Study Programs on Tibetan Buddhism
In the West, it is nearly impossible to study
Buddhism in the same way as monks and nuns in the traditional
Buddhist monasteries as our living conditions are quite different.
To provide a way to learn how the major subjects were studied
in the Tibetan Gelugpa monasteries, the FPMT
developed an extensive study program in which the most important
classical texts are taught.
The program of the Maitreya Instituut encompasses
six levels of the teachings in
accordance with the FPMT study program, in order of difficulty:
- Buddhism
in a Nutshell (in Amsterdam usually in Dutch only)
- Meditatie 1.0
(in Amsterdam in Dutch only)
- Discovering
Buddhism (in Amsterdam in English, in Emst only in Dutch)
- Living in the Path (in Amsterdam in English)
- Basic
Program (in Amsterdam in English, in Emst only in Dutch)
- Abridged
Masters Program (in Emst only in Dutch)
Besides studying the texts, much attention is given to questions,
discussions and the internalising of the materials by meditation.
Only with a proper understanding, we can sensibly meditate
to achieve deeper understanding and realisations on this path
of inner evolution.
"In Buddhism, both learning and practice
are extremely important, and they must go hand in hand.
Without knowledge, just to rely on faith, faith, and more
faith is good but not sufficient. So the intellectual part
must definitely be present. At the same time, strictly intellectual
development without faith and practice, is also of no use.
It is necessary to combine knowledge born from study with
sincere practice in our daily lives. These two must go together."
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
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