Foundation Program

Mondays in Guelph @ AKBC • 6:30 PM – 9pm

Our study program – the Foundation Program (FP) is an in-depth program designed for people who wish to deepen their understanding and experience of Kadampa Buddhism through a systematic study of essential Buddhist commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.  This study program was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche as a means to facilitate the development of our unlimited spiritual potential. This class is a perfect opportunity to engage in discussion and meditation with fellow students. Anyone can join and experience the great benefits of being part of this regular study program. As a result of systematic study, meditation and discussion, we can improve our good heart, our wisdom, and our cherishing of others by going deeper into our study and meditation practice.

Through regular teachings and meditation, systematic study and group discussion, the Foundation Program offers the same training followed by spiritual practitioners in an unbroken lineage dating back to Buddha Shakyamuni. Through the kindness of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso, who has updated the commentaries of these teachings into a presentation for the modern world, we can gain authentic experience of the Dharma while still maintaining our contemporary lifestyle.

On October 18, we began a new term of study with the third section of Meaningful to Behold – Becoming a Friend of the World.  This section of the book covers Chapters 6 “Patience” and Chapter 7 “Effort“

If you would like to sit in on a class,  please email education@akbc.ca to request a link for the class.

Come and join us online…

If you have been attending our classes regularly and would like to engage in more meditation and discussion to gain deep realizations of the spiritual path, the Foundation Program is for you. You are welcome to attend and sit in for the first two classes before joining. Upon joining the class, we ask that you attend all the classes in this section. We have classes every Monday, except holiday Mondays. All classes held at AKBC are included in your Foundation Program membership,  so you can drop-in to any class, at any time and deepen your dharma experience.

Meaningful to Behold

This precious text is a highly acclaimed commentary to the great Indian Buddhist Master Shantideva’s famous spiritual poem Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, one of the best loved and most important texts of Mahayana Buddhism. It reveals with poetic beauty and deep spiritual insight how to enter, make progress on, and complete the Buddhist path to enlightenment.

Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life

Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche says in Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life:

We should read this book with a happy mind, free from distraction and negative views. It is also very important to improve our understanding of Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by studying commentaries such as Meaningful to Behold. Through sincerely practising these instructions we can transform our ordinary, self-centre intentions into the supreme good heart, our ordinary confused view into profound wisdom, and our ordinary way of life into a Bodhisattva’s way of life. In this way, we will attaining the supreme. inner peace of enlightenment, which is the real meaning of our human life.

Who Can Join Foundation Program?

As long as we are live-streaming classes, you can join our FP classes from anywhere.  This is a great opportunity for those who wish to join the live classes but live away from the Centre to get involved.

Foundation Program in not a drop-in class but requires enrolment to study this section of the book. Before enrolling we ask you to attend a pre-registration interview and to commit to the section of study. With enrolment you will be enrolled in a Foundation Program (Level Two membership). With this membership, you are entitled to attend FP and all classes, workshops, retreats and courses held at the Centre free of charge (excluding special events).

If you’re interested in sitting in a Foundation Program class, please contact education@akbc.ca.