WHO CAN JOIN
FOUNDATION PROGRAM?

Anyone may join Foundation Program. However, it is very helpful if you first attend General Program classes and then graduate to FP. The reason for this is to become acquainted with basic Buddhist concepts and meditation, and then to resolve any doubts or misunderstandings concerning these basics. If you feel that you have already reached this point, then you are very welcome to join.

A COMMITMENT TO STUDY AND PRACTICE

Unlike General Program which is casual and operates on a drop-in basis, Foundation Program requires a deeper spiritual maturity and commitment. Students who enroll in the program are the very heart of Samudra Buddhist Centre. The 5 main commitments of the program are: make every effort to attend each class; to promise to study and memorize to the best of your ability the material being studied;  to write an exam;  to pay a monthly fee;  and to attend a puja at least once a month.

Foundation Program

Foundation Program (FP) is a wonderful way in which to broaden our understanding of Dharma and enhance our spiritual life. FP was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso as means to facilitate the spiritual needs and wishes of people around the world. Classes begin with prayers that prepare the mind for meditation. The prayers are followed by a meditation based on material studied in the previous class. This in turn is followed by reading and in-depth analysis and discussion a particular dharma text. Finally, students divide into partners to try and recall from memory the essential points of the material that was covered in the class.