Is this course right for me?
Here are a few questions to consider before applying.
Will it be the right level for me?
The course is not an introduction to Buddhism. While you can go into it with no knowledge of Buddhism at all due to the logical approach used by Geshe Tashi, the concepts he introduces go quite deep. Some prior knowledge of Buddhist thought is advisable.
If you do have an interest in Buddhism, however, and a rudimentary idea of things such as karma, you will find it quite manageable.
And even if you have been studying Buddhism for many years, the course will still greatly benefit you. It is truly the foundation - the corner stones - of Buddhism and to have it laid out as neatly and logically as Geshe Tashi does is invaluable to the relative newcomer and the long-term student of Buddhism.
Is it relevant to my life?
Geshe Tashi studied for over twenty years in a Tibetan monastery in India and he freely admits his ideas are saturated with that study. He has, however, been in the West for over ten years now, studying not only Western philosophy and how Westerners think, but also other Buddhist traditions. His respect for scholars like Ajahn Sumedho and Walpola Rahula is reflected in the course books and Theravadin students have found the course content more than compatible with their background. Non-Buddhist students have also found the course of great benefit to their lives. There is an emphasis throughout the course on applying what you study to your daily life rather than merely academic achievement.
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"It is achievable with time and dedication by anyone who has everyday work and home commitments."
- Graduate Student
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How much time will I need each week?
It really depends on how much you want to put into it or how much time you have. You receive a timetable at the beginning of each module, broken into two-week 'chunks' with say ten pages reading and three or four CD tracks that cover that topic. There is also supplementary reading from other books and approximately 20 minutes meditation a day suggested.
On top of that is the time spent with the tutor group discussing questions with other students. In an active group quite lively debate can go on as you chew over the point you are studying. At the end of the month there is a very short "essaylette" to write. This is the routine for the first three months of the module. During the fourth month there is no group contact. It's for revision and the long essay (1,500 words) and the two-hour exam.
How long does this all take? Some students spend four to five hours a week on the course excluding the meditation. It is a commitment, but it's this very interactive element of the course which makes it so special.
Here's a summary of activities in a Module
Is it very academic or is there more to it?
Heart and mind are both involved with everything to do with Buddhism. The method side of developing compassion is an emotional, intuitive experience developed through meditation but with a strong logical backing. The wisdom side which understands the reality of things, on the other hand, is very logical but powered by the compassion we develop when we start to see the reality of our universal situation.
The course uses both these sides of Buddhist teaching. Geshe Tashi comes from the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, possibly the most scholastic tradition, but he continuously emphasises that book knowledge means nothing unless it directly affects our daily life. Throughout the reading and the discussion groups, what you bring to the course through your own life experiences is as valued as what the traditional texts tell us.
Can I choose to do only one or two modules?
No. We ask you to commit to the whole course. This is partly because the six modules form a whole and partly because the integration of the tutor group is an important element in the course and to have the groups constantly changing would be disruptive.
What if I find I haven't enough time or circumstances change?
Different people have different circumstances and different motivation. It's unrealistic to think that everyone will be 100% committed all the time. The criterion we use to determine whether someone has completed a module is that they have done the long essay and exam, but between doing nothing but that and being active every week in the discussion group there is wide spectrum. It is simply the old adage that the more you put into it the more you get out of it.
It also happens that people's circumstances change - they go on retreat or have babies, take up work in Mozambique where there are no internet cafes or get a promotion at work - and when that happens they might have to negotiate with their tutor to leave the exam for a couple of months or even delay a module. That is certainly possible. What we want is for you to get the most from the course.
Is there any way of getting the course cheaper or free?
We try to have some reduced-fee bursaries and nearly free Sangha places
per intake, but this depends very much on whether we can afford it. We
keep the course as cheap as possible so the balance between costs and
income is a very delicate one. If you feel the only way you can do the
course is with a reduced-fee bursary, write to us and explain your circumstances.
Take a look at the Course Outline
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Geshe Tashi with Chocolate Coin