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I'm looking for a Buddhist course but having a few problems...
Tosh
Veteran
The cost is one of them. At our local NKT centre, the foundation course costs £42 per month, plus travel (which includes a £5.50 bridge toll), and requires two visits to the Sanga per week; total cost including course and travel would be about £160 per month; which is outside of my price range.
I've looked at a correspondence course (£32 per month) at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre, but they won't take me on because I mentioned that I go to a NKT sangha, and GKG is trying to get the Buddhist sect that run the course removed from the British Buddhist Association (or something). It's something to do with the Dharma Protector, but to be honest I'm not interested; it sounds political; and I'd rather spend my time learning something constructive than finding out why they're disagreeing with each other.
The course provider said they wanted a letter from my NKT teacher giving me permission to do this correspondence course. I e-mailed them back saying I haven't got an NKT teacher, I just visit them on a weekly(ish) basis for a meditation class. I also said I wasn't interested in any politics and just wanted to learn dharma. Subsequently I haven't heard back from them! :sadc:
So, does anyone know of a correspondence course - an in-depth one - one that accepts monthly instalments and the teaching is of good quality?
I've looked at a correspondence course (£32 per month) at the Jamyang Buddhist Centre, but they won't take me on because I mentioned that I go to a NKT sangha, and GKG is trying to get the Buddhist sect that run the course removed from the British Buddhist Association (or something). It's something to do with the Dharma Protector, but to be honest I'm not interested; it sounds political; and I'd rather spend my time learning something constructive than finding out why they're disagreeing with each other.
The course provider said they wanted a letter from my NKT teacher giving me permission to do this correspondence course. I e-mailed them back saying I haven't got an NKT teacher, I just visit them on a weekly(ish) basis for a meditation class. I also said I wasn't interested in any politics and just wanted to learn dharma. Subsequently I haven't heard back from them! :sadc:
So, does anyone know of a correspondence course - an in-depth one - one that accepts monthly instalments and the teaching is of good quality?
0
Comments
The NKT thing is unfortunate, but understandable. Yes, it's kind of political and I won't go into it here. If you Google "New Kadampa Controversy" you'll find it all.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/index.html is a comprehensive resource for therevada
http://www.buddhanet.net/ has an e-library and huge directory for Buddhist communities
http://www.dhammatalks.org.uk/ has well... dhamma talks and allot of them!
Good luck, I also highly recommend "The heart of the Buddhas Teachings" http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Buddhas-Teaching-Thich-Nhat/dp/0767903692
It is Vietnamese Zen but Thich Nhat Hanh speaks with so much love and teaches the complex teachings of the Buddha in a way really make sense for westerners.
I've also read Thich Naht Hahn's The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings - it's very good. I've read a lot of books on Buddhism, and I'm currently going through What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rhaula. I'm working through it methodically with a highlighter and making notes, but really I was after some sort of structured course with a teacher and students. I liked the Jamyang course since it had about 15 students per course, with previous students as 'facilitators' with a forum where we could compare experiences. It's probably the closest thing to a course at a sangha I could afford.
However, I'm a member of Alcoholics Anonymous (which is a spiritual program of recovery) - we have plenty of meetings everywhere - as an organisation we own no property (or none that I know), we rent rooms in church halls, hospitals, scout huts, and council offices; we're not asked to pay anything we can't afford (and most new members can't afford much), we just pass the hat - we're self supporting - and we're taught we can support the meeting by doing service rather than giving money, but to be honest, as long as suffering alkies turn up, we don't really care what they do, what service or donation they provide; as long as they're not disruptive. We just want them to get better and if we suspect they can't afford it, we'll give them books, literature, CDs for free. It's just good to have that information out there.
However, when I compare AA to Buddhism, it seems that if you want to learn along a structured frame work, there seems to be a cost attached to it - not all ask for money (there's a 10 day Vispassana course ran not far from me that asks for nothing but a donation at the end of it (I can't afford the time off from work; I'm self employed), but most seem to charge a fee; whether this is just my (incorrect) perception or not, it seems to be the case.
It seems to me that AA runs along better spiritual lines. We just want people to come to AA, to listen, to learn, and give nothing more than what they can. We don't 'recommend' a donation amount, we tell people at their first meeting to give nothing, we tell people they can support the group by doing service (making coffee, putting the literature out, setting up the room etc). We also don't get involved with disputes - and have no opinions - on other methods of alcohol recovery (or any other matter); unlike what seems to be happening with the NKT and the Jamyang centre.
I like the Buddha's teachings, but I think AA has a better sangha when you weigh up the financial costs and the lack of politics.
Apologies for whining; my view is probably warped; I'm not well at the moment!
You can try here http://www.tendai.eu/ they have an on-line course (right hand side of the screen) I have done it myself and thought it was great. My teacher also praised it.
Not sure if it's "in-depth" enough for you because I don't know what you know already. And it is Japanese Tendai rather than Tibetan, so it might not be what you are looking for, but I recommend it any way
Seishin.
I've enrolled!
I'm actually half Japanese myself, and it was interesting to note that the Rev. Ganshin is also a member of the Endorsement Authority for Buddhist Chaplains in the UK Armed Forces. I'm also an ex British soldier of 17 years service and never met a Buddhist in the army in all that time, so I bet he isn't kept busy with that role.
Thanks.
Kind regards,
Tosh
It looks good, so I hope he does accept me.
Regards, and thanks for the help all.
see http://www.meditateinwales.net/index.html
Best
Fenrir
FP correspondence so you dont have to travel I know a lot of people who are on it because they cant afford to make the class trips.
Hey, thanks caz, I had a good look around their website but didn't see anything! I should've asked!
I've already asked Jamyang Buddhist Centre, but if they refuse me I'll find out about the one you suggested. Thanks.
Regards,
Tosh
Yeh I dont know why but they dont advertise it on the web, But if you ask they definatly have one. Its a shame about the Jamyang centre ive encountered people like that before who would think twice before touching you with a barge pole if youve been to an NKT meditation class or centre.
I hope it all works out well for you Friend.
My favorite place for learning is The Berzin Archives. The website states:
I think this post is unnecessarily contentious and probably also thread-hijacking. If you want to trash the NKT you should at least start a different thread and cite your reasons. Caz has not done as you say he does, at least not as far as I have seen, and seems eminently reasonable to me. I have learned that some NKT Centers can be reasonable just by reading what Caz writes. To just toss this in here like this is unfair.
Ah yes the Berzin archeives are generally a good learning resource as well Ive seen many a Interesting article on there
Everyone is welcome to an opinion friend but of course keep in mind Buddhas right speech and not harming others, The path begins with strong reliance on a kind teacher to harm someones faith is most horrendous karma, To defame Dharma that calms the mind is worse still.
And of course what manner of practise do we have when we cannot even be cordial to our kind mothers.
Be well friend.
I'll still visit the NKT when I can (I've got a six session course starting on Wednesday with them); and have no problems with the Monks, the other members I meet there or the teachings.
From the little I know about Buddhism, I know I'm asked not to just believe anything, and test what I'm taught, and that's what I do; with an open mind.
Thanks for all your help.
Regards,
Tosh
Cool Tosh Good luck in your studies