Discovering Buddhism Self Study
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- All 13 subjects with teaching recordings
- Community WhatsApp & Zoom meet-ups
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per month for 12 months
one-off donation
- Lifetime access
- No fixed term — cancel anytime
- All 13 subjects with teaching recordings
- Community WhatsApp & Zoom meet-ups
Pay it forward and support another student
per month for 12 months
one-off donation
- Lifetime access
- No fixed term — cancel anytime
- All 13 subjects with teaching recordings
- Community WhatsApp & Zoom meet-ups
Introduction
Jamyang Buddhist Centre is delighted to announce the launch of Discovering Buddhism Self Study — for the first time offering this hallmark FPMT programme as a self-paced, fully supported online experience, with recorded teachings from Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Venerable Tenzin Gendun.
Community will be at the heart of this new and transformative learning experience. The online learning platform will enable you to explore profound teachings at your own pace, with the option to connect with others on the course through discussion forums, WhatsApp group, and regular Zoom meet-ups, all from anywhere in the world. Skip to this section
The Basic Programme pathway starts with Discovering Buddhism. For those aspiring to go on to further study, completion of this DB Self Study will make you eligible to enrol in the next FPMT Basic Programme cohort in Spring 2027 — a unique, in-depth journey into Buddhist philosophy and practice. Skip to this section
What Is Discovering Buddhism?
Discovering Buddhism presents the core teachings of the Buddha as transmitted through the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, organised according to the lamrim — the graduated path to enlightenment systematised by the 11th-century Indian master Atisha and later elaborated by Lama Tsongkhapa and countless realised teachers.
When Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche began teaching Western students in the 1970s, they drew from this rich lineage to create an education system that balances study, reflection, and meditation practice. Discovering Buddhism is the fruit of that vision: a structured programme designed to transform understanding into lived experience.
The programme emphasises experiential learning. Rather than approaching Buddhism as an abstract philosophy, students engage directly with meditation techniques, contemplative exercises, and practices that address the fundamental questions of existence: the nature of mind, the causes of suffering, the cultivation of compassion, and the realisation of wisdom.
Discovering Buddhism serves as the foundation for FPMT’s entire education system. It prepares students for deeper study whilst standing as a complete and valuable programme in its own right.
Meet the Teachers
Get to know Geshe Namdak and Ven. Gendun, your expert guides to Discovering Buddhism:
Geshe Tenzin Namdak
Resident Teacher at Jamyang
Geshe Tenzin Namdak brings a unique blend of academic rigour, scientific expertise, and deep spiritual practice to his teachings. After completing his university studies in Hydrology, he worked as an environmental researcher in the Netherlands. He began studying Buddhism at Maitreya Institute, eventually ordaining as a monk under His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
He went on to complete the prestigious 20-year Geshe degree at Sera Jey Monastic University in India, followed by the traditional one-year Vajrayana study programme at Gyume Tantric College.
Venerable Tenzin Gendun
Monk at Nalanda Monastery
Born in Sri Lanka and growing up in England, Ven. Tenzin Gendun studied at art school and completed a degree in illustration. After his tertiary studies, he travelled to India and encountered Tibetan Buddhism in 1991 through the kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He was ordained in 1992 and went on to work in FPMT centres in New Zealand.
Ven. Gendun moved to Nalanda Monastery in France in 2000 to deepen his studies. Since then, he has completed the FPMT Basic Programme and Masters Programme.
Programme Structure
Discovering Buddhism consists of 13 subjects designed to be completed over approximately 3–12 months at a self-directed pace. Each subject includes:
Recorded Teachings
Comprehensive video teachings from Geshe Tenzin Namdak explaining the philosophical foundations and practical applications.
Meditation Practices
Guided meditations and contemplative exercises to integrate the teachings experientially.
Study Materials
FPMT course materials including readings, reflection questions, and practice commitments.
Community Support
Access to a dedicated WhatsApp group and optional live discussion sessions with fellow students.
The programme follows a carefully designed sequence that builds progressively. While you may study at your own pace, the order of subjects ensures that foundational understandings support more advanced teachings.
The 13 Subjects
Each subject explores a distinct aspect of Buddhist philosophy and practice while contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the path to enlightenment.
1. Mind and Its Potential
Understanding the nature of mind, its capacity for transformation, and the Buddhist view of consciousness as the basis for spiritual development.
2. How to Meditate
Practical instruction in concentration and analytical meditation techniques, establishing a foundation for all subsequent practice.
3. Presenting the Path
An overview of the graduated path (lamrim) showing how Buddhist teachings work together as a complete system leading to enlightenment.
4. The Spiritual Teacher
The role of the guru-disciple relationship in Tibetan Buddhism, examining how authentic guidance supports spiritual development.
5. Death and Rebirth
Buddhist understanding of death, the death process, intermediate states, and rebirth, with implications for how we live now.
