Foundation Program (FP)
Currently studying the book Eight Steps to Happiness 
Sundays 3-5pm & 6-8pm
With Gen Samten Kelsang
The Sunday Foundation Program consists of two sessions, from 3:00–5:00pm and 6:00–8:00pm. A delicious vegetarian supper is served between the two classes. Please inquire about child care options if needed. For those who live further away from KMC NY, FP is also available as a correspondence class in which you will receive teachings by MP3 or CD. Please inquire for more details. If you have any questions, please contact the education department at (845) 856-9000, email Education@KadampaNewYork.org. The purpose of the Foundation Program is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.
What is Foundation Program?
If you’ve been attending general Buddhist classes at the US Kadampa World Peace Temple in Glen Spey, New York or at a KMC NY branch location, joining Foundation Program (FP) is the next step in deepening your practical experience of Buddha’s teachings. FP classes are similar in format and depth to college-level classes. The program is based on a systematic study of six Kadampa Buddhist texts written by NKT founder Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso. These include: Joyful Path of Good Fortune, Universal Compassion, Eight Steps to Happiness, Heart of Wisdom, Meaningful to Behold, and Understanding the Mind. At KMC New York, FP is taught by Resident Teacher Gen Samten Kelsang, and weekly classes are held in the blessed environment of the temple.
These include: • Guided meditations • Commentary to the text by the teacher • Group discussion • Question & answer opportunities • The company of like-minded spiritual friends
The program comprises the following five subjects, based on Buddha’s Sutra teachings and the corresponding commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:
- The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune
- Training the Mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and Eight Steps to Happiness
- The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary Heart of Wisdom
- Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold
- Types of Mind, based on the commentary Understanding the Mind
