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The FP has already been running for several years at
all the major Centres of the NKT including Amitabha Centre.
There are now hundreds of participants who can attest
to the unique power of this programme. The secret of
its success lies in the slight commitment which participants
are asked to undertake. Participants sign up for one
book (or in the case of some of the larger books, one
section of a book), and commit themselves to attend every
class, to learn the relevant material, and to sit an
examination. Committing ourselves in this way, we ward
off the waverings of our distracted minds, and set up
a regime that enables the teachings to mix with and transform
our minds. Those people who have tried to practise for
years without a programme and without these commitments
are especially appreciative of this.
In Bristol...
The weekend programme is studying Understanding the Mind .
It has two
2-hour classes on Saturdays.
One at 9.30 am and the other
at 1.00 pm. See below for class dates.
 The
weekday evening programme is studying Joyful
Path of Good Fortune on
Wednesday and Friday evenings
at 7.30pm. (classes are each 2 hours long)
If
you are interested in joining any of these programmes
or would like more details, please let us know.
In Cheltenham...
Joyful
Path of Good Fortune is being
studied on Sundays 9.00am - 1.30pm with Kelsang Rinchen.
For more precise details of Cheltenham classes please contact the Centre (or
Rinchen on 07980 872 157)
How much will it cost?
For a regular £42 (£29 conc.) a month
you can buy an ‘FP Centre Card’ and attend
all your Foundation Programme (FP) classes and any evening
classes and weekend courses (except special fundraising
courses) organised by Amitabha Centre you like for no
further charge.
How can I find out more?
Begin by attending a few General
Programme (GP) drop-in classes, at the Centre or
at one of our branches.
If you enjoy consistent attendance at GP classes you
can enrol for an FP at any time. You may attend a couple
of FP classes before enrolling.
If you would like to enrol for a book (or a part of a
book if it's a long one), or if you would like to discuss
the programme, please contact Kelsang Rak-ma, the Programme
Co-ordinator or
Gen Kelsang Chönden or Kelsang Lamchen or Kelsang Rinchen,
the Teachers.
Below are the proposed dates of classes in Bristol for 2008...
Weekend,
Saturdays 9.30am and 1pm;
2008
May: 3, 10, 17*, , 31
June: 14, 21, 28
July 5, 12, 19
August: 30*
September: 6, , 20, 27
October: 4, 11, 18, 25*
November: 15, , 29
December: 6, 13*
* denotes that the morning session will be a 10.30am
session of the Preliminary Guides retreat being undertaken
by the Centre. The afternoon session will be an FP
class at 1pm as normal
Weekday evenings, Wednesdays and
Fridays 7.30pm;
2008
May: 2, 7, 9, 30
June: 4, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 OSG, 27
July 2, 4, 9, 11, 16, 18
August: 29
September: 3, 5, 10, 17, 19, 24, 26
October: 1, 3, 8, 10 OSG 15, 17
November: 12, 14, 19, 26, 28
December: 3, 5
Geshe Kelsang in his introduction to the Foundation
Programme, says:
"We may have received some teachings or read some
books on Buddhism and find them relatively easy to understand
and accept, but we find it difficult to integrate this
advice into our daily lives. We cannot use it to solve
our daily problems. At the moment, when we study the Buddha's
teachings, our mind remains passive, like someone watching
television; it does not engage in the subject or mix with
it. Therefore, our daily life and our Dharma remain completely
separate and unrelated. Why is this? It is because we are
not studying systematically according to a specially designed
programme. If we pick at Dharma randomly we shall never
gain deep and stable experience."
We also have a Teacher Training Programme that is studying Mahamudra Tantra four mornings a week. This programme requires more commitment than the FP and it covers 14 books altogether. If you want more details please look at the Kadampa.org site or ask us.
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