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Exploring Buddhism
Introduction
The Exploring Buddhism Program (EB) is a foundational level program developed by FPMT Education Services. It is intended to follow the Discovering Buddhism (DB) program and complement the DB contents by exploring in greater detail various topics related to Buddhist philosophy and practice.
The EB program helps to familiarize students with the concept of text-based explanations featured in our in-depth programs. It also provides an explanation of prayers and practices commonly done in the FPMT, as well as the preliminary practices (ngondro) performed in the tradition.
The program is fully revised and is being offered at various FPMT centers. It is ideally suited for students with a good understanding of basic Buddhism, at a level equivalent to our Discovering Buddhism program, which is based on the Stages of the Path (lamrim) teaching.
For more information, please contact the FPMT Foundational Program coordinator.
FPMT centers offering the revised Exploring Buddhism in 2024
Collaboration among Jamyang Buddhist Centre (London), Maitreya Institute (Amsterdam), Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre (Madrid) and Nalanda monastery (Lavaur). Taught by Geshe Tenzin Losel and Geshe Tenzin Namdak. Available as a combination of in-person and online learning or exclusively online. Starting May 2024. Registration is now open. Details here.
Vajrayana Institute (Sydney), taught by Wai Cheong Kok. Available as either on-site or online learning. Module 2 starting in May 2024 is open for registration. Details here.
The Exploring Buddhism Modules
The complete program is divided into two sections, with four modules each.
Section One: Exploring the Mind and Philosophy
Exploring the Mind presents the mind or consciousness, our principal means for knowing reality, with its nature, functions and divisions along with mental factors that positively or negatively impact its operation. This is followed by Exploring the View, Tenets and the Middle Way that teaches the right views we need to know and realize with our mind to bring about transformation by uprooting successively more subtle levels of ignorance that are the roots of suffering. In particular, we examine the various aspects of the tenet systems of the main schools of Buddhist philosophy, culminating in the Middle Way view, which clarifies the deepest meaning of emptiness.
The tools we apply for gaining such realizations are presented in Exploring the Fundamentals of Reasoning and Debate. Here, the methods of debate, reasoning, and logical analysis found in traditional Buddhist texts are explained. The module Exploring the Sutra Grounds and Paths rounds up the philosophical aspect of the program with a presentation of the path for mental development on the way to liberation and enlightenment.
Details for each module are listed below.
Section Two: Exploring Meditation and Practice
It starts with Exploring Meditation for us to gain confidence integrating intellectual understanding into the fabric of our being by generating more focused levels of awareness immersed in the Dharma. To proceed on the stages of the path to enlightenment, it is also important to have a good roadmap. Exploring the Path allows us to get an overview of all topics of contemplation for the entire spiritual journey.
Then, in order to develop our full potential, we need to apply the teachings of mind training that convert all experiences, especially hardships, into fuel for path. Exploring Mind Training will explain these invaluable topics. As a support for developing realizations, it is also essential to engage in prayers and practices that purify negative karma and accumulate vast stores of merit. This is emphasized in the traditional preliminary practices beginning with relying on a teacher, going for refuge and generating altruistic motivation, prostrations, mandala offerings, purifying with the Vajrasattva mantra and others. Clear instructions for doing these practices in the correct and most powerful ways are presented in Exploring the Conditions for Realizations.
Details for each module are listed below.