Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View
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one-off donation
- Lifetime access
- No fixed term — cancel anytime
- All sessions with recordings
- Community WhatsApp & Review groups
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per month for 7 months
one-off donation
- Lifetime access
- No fixed term — cancel anytime
- All sessions with recordings
- Community WhatsApp & Review groups
Introduction
Jamyang Buddhist Centre is delighted to announce the launch of Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View — adapted from the full FPMT program. This course offers a fully supported hybrid learning experience, with live teachings from Geshe Tenzin Namdak and Venerable Tenzin Gendun.
Community will be central to your learning experience; Monthly review sessions and a dedicated WhatsApp group will foster a connection with others on the course through group discussion and meditation.
The FPMT Basic Program pathway starts with Discovering Buddhism. Then, for those aspiring to go on to further study, completion of Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View will make you eligible to enrol in the next FPMT Basic Program cohort in Spring 2027 — a unique, in-depth journey into Buddhist philosophy and practice.
About the course
Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View is an extract of the full Exploring Buddhism program.
Exploring Buddhism is a course co-developed by senior FPMT teachers including Geshe Namdak, Geshe Legtsok and Venerable Joan Nicell. It was conceived as a bridge between the foundation-level Discovering Buddhism and the advanced-level FPMT Basic Program.
The course presents selected Buddhist topics providing a strong basis for study, contemplation and meditation. The aim of Exploring Buddhism is to support those who are curious about Buddhist teachings gain a thorough understanding of them and put them into practice.
Jamyang will be running a condensed version of the course focusing on 2 of the 8 modules in the FPMT Exploring Buddhism program: Exploring the Mind, and Exploring the View, Tenets and the Middle Way.
This approach aims to prepare students for further study should they wish to enrol on the FPMT Basic Program commencing at Jamyang in May of 2027. Jamyang’s resident teacher Geshe Tenzin Namdak has advised that these two modules – combined with the topics studied in Discovering Buddhism – will provide a very good basis for the level of study and practice expected for the FPMT Basic Program.
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 program 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 Program and Masters Program.
Program Structure
Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View consists of 2 subjects taught over a period of 7 months. The program includes:
Recorded Teachings
Comprehensive video teachings from our two teachers explaining the philosophical foundations and practical applications.
Meditation Practices
Guided meditations and contemplative exercises to integrate the teachings experientially.
Study Materials
Course materials including recommended readings, quizzes and other resources.
Community Support
Access to a dedicated WhatsApp group and monthly review sessions to meet and discuss the material.
Schedule
The course begins in September 2026. Classes take place on Mondays, 18:30–20:00, starting 21 September 2026.
The 2 Subjects
Each subject explores a distinct aspect of Buddhist philosophy and practice while contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the path to enlightenment.
Module 1: Exploring the View, Tenets and the Middle Way
Taught by Geshe Tenzin Namdak
- The Four main Buddhist tenets
- The two truths in the different schools of tenets
- Explanations on selflessness in the different schools of tenets
- Consciousness in the different schools of tenets
- The Middle Way philosophy of realizing emptiness
Module 2: Exploring the Mind
Taught by Venerable Tenzin Gendun
- What the Mind Is
- Destructive and Constructive Emotions
- Objects and Object-Possessors
- Two Types of Awareness
- Seven Types of Awareness
- Main Minds and Mental Factors
Your Pathway to the FPMT Basic Program
Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View is a prerequisite for Jamyang’s next cycle of the FPMT Basic Program.
Jamyang’s next cycle of the FPMT Basic Program — launching in Spring 2027 — offers five to seven years of in-depth textual study in Buddhist philosophy, and completion of these two topics of Exploring Buddhism is required for admission.
The FPMT Basic Program 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 program represents a significant commitment to comprehensive Buddhist education and attracts practitioners ready to dedicate themselves to long-term study.
The study of these two topics – combined with the completion of the Discovering Buddhism course – 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 FPMT Basic Program alongside you
For students not pursuing the FPMT Basic Program, Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View 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 Exploring Buddhism 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 program 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.
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 program and receive announcements as enrolment approaches.
Review Sessions
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?
Designed for students with a foundational understanding of Tibetan Buddhism, Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View offers a structured, authentic pathway in further study.
The Buddha’s teachings have guided countless practitioners towards greater wisdom, compassion, and inner freedom across 2,500 years. This program 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 Program Coordinator, and he’ll be happy to help.
gateway@jamyang.co.ukWe look forward to welcoming you to Exploring Buddhism: Mind & View.
