Centers Hosting the Program

Please note: Discovering Buddhism for centers has been updated as of July 2007. Centers that have purchased the previous edition may obtain a complementary CD-rom of the program by sending a DB update for your center to the Education Department.

We have received feedback that, for some DB students and study groups, the required readings (often specifically Liberation in the Palm of your Hand) are too difficult for beginners. While the official DB required reading list will continue to list this and the other DB readings as required, it is acknowledged that the teacher has the authority to substitute alternate texts. Please keep in mind the FPMT Wisdom Culture and the intent of the Discovering Buddhism program to preserve the lineage of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche when making these alternate choices and please send all your recommended alternatives to the director of Education Services for our records, consideration and posting for others in the member’s area.

Mind and Its Potential

Discovering Buddhism readings for Mind and Its Potential
Mind and Mental Factors, by Lama Yeshe
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Mind and Its Potential from DB at Home teacher Thubten Yeshe
Meditation on Continuity of the Mind
Meditation on the Mind As Knower
Meditation on the Spacious Clarity of the Mind
Meditation on Perfect Human Rebirth
Meditation on Guru Shakyamuni Buddha
Meditation on Equanimity
Public Exam Questions
Practice Day Agenda
Additional supplementary reading:
Kindness, Clarity and Insight by His Holiness Dalai Lama. Snowlion Publications. Particularly the section on "the luminous nature of the mind".
Additional (or alternate) reading, from Lama Zopa Rinpoche 1996
Additional resources and information on this module

How to Meditate

Presenting the Path

Discovering Buddhism readings for Presenting the Path
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Presenting the path from DB at Home teacher Ven Robina Courtin
Meditation on Renunciation
Meditation on Bodhichitta
Meditation on Emptiness
Outline for Teaching Sessions
Public Exam Questions
Three Day Lam-rim Retreat Schedule
Two Day lam-rim Retreat Schedule (Nov. 2005)
Essence of Tibetan Buddhism is BACK IN PRINT and can be downloaded from www.lamayeshe.com Please advise students accordingly.
Additional supplementary reading:
Practicing the Path by Yangsi Rinpoche. Published by Wisdom Publications. 500 pages of commentary on the entire Lamrim Chenmo from teachings given at Tushita Retreat Center in 2000.
Additional resources and information on this module

The Spiritual Teacher

Note: With the recent release of Heart of the Path by Lama Zopa Rinpoche (LYWA), it is advised that DB teachers use this text as much as possible as the required reading for this module. For those who would like to continue using, Relating to a Spiritual Teacher by Alex Berzin as the required reading, please note: This book was republished as Wise Teacher, Wise Student: Tibetan Approaches to a Healthy Relationship.
Discovering Buddhism readings for The Spiritual Teacher
Assessment Questions (August 2007)
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of The Spiritual Teacher from DB at Home teacher Ven Constance Miller
Meditation on Relating to the Spiritual Mentor in Thought
Meditation on the Advantages of Proper Reliance and the Disadvantages of not Properly Relying on a Spiritual Guide
Meditation on Devotion to the Spiritual Teacher in Thought I.
Meditation on Devotion to the Spiritual Teacher in Thought II by LZR
Meditation on Shakyamuni Guru Yoga
Meditation on Why we Need a Spiritual Guide
Outline for Teaching Sessions
Public Exam Questions
Practice Day Agenda
Recommended Video Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Guru Devotion and Refuge
Additional resources and information on this module

Death and Rebirth

Discovering Buddhism readings for Death and Rebirth
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Death and Rebirth from DB at Home teacher Nick Ribush
Meditation in Impermanence
Meditation on Certainty of Death
Meditation on the Uncertainty of the Time of Death
9 Point Death Meditation
Purification Meditation By Lama Yeshe
Meditation on Tong Len
Outline for Teaching Sessions 1
Outline for Teaching Sessions 2
Public Exam Questions
2-Day Retreat Schedule
Recommended Video Lama Zopa Rinpoche's Remembering Impermanence and Understanding what is True Dharma
Additional supplementary reading:
Advice on Dying by His Holiness Dalai Lama, edited by Jeffrey Hopkins, Published by Atria Books
Additional resources and information on this module

All about Karma

Discovering Buddhism readings for All About Karma
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of All About Karma from DB at Home teacher Renate Ogilvie
Meditation on the ten non-virtues
Meditation on the four characteristics of karma
Meditation on Vajrasattva short
Meditation on the Disadvantages of Anger
Meditation on Rejoicing
Public Exam Questions
2-day Retreat Schedule
Required Reading alternate to Healing Anger:
Working with Anger, by Thubten Chodron, Snow Lion Publications
Additional resources and information on this module

Refuge in the Three Jewels

Discovering Buddhism readings for Refuge in the Three Jewels
Assessment Questions (August 2007)
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of The Three Jewels of Refuge from DB at Home teacher Ven Thubten Dondrub
Analytical Meditation on the Three Jewels
Analytical Meditation on Refuge
Meditation on Shakyamuni Buddha and Mantra
Meditation from A Daily Meditation Practice: How to Meditate on the Graded Path to Enlightenment, Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Public Exam Questions
Additional resources and information on this module

