The Foundation Program provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of Buddhism through a systematic study of five texts.

Huntington:
Wednesdays 6:30-9:00p
Call 631.692.9594 for more information.

Port Jefferson:
If you are interested in joining FP please call the Port Jefferson Branch at 631.988.7775 for more information.
301 East Main Street (across the street from Tiger Lily Cafe and just south of the library).

Monday Evening 6:30-8:30p

The Texts:
The Foundation Program (FP) offers the opportunity to engage in a systematic study of six of Geshe Kelsang's books in great 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 text 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 the 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 Venerable 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 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.

The Teacher Training Program is designed for people who wish to dedicate themselves to the study, practice and flourishing of Kadam Dharma in this world. In addition to completing the study of twelve texts of Sutra and Tantra, which include the five texts mentioned above, the student is required to observe certain commitments, and to complete a number of meditation retreats.

The Texts:
In addition to the FP texts (see Foundation Program), the subjects studied are:

• The Bodhisattva's moral discipline based on the commentary The Bodhisattva Vow
  
  
• Chandrakirti's Guide to the Middle Way based on the commentary Ocean of Nectar
  
  
• Vajrayana Mahamudra based on the commentary Clear Light of Bliss
  
  
• Offering to the Spiritual Guide based on the commentaries Great Treasury of Merit and Mahamudra Tantra
  
  
• Vajrayogini Tantra based on the commentary Guide to Dakini Land
  
  
• Grounds and Paths of Tantra based on the commentary Tantric Grounds and Paths
  
  
• The practice of Heruka Body Mandala based on the commentary Essence of Vajrayana