Study Path FAQ

What books should I read for a general introduction to Buddhism?

For an overview of the entire Buddhist path:
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's Wild Awakening

For a detailed discussion of the Buddhist science of mind, including guided meditations:
Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's Mind Beyond Death

For the basic principles of Buddhism in a nutshell:
Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche's What Makes You Not a Buddhist

For an experience-based approach to mindfulness and self-reflection in meditation:
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche's It's Up to You

For what a genuine spiritual path is:
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism and The Myth of Freedom

For an experiential presentation of Vajrayana Buddhism:
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche's Journey Without Goal

For a concise description of the practice and journey of meditation:
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

What should I study?

As an introduction to the Buddhist path without Buddhist jargon:
Nalandabodhi Buddhism 100 Series (Introduction to Buddhism)

For a more detailed, progressive lay-out of the Buddhist path, including the different views, approaches, and schools within Buddhism:
Nalandabodhi 200 and 300 Series (Hinayana and Mahayana view, path, and fruition)

For an in-depth study of the five major topics (Abhidharma, Prajñāpāramitā, Madhyamaka, Pramāṇa, and Vinaya) of the Tibetan colleges for higher Buddhist studies and the eight great texts of the Karma Kagyu tradition:
Nitartha Institute (Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced Curricula)

Where do Nitartha Institute studies fit into my study path?

Nitartha Institute studies are open to everyone interested, but about two years of prior Buddhist practice are recommended. The Institute offers Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced Curricula based on the traditional curricula of Tibetan monastic colleges. There are the annual four-week summer program, several nine-day intensives throughout the year, semester programs (weekday evenings and some weekends), and weekend programs. For details, see nitarthainstitute.org.

As a non-member, what studies shown on the Nalandabodhi calendar can I undertake?

The Nalandabodhi 100-300 Series is open to anyone interested (a gradual approach to these materials is recommended; there is also the option of home study and online courses of these materials).
Local Nalandabodhi centers often offer study groups of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's books; these are usually open to the public.

Is there an overview of the Nalandabodhi Study Path so I can understand what it is?

BUDDHISM 100 SERIES
Course One: "The Life of the Buddha and his Message"

Class 1 and 2: "The Life Example of the Buddha and Buddhism as a Science of Mind"
Class 3: "The World of Suffering and the Human Condition"
Class 4: "Taming the Monkey Mind"

Course Two: "Traveling from Confusion to Original Sanity"
Class 1: "The Path is the Goal"
Class 2: "The Play of Confusion and Sanity" (aka "The Four Noble Truths")
Class 3 and 4: "Trips of Confusion: Working with Emotions"

Course Three: "Karma, Rebirth, and Selflessness"
Class1 and 2: "The Four Seals of the Buddha's Teaching"
Class 3: "The Four Reminders"
Class 4: "The Spiritual Friend: Connecting with Buddha's Heart"

Course Four: "Finding the Present Moment: Applying Buddhist Insights in Everyday Life-The Four Foundations of Mindfulness"

HINAYANA VIEW (HIN 200)

CLASS 1: DISCOVERING THE SCIENCE OF MIND
CLASS 2: ESTABLISHING THE VIEW

DEVELOPING THE HEART OF RENUNCIATION (HIN 210)

CLASS 1: INVESTIGATING THE MIND AND THE WAY THINGS ARE
CLASS 2: NO FEAR OF FEAR
CLASS 3: LEARNING THE COMMAND KEYS FOR PROGRAMMING ONE'S MIND

THE BASIC JOURNEY (HIN 211)

CLASS 1: THE FIVE AGGREGATES (SKANDHAS)
CLASS 2: THE VIEW OF INTERDEPENDENCE
CLASS 3 and 4: HINAYANA PHILOSOPHICAL SCHOOLS: VAIBHASHIKA AND
SAUTRANTIKA

HINAYANA PATH (HIN 230)

CLASS 1: ENTERING THE PATH
THE HEART OF CLEAR EXPERIENCE
ANALYTICAL MEDITATION: CLARITY BEYOND DOUBT
CLASS 2: PRACTICUM: ANALYTICAL MEDITATION OF THE FOUR REMINDERS
CLASS 3: RENUNCIATION AS PATH TO LIBERATION
INDIVIDUAL ETHICS AND SOCIAL HARMONY
CLASS 4: TYPES AND TECHNIQUES OF BUDDHIST MEDITATION
CLASS 5: THE FOUR FOUNDATIONS OF MINDFULNESS
CLASS 6: PRACTICUM: MEDITATION ON THE FOUR MINDFULNESSES

HINAYANA PATH AND FRUITION (HIN 250)

CLASS 1: OVERVIEW OF THE HINAYANA PATH
SHAMATHA MEDITATION
CLASS 2: OBSTACLES TO SHAMATHA
CLASS 3: THE UNION OF SHAMATHA AND VIPASHYANA
OVERVIEW OF VIPASHYANA
CLASS 4: THE STAGES OF VIPASHYANA MEDITATION
THE ASCERTAINMENT OF PERSONAL SELFLESSNESS
CLASS 5: HOW TO MEDITATE ON SELFLESSNESS
PRACTICUM: ANALYTICAL MEDITATION ON SELFLESSNESS
CLASS 6: GENERATING THE QUALITIES OF THE PATH
THE HINAYANA STAGES OF REALIZATION
THE RESULT OF THE HINAYANA PATH

