Study Programmes
The New Kadampa Tradition teaches three special Study Programmes for the systematic study and practice of Buddhism that are especially suited to the modern world: the General Programme, Foundation Programme, and Teacher Training Programme.
The General Programme (GP)
The General Programme introduces basic Buddhist view, meditation and action, along with various other teachings and practices, to help practitioners deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism. All the teachings are based on commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.The General Programme is an ideal starting point for those interested to find out more about Buddhism and meditation.
The programme at Jampel Centre consists of weekly drop-in classes, supplemented by optional day courses.
All classes are open to everyone.
The Foundation Programme (FP)
The purpose of the Foundation Programme is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.The program comprises the following five subjects, based on Buddha's Sutra teachings and the corresponding commentaies by Venerable Geshe Kelsang:
1. The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune – we gain the ability to put all Buddha’s teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment.
2. Training the Mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness – we gain the ability to integrate Buddha’s teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.
3. The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom – we gain a realization of the ultimate nature of reality. By gaining this realization we can eliminate the ignorance of self-grasping, which is the root of all our suffering.
4. Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold – we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva’s way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.
5. Types of Mind, based on the commentary Understanding the Mind – we understand the relationship between our mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind, we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually we shall gain the ability to control our mind and in this way solve all our problems.
The Foundation Programme takes approximately five years to complete and requires an enrollment procedure. Find out more about Foundation Programme at Jampel Centre.
Teacher Training Programme (TTP)
The purpose of the Teacher Training Programme is to provide an extensive presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism, and to train as qualified Kadampa Teachers.All Resident Teachers of Kadampa Buddhist Centres follow this in-depth program of study and practice.
Jampel Centre is not yet running a TTP, but ask if you are interested.