Conditions of Attendance

"The three main qualities of a student should be knowledge, good moral conduct and loving kindness - the same as in the monasteries…".

“Over the course of their Basic Program studies, students should emphasize the development of their concern for others. As much as possible there should be awareness.”

- Lama Zopa Rinpoche

Attendance requirements

To receive certification an attendance level of 80% is required for each element of the program (classes, review sessions, discussion sessions and guided meditation sessions). For specific urgent family situations exceptions can be made, as well as in the case of temporary sickness.

Ethical Conduct Requirements

Lama Thubten Yeshe, the founder of the FPMT, asked that the five precepts be respected at all times in all FPMT centres and monasteries:

* 1. No killing
* 2. No stealing (taking what is not given)
* 3. No sexual misconduct (adultery)
* 4. No lying
* 5. No use of intoxicants (alcohol, drugs, tobacco)

All students are requested to abide by these five precepts, although smoking is permitted outside the property.

All students are expected to familiarize themselves and abide by all rules and customs of the monastery. These will be given to students on arrival. These rules enable the community to live together harmoniously, safely and create an environment that is beneficial to study and practice.Monastics must pay attention to their mindfulness in all respects and keep their vows as purely as possible. In addition, all students should satisfy the criteria of ethical conduct and practice that characterize the values of the FPMT in general and of prospective Dharma teachers in particular.

For the Basic Program, Lama Zopa Rinpoche has further specified this requirement as follows: students should, over the course of their BP studies, sincerely develop their practice of observing the five lay vows, while emphasizing the development of their concern for others. As much as possible there should be awareness of one’s positive and negative states of mind, development of the practice of patience and putting the Bodhicitta motivation into practice.

This conduct requirement is intended to ensure that BP students engage in sincerely working with these practices and avoiding gross infractions. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has agreed that program students can assess themselves in meeting these standards. To do this realistically, one needs to understand that this requirement is intended as an ongoing practice - one is not expected to be perfect from the beginning!

As well as this self-evaluation, one needs to be reliable and diligent in Karma Yoga commitments, and have an acceptable level of conduct in this area as evaluated by the Basic Program staff (the Teachers and Director).

Karma Yoga

All full-time students are required to offer at least seven hours per week to the monastery for community service. This contribution of time, called ’karma yoga’, can be seen as a way for students to share in making this course of study possible for everyone by helping with the day-to-day running of the program and the monastery. Assignments of specific tasks are determined based on a number of factors, including the skills that are needed for each job. When possible, the preferences of the student will be considered, but students are asked to be flexible in their assignments.

Retreat, Meditation and Study Requirements

At the end of the program, Nalanda will organize a three-month Lamrim retreat. Short retreats and guided meditation sessions will be organized during and between the teachings. After some training, students will also be asked to lead meditations in order for them to learn how to meditate on the entire Lamrim, as well as lead meditations in a group retreat environment.

Certification

A Basic Program completion certificate will be awarded by the FPMT Education Department to those full-time students who have:

completed the nine subjects of the Basic Program core curriculum (Completion Cards will be used to record progress) fulfilled the attendance, study and retreat requirements for all elements of the program (including discussions, quizzes, meditations, retreats, leading meditations, reading assignments) completed the exams and passed the final exam completed a three month Lamrim retreat as part of the program fulfilled the requirements for ethical conduct

Having graduated from the Basic Program with a BP Completion Certificate, one qualifies for the selection procedure of FPMT approved teachers and to serve in FPMT centres as teaching assistant or program coordinator.

Not all resident monks will be undertaking all elements of the Program. Some may be focused more on offering service to the monastery and cultivating their practice. In these cases it will be possible to qualify for an FPMT BP home study certificate by attending only the teachings, passing the tests and the final exam, and completing the program with a one month Lamrim retreat. With this BP home study certificate one does not qualify for the FPMT approved teachers selection procedure.

"The purpose of this centre is to create favourable conditions for the complete practice of the stages of the path as realized by Atisha and Lama Tsongkhapa. This is the sole reason for its existence, and I think making possible the realization of the entire path to enlightenment from beginning to end is well worthwhile.

On the other hand, if the centre becomes polluted, some kind of samsaric trip, and allows the old ego games to reappear in a new form, then why put energy into it? Why should I put effort into it? We don’t need this, don’t you agree? The real purpose of this centre is to serve others. We have been fortunate enough to meet the Mahayana Dharma of Lord Buddha and now we need to try to share this experience with others. For this reason alone has this centre been created. OK, my dears?” - Lama Thubten Yeshe

"It would be good to offer a Basic Program certificate to recognize what the students have done (…..) Also a certificate recognizing study produces more respect for qualified western teachers, particularly if the teacher is lay - and the organization needs more teachers. To bring the message about living a moral life across, sangha teachers are more effective. Due to lack of sangha the organization needs lay teachers, so the certificate will bring them more respect (….) The certificate indicates that the student can teach the subject that he studied, which does not mean that he or she is a scholar, but that she has the ability to impart knowledge"

- Lama Zopa Rinpoche (2001)