Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme (FP) is hosted on:
Regular Saturday mornings from 8.00am - 12.15pm at
Tushita Buddhist Centre in Rondebosch
There are many benefits to studying on the FP, some of which include:
- We gain great confidence in meditation and its practice in daily life.
- We have the opportunity to study Buddhism closely with a qualified teacher.
- We have the regular support of fellow practitioners.
About the Programme
The purpose of the Foundation Programme is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.
We all have the potential for self-transformation, and a limitless capacity for the growth of good qualities, but to fulfil this potential we need to know what to do along every stage of our spiritual journey. In Joyful Path of Good Fortune, Geshe Kelsang Gyatso offers us step-by-step guidance on the meditation practices that will lead us to lasting inner peace and happiness. With extraordinary clarity, he presents all Buddha’s teachings in the order in which they are to be practised, enriching his explanation with stories and illuminating analogies. Following these practical instructions, we will come to experience for ourselves the joy that arises from making progress on a clear and structured path that leads to full enlightenment. This is a perfect guidebook to the Buddhist path.Join the Foundation Program as Gen Pagpa gives commentary to this most extraordinary book, providing an opportunity for students to deepen their understanding and practice of all the stages of the path to enlightenment.
“Our present understanding and experience of Dharma is quite superficial. There is a big gap between our mind and Dharma and we cannot apply Dharma in our daily lives. Our approach remains passive, like someone watching television, and our mind remains as uncontrolled as before. Why is this? It is because we are not studying systematically, according to a specially designed program. If we just pick at Dharma randomly we shall never gain deep and stable experience. For this reason the spiritual programs offered in New Kadampa Tradition Centres are very important.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
It is best to attend the weekly drop-in classes for a while before considering whether to join Foundation Programme. It is possible to join at any time throughout the course.