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Kurukulla Center offers a formal study program, known as the Basic Program,
designed for students wanting to explore Buddhist teachings beyond an introductory
level. Inspired by our spiritual director, Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, the Basic Program
consists of a multi-year curriculum of traditional Buddhist texts presented in
a contemporary setting.
The goal of the program is for participants to acquire a strong understanding of the complete path to enlightenment as presented in the Lama Tsongkhapa tradition and to experience the benefits of serious, practice-oriented study. An FPMT Basic Program Certificate will be awarded by the FPMT to students who successfully complete the final, comprehensive exam. Candidates for this exam must have completed all the subjects of the core curriculum and a month-long Lamrim retreat. They also have to satisfy the Basic Program criteria for behavior and conduct: practicing to refrain from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct (adultery) and intoxicants, while developing their concern for others and awareness of positive and negative states of mind, and developing the practice of patience and the bodhichitta motivation over the course of their Basic Program studies.
Click Here for the 2009 schedule
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Components of the Basic Program
Each module consists of a weekly teaching taught by Geshe Tsulga. For Basic
Program students, the weekly classes are supplemented by some of the following:
- Homework
- Reading assignments
- Short daily meditation assignments
- Memorization of verses from root texts
- Exam at conclusion of module and subject
- Day-long lamrim meditation workshop or retreats
Basic Program students commit to attending all classes in the subject being
taught. Since the teachings are taped, students can make up a missed class,
by duplicating a tape.
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