Study
Study and meditate as much as you can. Don’t only study for intellectual understanding. As much as you possibly can, study to put the Dharma into practice in your daily life.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
What is Buddhism?
Buddhism is a tradition of wisdom and compassion that has helped people for over 2,500 years. At its heart is the wish for freedom from suffering and the cultivation of kindness toward all beings.
Learn more here: Buddhism FAQ
Why Study?
Studying Buddhism is not abstract philosophy. It’s about learning practical tools to understand and transform our mind – reducing stress, increasing compassion and allowing us to make wise choices in daily life.
Learning the teachings of the Buddha provides a framework for making sense of our experiences and finding meaning. Understanding the teachings allows us to apply meditation more effectively and live with clarity and purpose.
For newcomers, study can be as simple as exploring a short introduction to Buddhism class. For long-time practitioners, it can include formal courses, advanced philosophy and degree programs.
Paths of Study in FPMT North America
Introductory Classes
Many FPMT centers offer beginner-friendly classes that introduce the basics of Buddhist meditation and teachings in everyday language. These courses are ideal if you’re curious and want a supportive place to start.
Ongoing Study Programs
For those wishing to go deeper, FPMT offers many intermediate and advanced structured programs in-person and online, such as Discovering Buddhism, Buddhist Mind Science, In-Depth Meditation Training and many more. These step-by-step courses provide a clear map of Buddhist philosophy and practice.
Maitripa College is a Buddhist institution of higher learning offering a Master of Arts in Buddhist Studies, a Master of Divinity Degree, Continuing Education courses and community programming. Founded upon the three pillars of scholarship, meditation, and service, the Maitripa College curriculum combines Western academic contemplative education and traditional Tibetan Buddhist disciplines. Through the development of wisdom and compassion, Maitripa graduates are empowered with a sense of responsibility to work joyfully for the well-being of others. They become agents of positive change in the world, and are shaping the development of Buddhism in the West as scholar-practitioners, chaplains, professional translators, doctoral degree candidates, educators and more.
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