation Program by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso in 1990.

FULFILLING OTHERS' WISHES

“How does the Foundation Program fulfil the wishes of others? If we increase our wisdom and Dharma experience we can give teachings and spiritual advice to others and set a good example for them to follow. In this way we can lead others into spiritual paths.”

“…. we can see that to fulfil our own and others' wishes we need to increase our wisdom and Dharma experience, and to do this we need to rely on the Foundation Program At present our wisdom is like a young child, or a new moon. By relying on the Foundation Program we can gradually increase our wisdom until it is completely mature, like a full moon.”

“These programs, therefore, are real wishfulfilling jewels for Dharma practitioners. By participating in them we can improve our wisdom and Dharma experience and use Dharma to solve our daily problems. We can become our own protector by protecting ourselves from danger and suffering, and our own doctor by curing our mental pain with Dharma medicine. We shall be able to set a good example for others to follow and help others by giving teachings and advice. Eventually we will be able to give extensive teachings and benefit others in many ways by organizing special programs and so forth. In this way we will make both our own and others' human lives extremely meaningful.”

“A SPECIAL WAY OF UNDERSTANDING During Foundation Program classes the Teacher will read from the text and give additional explanation. This has two purposes: to clarify difficult points and to pass on the oral lineage. Thus when the Teacher is reading from the book he or she is not just reading to us, they are also transmitting the lineage of the text to future Teachers.”

“The texts themselves are quite clear. The Lamrim and Lojong texts in particular are quite easy to understand. However, when we are studying on this Program we need a special way of understanding. This involves listening, contemplating, discussing, memorizing, and meditating. Discussion is a particularly important aspect of the Program because we can help each other greatly by sharing our experience and understanding of Dharma. Sometimes we can discuss in pairs and sometimes the whole class can discuss together."

“When we discuss we should always have an open mind and be motivated by the wish to help our partner.”
“ Do not get involved in heavy discussions, and avoid explicit disagreements.” ….”Our discussions should not be like fire crackers - a lot of noise with no real meaning - but should be meaningful and conclusive. We should try to conclude each discussion with a clear decision about the meaning of the subject in question. Later, when we take the examinations, the conclusions we have reached in discussion will be very helpful. Discussion helps us to formulate our ideas and come to clear decisions. Then we have certainty and confidence. Otherwise, without regular discussion we will be left with doubts and discomfort about the subject.”

"We should try to memorize the important points of the subject and combine whatever we understand in a practical way with our daily activities. We also have to observe the various commitments of the Program These commitments are designed to help us accomplish our aim. Without them there is a danger that we will be distracted by laziness or other circumstances and not complete our studies.”

“These are benefits that we shall experience just in this life. In reality, future lives are much more important. We shall experience the beneficial results of studying on this Program for life after life until we reach enlightenment. The benefits are inexhaustible.”

“Therefore it is my responsibility to clarify any unclear points and to help you with any difficulties you have with your studies. Also it is my responsibility to prepare examinations for you. Your responsibility is to keep the commitments and complete the Program So I would like to say thank you to all of you and encourage you to complete your studies happily.”