MAHAYANA VIEW (MAH 300)

CLASS 1: THE SELF IS FREE, APPEARANCES ARE EMPTY AND EMPTINESS IS
LUMINOUS
ONE DHARMA, ONE PATH, ONE GOAL
THE GROUND OF BODHICHITTA
CLASS 2: GREAT VISION-BODHICHITTA
CLASS 3: THE CAUSES OF BUDDHAHOOD
CLASS 4: WISDOM THAT KNOWS ITSELF
RETURNING TO OUR ORIGINAL STATE
BUDDHA NATURE
THE SPIRITUAL FRIEND

MAHAYANA VIEW (MAH 310) - Everything is Mind

CLASS 1: THE OVERALL PICTURE
THE PROGRESSIVE STAGES OF THE VIEW
CLASS 2: DREAMLIKE EXPERIENCE-UNCHAINING THE CONCEPTUAL MIND
CLASS 3: ALL REALMS ARE MIND ONLY
THE REALMS OF EXPERIENCE
CLASS 4: SELF-AWARENESS EMPTY OF DUALITY
PROJECTIONS OF HABIT

MAHAYANA VIEW (MAH 311) - NOT EVEN A MIDDLE

CLASS 1: THE MIDDLE WAY VIEW
THE REAL EMPTINESS
THE FIVE REASONINGS OF NAGARJUNA
CLASS 2: DISTING ISHING BETWEEN ABSOLUTE AND RELATIVE TRUTH
THERE IS NOTHING TO ASSERT
CLASS 3: ALL DHARMA IS BASED ON THE TWO TRUTHS
THE NATURE OF ALL THINGS
CLASS 4: NOT JUST NOTHINGNESS
CLASS 5: INSEPARABLE CLARITY AND EMPTINESS MIND
NOTHING OTHER THAN YOUR OWN MIND

MAHAYANA PATH (MAH 330)

CLASS 1: OVERVIEW OF THE FIVE PATHS
CLASS 2: THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES
CLASS 3: PRACTICUM: THE FOUR IMMEASURABLES
CLASS 4: THE BENEFITS OF GENERATING BODHICITTA
DEVELOPING A COURAGEOUS MIND: THE CAUSES &
CONDITIONS OF BODHICITTA
CLASS 5: GENERATING BODHICITTA: SEVEN BRANCH PRAYER
BODHISATTVA VOW
CLASS 6: ULTIMATE BODHICITTA
THE SIX PARAMITAS

MAHAYANA PATH 331

CLASS 1: THE FRAGRANCE OF SANDALWOOD: FOLLOWING THE SPIRITUAL
FRIEND
THE PRACTICE OF MINDFULNESS
CLASS 2: THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING 1: TRAINING IN ULTIMATE
BODHICITTA
CLASS 3: THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING 2: TRAINING IN RELATIVE
BODHICITTA
CLASS 4: PRACTICUM: THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING
CLASS 5: THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING 3: TAKING ADVERSE
CONDITIONS ONTO THE PATH
THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING 4: COMPLETING
TRAINING IN LIFE AND DEATH
CLASS 6: THE SEVEN POINTS OF MIND TRAINING 5: EVALUATION, ETHICS,
AND GUIDELINES
THE STAGES OF SHAMATHA MEDITATION: NINE STAGES OF
RESTING THE MIND

MAHAYANA PATH (MAH 350)

CLASS 1: MADHYAMAKA REASONINGS I: VAJRA SLIVERS
CLASS 2: MADHYAMAKA REASONINGS II: ANALYZING RESULT &
BOTH CAUSE AND RESULT
MADHYAMAKA REASONINGS III & IV: BEYOND ONE
AND MANY & DEPENDENT ARISING
CLASS 2: VIPASHYANA MEDITATION INSTRUCTION
CLASS 3: PRACTICUM: FIVE REASONINGS OF MADHYAMAKA
CLASS 4: THE BODHISATTVABHUMIS 1-5
CLASS 5: THE BODHISATTVA BHUMIS 6-10
THE ELEVENTH BHUMI
THE THREE KAYAS
CLASS 6: TRANSFORMATION OF THE 5 SKANDHAS INTO THE 5 BUDDHA
WISDOMS
TRANSFORMATION OF THE 8 CONSCIOUSNESSES INTO THE 5
BUDDHA WISDOMS


What is the progressive nature of the Nalandabodhi Study Path?

The materials in the Nalandbodhi Study Path (Buddhism 100 Series) begin with general explanations of a wide range of Buddhist topics (such as karma, the nature of conditioned existence, the four noble truths, the view of no-self, and different paths within Buddhism). The 200 and 300 Series discuss the Buddhist views, meditations, and fruitions that are fundamental and shared throughout most Buddhist traditions and then progress to the specific view and path of the mahayana (all these materials are open to the public). For Nalandabodhi members (personal students of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche) there are further study materials related to the progressive Nalandabodhi Practice Path.