Foundation Program

Sundays, 8:30 AM – 10:30 AM. It is recommended that new students begin their studies in one of our general program classes for a period of one year before engaging in this program.

Purpose

The purpose of the Foundation Program (FP) is to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.  It provides a systematic course of study in the teachings of Kadampa Buddhism.

Through regular teachings and meditation, study, and group discussion, FP offers spiritual training followed by practitioners, in an unbroken lineage, dating back to the time of Buddha Shakyamuni (over 2,500 years ago). Students gain an authentic experience of training in Buddha’s teaching while still maintaining a contemporary lifestyle. The FP program builds confidence in meditation - from basic techniques for overcoming our everyday problems to practices leading to unsurpassed happiness and permanent inner peace.

Please Note: Membership in the Foundation Program involves a level of commitment to attend weekly classes. Students who join FP benefit from having a basic knowledge of Buddhism and have some experience with meditation. Those interested in joining FP should discuss this with Gen Chogyop.

Five Subjects

The program comprises the following five subjects, based on Buddha’s Sutras (publicly accessible teachings) and their commentaries, as presented in the books of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:

  • The stages of the path to enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune

  • Training the mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness

  • The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary New Heart of Wisdom

  • Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold

  • Buddhist understanding of the mind, based on the commentary How to Understand the Mind