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ANCIENT WISDOM FOR THE MODERN WORLD An Introduction to Buddhism |
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Amidst the tremendous uncertainty of our lives, we need to find a way to meet difficulties, crises, problems and troubles to understand, transform and overcome them with deeper acceptance and compassion, and so discover the peace of mind, stability, and fulfillment that we need so much to face the challenges of the world today. In these troubled times, following a spiritual path has never been more urgent. It is a great source of hope that the teachings of all great spiritual traditions are still available. —Sogyal Rinpoche More and more people around the world are recognizing the tremendous gift that Buddhism has to offer, one offered with no notion of conversion or exclusivity, and to people of any faith or none. These teachings hold the key to qualities that we urgently need today—peace of mind to bring us inner strength, confidence and happiness, and the compassion and good heart to help us free ourselves from our destructive emotions. In a world racked by turmoil and mental suffering, Buddhist teachings could not be more practical. They speak to us all, and any one of us can put them into action so as to live our lives with more wisdom and more compassion. "Ancient Wisdom for the Modern World: An Introduction to Buddhism" offers an introduction to Buddhist ideas and approaches. Taught by the Buddha over 2,500 years ago and passed down to us by a lineage of masters who studied these words, reflected deeply on their meaning and experienced their truth personally, these principles are as useful today as they were when first spoken in the gardens and groves of India so many years ago. Their timeless applicability comes from the fact that they address the basic human desire to find happiness and are not limited to any particular social or political environment. |
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PREREQUISITES AND LEVEL OF THIS COURSE “ANCIENT WISDOM—An Introduction to the Buddhism” is one of the entry points to the Rigpa Education Program. THE PRINCIPAL FOCUSES OF STUDY This course will give you a simple introduction to Buddhism, its vastness and profundity, its relevance to modern life and the principles governing Buddhist thought and action, as well as an intellectual grasp of its framework. Through it, we hope to open a door to the rich storehouse of wisdom hidden in each of us and to point out some of the tools Buddhism offers us, developed and fine tuned for over a thousand years in the laboratory of the Himalayas, to uncover our true potential and live it to the fullest. This course is open to everyone, from all walks of life, no matter what religious background you have, or whether you have one or not. The principal focuses of study are:
This course presents the approach of Sogyal Rinpoche, based on the oral lineage of instruction and guidance handed down to him by his teachers in the Nyingma or ‘ancient’ tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. FORMAT OF THIS COURSE Students receive a DVD, course workbook, and a logon to the course website. Assignments are posted weekly and students are encouraged to post their homework to a class forum and discuss their insights with each other. An instructor reviews student postings, gives guidance, and is available for answering student questions. See this document for a detailed description about how the course works. MATERIALS NEEDED
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DISTANCE