Basic Program Homestudy Completion Certificate Requirements

It is the choice of every student whether to follow the Basic Program Homestudy Program for a completion certificate or not. To qualify for the FPMT Basic Program Homestudy Completion Certificate, homestudy students are required:

1. to have completed the 9 subjects of the BP core curriculum and their respective tests
2. to have completed the lamrim retreat*
3. to have passed the BP Final Exam, taken after a three months review period
4. to have conduct that accords with Buddhist ethics, in particular, to develop the practice of abstention from killing, stealing, lying, sexual misconduct (adultery), and intoxicants and to be practicing awareness of positive and negative states in one's mind and be developing the practice of patience and concern for others in particular
5. to have engaged in at least two half-hour lamrim meditation sessions a week during their BP studies

* The minimum requirement for the Basic Program Homestudy Completion Certificate is a one month lamrim retreat. The completion of a three months lamrim retreat, as advised by Lama Zopa Rinpoche for the BP in general, is not mandatory for homestudy students. The one month retreat needs to be completed in one continuous retreat period of a minimum of four weeks. A three months retreat can be completed in one retreat period or it can be divided into 3x one month. The retreat is ideally done upon completion of the entire BP studies, but it can also be done at any time after completing the BP lamrim subject.

The assessment of these requirements is outlined below and applies both to FPMT BP Homestudy packages and to center-based BP Homestudy modules; Basic Program homestudy students can complete their BP subjects using either. Homestudy students who wish to qualify for the final exam and certificate can request a BP Homestudy Completion Card from FPMT Education Services or from the center where they participate in BP homestudy.

The requirements are met and assessed in the following ways:

1. Test at Completion of Subjects:
   The test is included in the homestudy package and based on the honor system.
   Upon completion, the test is sent to the Basic Program homestudy assessor, either at FPMT Education Services or at the center, and the signed completion card is returned if the test is passed.

 

2. (One/three) month lamrim retreat:
   either: done independently - honor system; the BP Homestudy Completion Card is requested to be signed by the Education Services BP homestudy assessor
   or: done in a center; the BP Homestudy Completion Card is requested to be signed by the retreat leader or by Education Services.

 

3. Three months review and final exam:
   Students can sit for the final exam after completing and reviewing the nine core curriculum subjects; the retreat can be done before or after the final exam.
             The review should be based on the review questions provided by Education Services; a review period of three months is recommended.
             The exam is done
   either: independently - honor system. The BP Final Exam is provided by Education Services upon request, and the completed exam is sent back to the FPMT BP Homestudy assessor; the signed completion card is returned if the exam is passed;
   or: by attending an FPMT BP Final Exam in a center - the BP Homestudy Completion Card is signed by the Center Director or BP teacher, or by Education Services.

 

4. Conduct & Practice:
   The Basic Program Conduct & Practice Info sheet explains how this element of the BP has developed, including Lama Zopa Rinpoche's comments on the need for this - honor system.

 

5. Meditation:
   either: independently - honor system (by keeping a weekly meditation record)
   or: by attending BP practice days/retreats per subject at BP centers - honor system (by keeping a record of attendance)

The FPMT Basic Program Homestudy Completion Certificate is awarded by the FPMT Education Services upon presentation of the signed Basic Program Homestudy Completion Card, indicating successful completion of all the components of the program.

Centers wishing to offer their BP homestudy students the option to qualify for the FPMT BP Homestudy Completion Certificate need to provide the following as part of their packages:
- a test (possibly with answer key and including the honor system statement);
- the BP Conduct & Practice info sheet and the BP Homestudy Certification info sheet;
- and a BP Homestudy completion card (upon participation in a test).

Centers do not issue their own BP homestudy completion certificates.

Centers may or may not offer a buddy system, email groups or other forms of additional support for their homestudy students.
 
Support for FPMT BP Homestudy students is offered in the form of an online bulletin board. The FPMT BP homestudy packages include instructions to receive an invitation for joining the bulletin board.

All BP homestudy students are invited to participate as much as possible in Basic Program retreats and practice days offered at centers. Please check with your nearest center, or inquire at Education Services. Centers offering a BP are listed at
http://www.fpmt.org/education/bpdescription.php

For more information, please contact FPMT Education Services:  education@fpmt.org