Exploring Buddhism

is a new program currently being developed by FPMT to serve as a bridge between Discovering Buddhism and The Basic Program.

It is designed to help students of Buddhism delve more deeply into a broad array of topics that form a solid foundation for furthering one’s study and practice.

Starting April 23rd!

Module #6

with Ven. Lozang Yönten and Don Handrick

Weekends – with Ven. Yonten

April 23/24,

May 7/8,

May 21/22 2022

9:00am 11:30am PDT

Wednesday evenings with Gen Don

May 18 & 25th

6:30pm – 8:00pm PDT

In order to make progress on the spiritual path, we must support our practice of study, contemplation, and meditation with the practices of accumulation of merit and purification of negative karma. In this module we will examine the need for prayers, dedications, as well as various other practices and pujas, and investigate how they are meant to affect the mind and bring about the realizations of the path to enlightenment. Teachings will be given on how to do the main prayers, practices, and pujas that are commonly performed by FPMT students on their own and also conducted in our centers.

Please note that, while this module does contain general instruction on some tantric pujas, students are not expected to have received a highest yoga tantra initiation, nor will they be taught the meaning of the pujas in terms of tantric practice

Previous study of at least some modules of Discovering Buddhism, either in a center or online is highly recommended before enrolling in this program.

New students are welcome.

Attendance at previous modules of Exploring Buddhism not a prerequisite.

We are using the Zoom video conferencing system for this course. Please register below to receive your online access information

This program is being jointly offered by:

Dharmakaya Center (Reno, NV)
Gendun Drubpa Buddhist Centre (BC, Canada)
Ocean of Compassion Buddhist Center
Vajrapani Institute (Boulder Creek, CA)

Our Teachers for This Module

Ven Lozang Yönten

Ven Yonten is an American-born Tibetan Buddhist nun in the Gelug Tibetan tradition who was ordained in 2003. Her (merely labeled) pronouns are she/her and she is a fully ordained Bhikshuni/Gelongma in the Dharmaguptaka tradition.

Ven. Yönten was the Resident Teacher of Kunsang Yeshe Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains of NSW, Australia from 2012 – 2015 and then at Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity in New Zealand until 2018. She continues to offer classes and retreats at both Centres annually.

Ven. Yönten also offers Buddhist classes 4–5 months a year in Israel. With FPMT’s Shantideva Study Group and also, from a secular perspective, for a seven-year postgraduate program called Human Spirit which is a Buddhist Psychoanalytic Training Program

Get to know Ven. Yonten:

Don Handrick

In 1998 Don attended the FPMT’s Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a seven-year residential study program conducted at Lama Tzong Khapa Institute in Tuscany, Italy, taught by the scholar and kind Spiritual Friend, Geshe Jampa Gyatso. He successfully completed all five subjects of this program in 2004, receiving an FPMT final certificate with high honors.

Don has received teachings from many esteemed lamas in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Ribur Rinpoche, Choden Rinpoche, and Khensur Jampa Tegchok.

more about Don Handrick

Please consider an offering to Gendun Drubpa and our teachers for this module.

Your donations are essential to the continuation of programs like this.

Thank you.

Ongoing Teachings by His Holiness the Dalai Lama

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Those interested may watch the live webcast of the teachings and listen to them in Tibetan, English, Chinese and other languages on the official websites and Facebook pages of the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.