The Principle Teachings of Buddhism | Mondays 8pm

Asian Classics Institute

COURSE 1: The Principal Teachings of Buddhism Level One of the Steps to Buddhahood (Lam Rim)

This Course is an excellent overview of the entire Buddhist path; all subsequent Courses elaborate upon the ideas presented in this Course. This Course is based upon The Three Principal Paths (Lamtso Namsum) by Je Tsongkapa (1357-1419), with the commentary of Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941).

Topics include: what is a qualified teacher, how to take a lama, what is Buddha nature, what is authentic Dharma, what are samsara and renunciation, the principles of karma, the problems of human life, bodhichitta and its benefits, how to generate bodhichitta, the two levels of reality, what is the correct view of emptiness according to each of the four schools of thought, and the relationship between karma and emptiness.

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What is The Asian Classics Institute?

The Asian Classics Institute is dedicated to the serious study and personal practice of the original teachings of the Buddha. The Institute was established by Geshe Michael Roach under the spiritual direction of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin, a distinguished scholar and master of Buddhism from Tibet.

The Institute is staffed by volunteers and offers a wide range of programs for spiritually minded people of all levels, from beginning to advanced. We welcome all comers, all our teachings are offered without charge, and our teachers are well trained and experienced in the authentic Tibetan tradition. The purpose of the Institute is to provide a thorough, accurate Tibetan Buddhist education to anyone interested.

As a result of completing full studies with Khen Rinpoche and at Sera Monastery in India, Geshe Michael Roach developed and taught a seven-year Formal Study Program in New York. That program condensed the essence of the Six Great Books of Buddhism into a series of 15 Formal Study Courses to train the next generation of Western Tibetan Buddhist teachers. Those Courses parallel the same basic core of information that a Geshe (Doctor of Theology) learns at a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. Geshe Michael taught the Formal Study Courses along with Tibetan language classes, meditation and general Buddhist topics prior to entering retreat.

Upon completing this full program of teaching, Geshe Michael entered a three year isolated retreat, which will conclude in 2003. The teachers that Geshe Michael trained over a period of seven years continue to teach and conduct classes in person for the New York City community. We now offer this full program here at The Three Jewels.