Foundation Program

What is the Foundation Program?
Where is it offered?
What books are studied?
Our Teachers
More about Universal Compassion

What is the Foundation Program?

The Foundation Program (FP) is a uniquely structured study program for those who wish to deepen their understanding and experience of Buddhist teachings and meditation practice.

It is ideal for those who have an introductory understanding of Buddhism and who wish to learn more.

Students are requested to enroll for a section of the text and commit to attend all the classes. It is possible to audit a few classes before officially enrolling.

Where is it offered?

Foundation Program classes are available at Parbawatiya Center, Drolma Center, Kancha Center, Samudrabadra Center, Vajrapani Center, and in Miami. Please contact the Center nearest you if you are interested in enrolling or simply finding out more. You can find the dates of class on the term dates page.

What books are studied?

The Foundation Program (FP) offers the opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of Buddhism through studying six of Geshe Kelsang's books in depth. The books are commentaries to Je Tsongkhapa's writings and contain the very essence of Buddha's teachings

(1) Joyful Path of Good Fortune - A commentary to Atisha's Lamrim instructions, The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. By studying Joyful Path, we gain the ability to put all Buddha's teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. We can easily make progress 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 the limbs.

(2) Universal Compassion - A commentary to Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points. By studying Universal Compassion, we gain the ability to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.

(3) Heart of Wisdom - A commentary to the Heart Sutra. Through studying 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) Meaningful to Behold - A commentary to Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. When we study Meaningful to Behold, we learn how to transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva's way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.

(5) Understanding the Mind - A detailed explanation of the mind, based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga. By studying 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.

(6) Eight Steps to Happiness - A commentary to eight beautiful verses that comprise one of Buddhism's best-loved and most enduring teachings, Eight Verses of Training the Mind. Composed by the great Tibetan Bodhisattva, Langri Tangpa, this short poem shows how we can transform all life's difficulties into valuable spiritual insights.

Our Teachers

Our Foundation Program Teachers are Gen Kelsang Demo (Parbawatiya & KMC Florida, Kadam Nick Gillespie (Drolma), Ricc Bishop (Vajrapani Center), JoAnn Lawrence (Samudrabadra Center) and John de la Cruz (Miami).

More about Universal Compassion

Most of our Centers are currently studying Universal Compassion. Universal Compassion is a wonderful commentary to the classic text, Training the Mind in Seven Points, by the great 12th-century Tibetan Buddhist Master, Geshe Chekhawa. Universal Compassion explains how we can develop universal love and compassion, the source of all happiness.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Learn to Meditate
in Half a Day
May 10, Jacksonville

Shelter from the Storm
Refuge Ceremony
and Teachings
May 17, Fort Myers

International Spring
Festival 2008
May 23-26,
Ulverston UK

Je Tsongkhapa
Empowerment
June 13-14, Fort Myers

Shelter from the Storm
Refuge Ceremony
and Teachings
June 21, Fort Lauderdale
June 21, Orlando
June 22, Tampa Bay
June 28, Jacksonville
June 29, Sarasota

International Summer
Festival 2008
July 25-August 9,
Ulverston UK

PHOTOS

View the US 2008
Kadampa Spring Festival
Photo Album