Establishing a Daily Practice

Discovering Buddhism readings for Establishing a Daily Practice
Assessment Questions (August 2007)
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Establishing a Daily Practice from DB at Home teacher Kendall Magnussen
Meditation on GSB and concentration
Meditation on GSB with 7 limbs and mantra
Meditation on GSB with perfect human rebirth
Meditation on short Vajrasattva practice
Meditation on GSB with mantra and dissolution
Lama Zopa Rinpoche on Establishing a Daily Practice
A Daily Meditation Practice
Please see FPMT Education Services's Glossy booklets for the practice booklets of Guru Shakymuni Buddha, Green Tara and 4 Arm Chenrezig
Taking the 8 Mahayana Precepts
Please see Education Services's Essential Buddhist Prayers Volume I for the Morning Prayers that include 8 Mahayana Precept
Alternative daily practice options
Public Exam Questions
Additional resources and information on this module

Samsara and Nirvana

Discovering Buddhism readings for Samsara and Nirvana
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Samsara and Nirvana from DB at Home teacher Ven Fedor Stracke
Meditation on the 8 sufferings
Meditation on the 6 sufferings
Meditation on the 3 sufferings
Meditation on the 6 afflictions
Meditation on the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination
Meditation on How a Particular Set of the Twelve Links Works
Meditation on the Wheel of Life
Delusions and their Antidotes
Sufferings of Samsara
Public Exam Questions
Additional Suggested Reading (particularly if teaching this module with the Four Noble Truths):
Four Noble Truths, by Geshe Tashi Tsering, Wisdom Publications
Additional supplementary reading:
12 Links of Dependent Arising by Geshe Tashi Tsering, Chenrezig Institute, Australia
Twelve link Interactive learning Tool, developed by Langri Tangpa Center
Additional resources and information on this module

How to Develop Bodhicitta

Discovering Buddhism readings for How to Develop Bodhicitta
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of How to Develop Bodhichitta from DB at Home teacher Ven Kaye Miner
Meditation on Equanimity
Meditation on Exchanging Self with others
Meditation on 7 Cause and Effect
Meditation on 11 points
Public Exam Questions
Tong Len Meditation
Loving Kindness Meditation
Remembering the Kindness Meditation
Meditation on Compassion
Additional Suggested Readings:
How to Expand Love, by His Holiness Dalai Lama, Atria Publications
The Awakening Mind, Geshe Tashi Tsering, Wisdom Publications
Additional resources and information on this module

Transforming Problems

Discovering Buddhism readings for Transforming Problems
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of Transforming Problems from DB at Home teacher Ven Tenzin Tsaphel
Meditation on Tonglen
Meditation on Transforming Problems into Happiness
Heart Sutra Retreat Instructions
Heart Sutra Retreat practice text
Required Reading alternate to Transforming the Mind: Teachings on Generating Compassion, His Holiness Dalai Lama:
Eight Verses of Training the Mind, by Geshe Sonam Rinchen, Snow Lion Publications
Additional resources and information on this module

Wisdom of Emptiness

Discovering Buddhism readings for Wisdom of Emptiness
Assessment Questions
Assessment Answer Key
Transcript of The Wisdom of Emptiness from DB at Home teacher Tubten Pende
Meditation to Cultivate Concentration
Meditation Using the Four-Point Analysis
Meditation on Emptiness Awareness
Required Reading alternate to Heart Sutra: An Oral Teaching, by Geshe Sonam Rinchen:
How to See Yourself as you Really Are, by His Holiness Dalai Lama, Atria Books
Additional resources and information on this module

Additional information

FPMT Discovering Buddhism Updates - Français

Contents

L’esprit et son potentiel

Comment méditer

Présentation du chemin

Le maître spirituel

Mort et renaissance

Tout sur le karma

Le refuge dans les trois joyaux

Etablir une pratique quotidienne

Samsara et nirvana

Comment développer bodhicitta

Transformer ses problèmes

La sagesse de la vacuité

Introduction au tantra

Expériences spécifiques d’intégration

FPMT Discovering Buddhism Updates - Deutsch

Contents

Mind and Its Potential

How to Meditate

Presenting the Path

The Spiritual Teacher

Death and Rebirth

All about Karma

Refuge in the Three Jewels

Establishing a Daily Practice

Samsara and Nirvana

How to Develop Bodhicitta

Transforming Problems

Wisdom of Emptiness

Introduction to Tantra

Special Integration Experiences

FPMT Discovering Buddhism Updates - English

Contents

Mind and Its Potential

How to Meditate

Presenting the Path

The Spiritual Teacher

Death and Rebirth

All about Karma

Refuge in the Three Jewels

Establishing a Daily Practice

Samsara and Nirvana

How to Develop Bodhicitta

Transforming Problems

Wisdom of Emptiness

Introduction to Tantra

Special Integration Experiences