Foundation Program (FP)
The Foundation Program, Thursdays @ 7:30am - 9am AND 6:30pm - 8pm
We will begin studying Understanding the Mind, Thursday March 22.
What is the Foundation Program?
The Foundation Program (FP) provides students with an opportunity to advance their understanding and practice of Buddha's teachings through systematic study and meditation on the essential teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. Foundation Program students study the following five subjects based on Buddha's Sutra teachings and their corresponding commentaries by our teacher, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:
- The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, or Kadam Lamrim, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune
- Training the Mind, or Kadam Lojong, based on two commentaries, Eight Steps to Happiness and Universal Compassion
- 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
The Benefits of the Foundation Program
Students in the FP have an opportunity to follow the same training followed by spiritual practitioners for generations, but without having to abandon their modern lifestyle. Over time, students in FP find that their minds change for the better in significant ways: through taking Buddha's teachings as personal advice and striving to put them into practice in daily life, they gain authentic spiritual experience, solve their daily problems, improve their relationships at work and at home, and develop a good heart.
The Commitments of the Foundation Program
Our General Program classes are offered on a drop-in basis and their are no requirements for attendance. As a more structured program of study, the FP does require students to make some basic commitments:
- Students keep the intention to attend every class during the FP term (terms are August through December and January through June), and try not to miss more than two classes per term
- Students read ahead and memorize the essential points of the text
- Students memorize the root text and/or the condensed meaning of the text
- Students take one exam per year to check their understanding of what they have studied
- Students attend at least one group meditation / chanted prayer session per week (group meditations are scheduled 7 days per week at various times)
- Students pay a $55 per month fee ($35 for students/ seniors; including during months when FP is not in session)
Studying via Correspondence
Students who live outside the Chapel Hill/ Carrboro area or who have a good reason for not being able to attend Foundation Program can request to study via correspondence. Students receive online links to MP3s of the teachings and keep all the commitments of Foundation Program except for attendance of classes and chanted prayer sessions. If you are interested in studying via correspondence, please email us or call 919-428-4842.
Is the Foundation Program Right for Me?
Generally speaking, students are encouraged to first attend General Program classes for a little while before making the decision to join Foundation Program. However, there are no "prerequisites" for joining other than agreeing to the commitments mentioned above; some students do not attend General Program but begin their involvement in the Center within the Foundation Program. It is a good idea to attend a few classes (at no cost) before deciding to join the Foundation Program.
Current studies:
This comprehensive explanation, based on Buddha’s teachings and the experiences of accomplished meditators, offers a deep insight into the nature and functions of the mind.
The first part describes different types of mind in detail, revealing the depth and profundity of Buddhist understanding of human psychology, and how this can be used to improve our lives.
The second part is a practical guide to developing and maintaining a light, positive mind – showing how to recognize and abandon states of mind that harm us, and to replace them with peaceful and beneficial ones. The inspiring discovery we make from this is that we can attain a lasting state of joy, independent of external conditions.
The FP and TTP classes will be meeting at the same time. Commitment to the TTP class is NOT necessary to enroll in Foundation Program. For more informaiton, please email web@meditationinchapelhill.org or call 919-428-4842