Foundation For The Preservation of The Mahayana Tradition - Programs

Programs

Students often first encounter the FPMT via short courses and retreats held at the various centers. The prototype of these is Kopan Monastery's annual month-long meditation course, offered since 1971.

Many FPMT centers have adopted standardized curricula, whose modules may also be obtained on DVD for external study. The three sequences were separately developed, and thus are only loosely correlated with one another. They are as follows:

  • Discovering Buddhism, a two-year, fourteen-module lamrim course.
  • Foundations of Buddhist Thought (two years, six modules). Developed by Geshe Tashi Tsering for London's Jamyang Buddhist Centre, available elsewhere only by correspondence.
  • The Basic Program (five years, nine modules). As of 2008, at least thirty FPMT centers teach the Basic Program, or components thereof.

Students desiring more advanced study have a number of options including:

  • The FPMT Masters Program, taught through the Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Pomaia, Italy (since 1998)
6 years traditional study using compressed version of the Geshe curriculum. Designed to produce credentialed FPMT teachers.
  • Maitripa College in Portland, Oregon (founded 2005, formal program began in 2006)
3-year MA (in Buddhist Studies) and MDiv programs. The school intends to apply for regional accreditation.
  • Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program (since 1996)
2 years intensive Tibetan language study in Dharamsala, followed by 2 years interpretation residency. Designed to train FPMT interpreters.

In addition, numerous centers are prepared to supervise a meditation retreat.

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