Three Special Spiritual Programs

Geshe Kelsang has designed three special spiritual programs for the systematic study and practice of Kadampa Buddhism that are especially suited to the modern world: the General Program (GP), the Foundation Program (FP), and the Teacher Training Program (TTP).

The popular General Program provides an introduction to practical Buddhist teachings that is particularly suitable for beginners. The General Program is designed to help you create a better life for yourself and others. Teachings in the General Program are generally based on topics from our basic books. Each series can last up to eight weeks and you are welcome to attend any or all classes.

Currently General Program is held on Sundays at Vararupini Buddhist Center and various days during the week in different neighborhoods. Please check the class links at the right for more information

The Foundation Program is for those who wish to deepen their understanding and experience of Buddhism by engaging in the systematic study of five essential Buddhist text.

• Joyful Path of Good Fortune - a commentary to Atisha's Lamrim instructions, the stages of the path to enlightenment.
• Universal Compassion - a commentary to Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points.
• Heart of Wisdom - a commentary to the Heart Sutra
• Meaningful to Behold - a commentary to Venerable Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life.
• 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 practicing 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.

Universal Compassion - we gain the ability to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.

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.

Meaningful to Behold - we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva's way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.

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.

Students sign up to study one book at a time.

The Teacher Training Program is designed for those who wish to become qualified teachers of Kadampa Buddhism.

It involves the study of twelve of Geshe Kelsang's books, covering both Sutra and Tantra teachings. Students of TTP are also required to observe certain commitments with regard to behavior and way of life, and to complete a number of meditation retreats.