Teacher Training Program (TTP)
is a wonderful way in which to broaden our understanding of Dharma and
enhance our spiritual life. TTP was designed by Venerable Geshe Kelsang
Gyatso as means to facilitate the spiritual needs and wishes of people
around the world. Classes begin with prayers that prepare the mind for
meditation. The prayers are followed by a meditation based on material
studied in the previous class. This is followed by the teacher reading
the text and giving some commentary, answering questions, and
facilitating group discussion. Finally,
students divide into partners to try and recall from memory the
essential points of the text that was covered in the class.
WHO CAN JOIN TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM?
Teaching Dharma to others is the
most meaningful thing we can do in our lives. Therefore the main
qualification for this program is a compassionate wish to become a
teacher of Kadampa Buddhism. Since this program
studies both sutra and tantra it is necassary that students have
recieved the Highest Yoga Tantra empowerments of Heruka and
Vajrayogini. The commitments are similar to Foundation Program,
however, in addition to there are three annual meditation retreats that
must be attended.
A COMMITMENT TO STUDY AND PRACTICE
Unlike General
Program which is casual and operates on a drop-in basis, Teacher Training
Program requires a deeper spiritual maturity and commitment. Students
who enroll in the program are the very heart of Samudra Buddhist
Centre. The main commitments of the program are: to
attend each class; to promise to study and memorize to the best of your
ability the material being studied; maintain retreat committments; to write an exam; to pay a monthly
fee; to cherish the Centre, fellow students, and to maintain harmony; and to attend the tsog offering pujas held each month.
