Questions and answers about the Basic Program
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Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006 updated October 2007 Questions and answers about the Basic Program What is the Basic Program, how would you briefly describe it? How did the BP come into existence, and why? What was the roll of FPMT Education Department in this? Who is the BP intended for? What is the structure of the BP? Why is it called Basic Program, what is so basic about it? What is the importance of the BP? What can people expect from the BP? What does the ideal BP look like? Is the BP implemented in the same way all over the world? Do you know how many people take part in the BP worldwide? And how many have completed a BP? What are the experiences of participant in the BP? Is that being investigated? Does the BP still develop? And why? How does the BP relate to the other FPMT education programs? (Discovering Buddhism, The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, and the Masters Program for example.) And outside FPMT? Is the BP unique in some respects? If so, in what respects? What makes a successful BP? Where? Developments at present What is the Basic Program, how would you briefly describe it? The BP is a comprehensive, practice-oriented program of teaching and meditation on the Buddhist sutras and tantras. It’s aimed at students who want to progress beyond introductory level programs. How did the BP come into existence, and why? Lama Zopa Rinpoche designed the program with the help of the FPMT geshes. The Basic Program is intended to offer students in FPMT centers the opportunity to follow a stuctured program of Dharma training. What was the roll of FPMT Education Department in this? Education Department supports centers implementing the Basic Program by supplying materials, helping to find staff, promoting the BP, keeping centers informed of new developments and advising on resolving problems.
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Transcript of Questions and answers about the Basic Program
Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006
updated October 2007
Questions and answers about the Basic Program What is the Basic Program, how would you briefly describe it? How did the BP come into existence, and why? What was the roll of FPMT Education Department in this? Who is the BP intended for? What is the structure of the BP? Why is it called Basic Program, what is so basic about it? What is the importance of the BP? What can people expect from the BP? What does the ideal BP look like? Is the BP implemented in the same way all over the world? Do you know how many people take part in the BP worldwide? And how many have completed a BP? What are the experiences of participant in the BP? Is that being investigated? Does the BP still develop? And why? How does the BP relate to the other FPMT education programs? (Discovering Buddhism, The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, and the Masters Program for example.) And outside FPMT? Is the BP unique in some respects? If so, in what respects? What makes a successful BP? Where? Developments at present
What is the Basic Program, how would you briefly describe it? The BP is a comprehensive, practice-oriented program of teaching and meditation on the Buddhist sutras and tantras. It’s aimed at students who want to progress beyond introductory level programs. How did the BP come into existence, and why? Lama Zopa Rinpoche designed the program with the help of the FPMT geshes. The Basic Program is intended to offer students in FPMT centers the opportunity to follow a stuctured program of Dharma training. What was the roll of FPMT Education Department in this? Education Department supports centers implementing the Basic Program by supplying materials, helping to find staff, promoting the BP, keeping centers informed of new developments and advising on resolving problems.
Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006
updated October 2007
Who is the BP intended for? The Basic Program is of interest to the majority of students regularly attending centers, in particular those who are ready to commit themselves to long-term study and meditation. The program is less academic and demanding than the traditional Geshe Studies or the Masters Program, and can be followed part-time as well as full-time. back to questions What is the structure of the BP? The first teaching, on the Stages of the Path, is the foundation and context for all the other subjects which culminate in teachings on tantra. Of the subjects in between some, like Tenets or Awarenesses and Knowers have a more technical bias, while others , for example Engaging in the Bodhisattva Deeds, have a more direct relevance to daily life. Ideally, students begin with the Stages of the Path, but in practice students often manage to start with some of the other subjects, depending on their background and interests. But it would be inappropriate to attempt subjects like Ornament or tantra without having done quite a lot of previous study and practice. Why is it called Basic Program, what is so basic about it? The BP offers a good, all round basic Dharma training, covering to some degree, all aspects of the teachings. It’s an excellent basis for further practice or study. What is the importance of the BP? Firstly, it’s a way for FPMT centers to offer students a structured, comprehensive presentation of and training in Dharma. This has often been a problem in the past, with students only able to attend a random selection of teachings and not build on their understanding in an effective way. It also means that different centers have more in common and are much better placed to support each other by sharing resources etc. This is happening a lot now and it is helping to raise the standard of programs all over the world. back to questions What can people expect from the BP? If all components are successfully completed, students should have developed a good understanding of the dharma, and its application to daily life. They should also have learned how to meditate. This will be a good basis for more advanced study, retreat, or less formal practice such social service, informed by a Buddhist worldview. Students may also go on to assist with programs in centers, leading discussions or meditations, for example, or in some cases even teach.
Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006
updated October 2007
What does the ideal BP look like? The nine subjects of the core curriculum are taught supported by meditation, discussion and retreat to help integrate the teachings. The obligatory tests at the completion of subjects are recommended to be seen as an aid to a study (rather than to examine academic achievement), and students are encouraged to participate in the FPMT final exam. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has made a three month lam-rim retreat a requirement for the BP completion certificate. And last but not least, students are encouraged to aim at fullfilling the behaviour requirement, which was formulated by Rinpoche as well. Is the BP implemented in the same way all over the world? Not really. Centers differ a great deal in terms of their resources and capabilities. Teachers also have plenty of latitude to teach as they see fit for their particular students. back to questions Do you know how many people take part in the BP worldwide? And how many have completed a BP? By 2008, some 30 centers and study groups around the world are hosting the program. This has increased from just 2-3 centers ten years ago. Lama Zopa Rinpoche asks geshes to teach the BP and advises centers to implement it, and enthusiasm has steadily increased over the years. Some centers only have a small group of students, while others have a hundred or more attending their BP. Two or three centers are in their 2nd and 3rd round of BP. What are the experiences of participant in the BP? Is that being investigated? Education Department is regularly in touch with centers about their BPs. Most centers report that attendance is good compared to other programs, with more long-term commitment. The students very much appreciate a well-planned ongoing program and find this really enhances their practice. Does the BP still develop? And why? Yes, the program keeps evolving. Lama Zopa Rinpoche meets with the FPMT geshes periodically and they discuss their experiences and how to develop further. If the BP is not transforming minds then it is not working, and will have to adapt. back to questions How does the BP relate to the other FPMT education programs? (Discovering Buddhism, The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, and the Masters Program for example.) The BP is intermediate-level. The MP advanced. DB and FBT are introductory and a very good way to prepare for participation in the BP.
Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006
updated October 2007
And outside FPMT? Is the BP unique in some respects? If so, in what respects? As far as I know, there is nothing comparable in other western Gelugpa centers in terms of the structured, comprehensive and practice-oriented nature of the program. The FPMT is certainly unique in that it has many highly-qualified geshes teaching this progam and others in its centers. What makes a successful BP? Inspiring teachings, good translations, qualified hard-working staff to lead meditations and discussions, enthusiastic perseverent students... I personally don’t think BPs are so successful if students are very passive, just soaking up the teachings. I prefer to see a program with a lively Q&A session in teachings, stimulating discussions, integrated meditation sessions and students doing individual and group retreats. Also essential is to get students involved in running the program, and allowing training situations to evolve by having students help with leading meditations, preparing and leading discussions, developing course materials etc. Where? Russia; Singapore; Malaysia; Taiwan; Australia; USA;Brazil;Nepal in Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Czech Republic. back to questions Developments at present France, Spain, Italy and Germany now have translation coordinators who oversee and organize translation of FPMT standard program materials into their languages; Spain also has an Education Program coordinator who helps with BP implementation, and two Spanish BPs offer an additional BP homestudy option. Institute Lama Tzong Khapa hosted a very succesfull two and a half year residential BP with lots if Italien homestudy students, and the Czech Republic will translate BP texts and materials for their students to work at home with occasional visits from ILTK BP graduates and teachers. Nalanda Monastery will offer a residential BP from 2008-2012. Kopan Monastery offers the BP in three month modules over five summers, with the sixth year planned for the 3 month retreat, from 2007-2012. In Australia, Chenrezig Insitute offers its third round of residential Basic Program with five years of up to four 8 week modules. The first FPMT Final Exam was composed by a team of BP implementing geshes who were requested by the Geshe Summit in MTI in 2001 to fullfill this function. Taking place in several centers during 2008, the FPMT now counts some thirty Basic Program graduates. FPMT BP Homestudy packages reflect the variety of centers and teachers implementing the BP: each subject is produced on the basis of teachings from a different BP implementing center. By 2008 we have eight packages available, and five still to come.
Q&A about the Basic Program Based on an interview for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006
updated October 2007
Translations & course materials: One more translation of a BP standard commentary needs to be done; improvement of old translations and some standardization of terminology is taking place; in the near future we will work on improving course materials and developing more emphasis on the practice element by providing more material for meditation, especially for the more technical subjects. A new Basic Program CD for implementation, with all translations, course materials, an Introduction for Geshes, and the new edition BP Guidelines came out in 2006; regular web updates will eventually result in an updated edition. back to questions Questions and answers from an interview by Fokje Westerling with FPMT Basic Program consultant Olga Planken for Maitreya Magazine, January 2006. Updated October 2007.
