Study Programmes

General Programme (GP)

GP provides a basic introduction to Buddhist views, meditation, and practice that is suitable for beginners. These weekly meditation classes are held in: Grey Lynn, Takapuna and City

Foundation Programme (FP)

Compassion Buddhist Centre we will begin the Foundation Programme early in 2008 and will study the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment - the commentary ‘Joyful Path of Good Fortune’ by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

About Foundation Programme
FP provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding and experience of Buddhism through studying six texts :

Joyful Path of Good Fortune - a commentary to Atisha's Lamrim instructions, the stages of the path to enlightenment. By studying Joyful Path of Good Fortune we gain the ability to put all Buddha's teachings of both Sutra and Tantra into practice. Then we can easily make progress on and complete the stages of the path to the supreme happiness of enlightenment.

Universal Compassion - a commentary to Bodhisattva Chekhawa's Training the Mind in Seven Points. By studying Universal Compassion, we gain the ability to integrate Buddha's teachings into our daily lives and solve all our human problems.

Eight Steps to Happiness - a commentary to eight beautiful verses that comprise one of Buddhism's best-loved and most enduring teachings, Eight Verses of Training the Mind. Composed by the great Tibetan Bodhisattva, Langri Tangpa, this short poem shows how we can transform all life's difficulties into valuable spiritual insights.

Heart of Wisdom - a commentary to the Heart Sutra. Through studying Heart of Wisdom we gain a realization of the ultimate nature of reality. By gaining this realization we can eliminate the ignorance of self-grasping, which is the root of all our suffering.

Meaningful to Behold - a commentary to Venerable Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life. By studying Meaningful to Behold we transform our daily activities into the Bodhisattva's way of life, thereby making every moment of our human life meaningful.

Understanding the Mind - a detailed explanation of the mind based on the works of the Buddhist scholars Dharmakirti and Dignaga. By studying Understanding the mind we understand the relationship between our mind and its external objects. If we understand that objects depend upon the subjective mind, we can change the way objects appear to us by changing our own mind. Gradually we shall gain the ability to control our mind and in this way solve our problems.