More on the Foundation Programme
What is the Foundation Programme?
The Foundation Program provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of Buddhism through a systematic study of the following five subjects based on Buddha’s Sutra teachings and the corresponding commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche:
The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune
Training the Mind
based on Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness, (commentaries to Training the Mind in Seven Points and Eight Verses of Training the Mind, respectively).
The Heart Sutra
based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom
Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life
based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold
Types of mind
based on the commentary Understanding the mind , a detailed explanation of the mind based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga.
The benefits of studying and practising three of these texts are as follows:
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. From a practical point of view, Lamrim is the main body of Buddha’s teachings, and the other teachings are like its
limbs.
Eight Steps to Happiness – Geshe Kelsang reveals powerful and far-reaching methods for us to develop unconditional love and compassion and transform our day-to-day living, including even the most demanding and difficult conditions, into opportunities for personal and spiritual development.
Meaningful to Behold – we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva’s way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.
There are five, 6-week (on average) terms each year.
The classes consist of a lively combination of a reading and supplementary teaching, prayers and guided meditation, and discussion.
Why study on FP?
There are three reasons why we need to study and practice the teachings of Buddha:
To develop our wisdom
To cultivate a good heart
To maintain a peaceful state of mind
If we do not strive to develop our wisdom, we shall always remain ignorant of ultimate truth – the true nature of reality. Although we wish for happiness, our ignorance leads us to engage in non-virtuous actions, which are the main cause of all our suffering.
If we do not cultivate a good heart, our selfish motivation destroys harmony and good relationships with others. We have no peace, and no chance to gain pure happiness. Without inner peace, outer peace is impossible.
If we do not maintain a peaceful state of mind we are not happy even if we have ideal conditions. On the other hand, when our mind is peaceful we are happy even if our external conditions are unpleasant.
Therefore, the development of these qualities is of utmost importance for our daily happiness.
Many Buddhist practitioners have a sincere wish to deepen their knowledge and experience of Dharma and to gain authentic spiritual realisations through a structured programme of Dharma studies. The Foundation Programme is designed to fulfil this wish. It provides a systematic presentation of the basic subjects of Mahayana Buddhism and forms a perfect
basis for a strong daily practice and successful meditation retreats. The programme takes about four years to complete.
Geshe Kelsang says: ‘Our present understanding and experience of Dharma is quite superficial. We are like someone who has entered a huge food store and seen many things but sampled only a few. We may have received many different teachings from many different Teachers, but we have taken in very little, just a few morsels. There is a gap between our mind and Dharma and we cannot apply Dharma in our daily lives. Our approach remains passive, like someone watching television, and our mind remains as uncontrolled as before. Why is this? It is because we are not studying systematically, according to a specially designed programme. If we just pick at Dharma randomly we shall never gain deep and stable experience. For this reason the spiritual programmes offered in New Kadampa Tradition Centres are very important’.
The FP has already been running for several years at all the major Centres of the NKT including Amitabha Centre. There are now hundreds of participants who can attest to the unique power of this programme. The secret of its success lies in the slight commitment which participants are asked to undertake.
What’s involved?
Participants sign up for one book (or in the case of some of the larger books, one section of a book), and commit themselves to attend every class, to learn the relevant material, and to sit an examination. Committing ourselves in this way, we ward off the waverings of our distracted minds, and set up a regime that enables the teachings to mix with and transform our minds. Those people who have tried to practise for years without a programme and without these commitments are especially appreciative of this.