6. All About Karma
The law of cause and effect governing our experiences, understanding how actions shape our present and future.
7. Refuge in the Three Jewels
The meaning of taking refuge in Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha as the foundation of Buddhist practice and identity.
8. Establishing a Daily Practice
Practical guidance for integrating meditation, study, and reflection into daily life with consistency and sustainability.
9. Samsara and Nirvana
Understanding cyclic existence, the nature of suffering, and the possibility of liberation from conditioned patterns.
10. How to Develop Bodhicitta
Cultivating the awakening mind — the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all beings.
11. Transforming Problems
Buddhist approaches to working with difficulties, using challenges as opportunities for growth and deepening practice.
12. Wisdom
Introduction to emptiness and dependent arising, the ultimate nature of reality according to Madhyamaka philosophy.
13. Introduction to Tantra
Overview of Vajrayana Buddhism, its distinctive methods, and how tantric practice relates to sutrayana foundations.
Your Pathway to the Basic Programme
Discovering Buddhism Self Study is the prerequisite for Jamyang’s Basic Programme.
Jamyang’s Basic Programme — launching in Spring 2027 — offers five to seven years of in-depth textual study in Buddhist philosophy, and completion of Discovering Buddhism is required for admission. For students considering this advanced course of study, enrolling in Discovering Buddhism Self Study now provides the foundational preparation needed to join the 2027 cohort.
The Basic Programme engages students with the classical Buddhist texts that have shaped the Gelug tradition for centuries. Working with root texts by Nagarjuna, Chandrakirti, Shantideva, Dharmakirti, and other great masters, students develop the analytical and contemplative capacities essential for rigorous philosophical inquiry. The programme represents a significant commitment to comprehensive Buddhist education and attracts practitioners ready to dedicate themselves to long-term study.
Discovering Buddhism Self Study prepares you exceptionally well for this next step.
Through systematic engagement with the foundational teachings, you will:
- Build the core knowledge base that underpins all subsequent Buddhist study
- Develop contemplative and analytical skills essential for textual analysis
- Gain clarity about whether long-term commitment to Buddhist education aligns with your aspirations
- Connect with a cohort of fellow students, some of whom will continue into the Basic Programme alongside you
For students not pursuing the Basic Programme, Discovering Buddhism remains a complete and rewarding course of study in itself. Many participants find it offers exactly the depth and structure they seek — a comprehensive grounding in Buddhist philosophy and practice that enriches their meditation and daily life for years to come.
Why Study Discovering Buddhism Self Study with Jamyang?
Authentic Lineage Teaching
Geshe Tenzin Namdak brings decades of training in the Gelug monastic system and extensive teaching experience in the West. His recordings, delivered directly in English, offer clear explanations rooted in genuine realisation and traditional scholarship.
An Established FPMT Centre
As an FPMT centre established in 1978, Jamyang has supported Buddhist education and practice for nearly fifty years. Our community includes experienced practitioners who understand both the challenges and joys of integrating these teachings into contemporary life.
Balanced Approach
This programme combines the freedom of self-paced online study with the benefits of guided support and genuine community. You gain flexibility without losing connection.
Suitable for All Levels
Discovering Buddhism welcomes complete beginners as well as those with existing meditation experience who wish to deepen their understanding through systematic study. The teachings meet you wherever you are on the path.
How It Works
Online Learning Platform
Upon enrolment, you receive access to our dedicated learning platform containing all video teachings, course materials, and supplementary resources. Content remains available throughout your study period, allowing you to revisit materials as needed.
Self-Paced Progress
Move through the programme at a rhythm that suits your life circumstances. Most students complete the 13 subjects over 3–12 months, though some take longer. The important thing is consistency rather than speed.
Community Connection
Join our WhatsApp group to connect with fellow students, share insights, and receive encouragement. You can join now to meet others preparing for the programme and receive announcements as enrolment approaches.
Zoom Meet-Ups
Regular opportunities to connect with others on the course via Zoom meet-ups hosted and facilitated by a dedicated Teaching Assistant. These sessions are designed to foster a sense of community and support learning through group discussion, Q&A, and practice.
Ready to Begin?
Whether you are completely new to Buddhism or have been practising for years, Discovering Buddhism Self Study offers a structured, authentic pathway into these profound teachings.
The Buddha’s teachings have guided countless practitioners towards greater wisdom, compassion, and inner freedom across 2,500 years. This programme makes that same possibility available to you, supported by genuine lineage teachers and a warm community of fellow students.
We’re Here to Help
Contact
If you need any further information or assistance, simply reach out to Freddie, our Assistant Spiritual Programme Coordinator, and he’ll be happy to help.
gateway@jamyang.co.ukWe look forward to welcoming you to Discovering Buddhism Self Study.
