Sacred Mountain Study Practice-Study Programme (SMS4) -  2011

The next Study-Practice Program Jan 23rd 2011. Applications accepted from Jan 5th.


Please see the end of this for Application details.

Notice: SMS2 & SMS3 are now closed

If you wish to sign up for SMS4, please contact: sms.dharmagiri@gmail.com

Dates for the Residential SMS4 2011 will be posted after October 2010

For details of the program, please see below.


Sacred Mountain Study Practice-Study Programme 2 -  2010

The intention of this program:

Is to support the study and practice of Dharma teachings and to support integration of practice into daily life. This course will suit those with a good grounding in meditation practice, who are interested in learning more about Buddhism and are committed to Awakening as a core focus within their lives. It is preferable that applicants have completed one of more long retreats (of at least a week) and have several years experience of daily meditation practice.

The course can be undertaken:

  1. As part home study and part residential which would entail the attendance of three residential retreats during the course of 2010.
  2. As a home study course without the residential retreats.


It is highly recommend that participants undertake the course with a fellow practitioner or a small group of practising co participants who can meet together regularly. There are graduates from the 2008 course who are willing to lead small groups in their home location, at present this includes the following locations Jo'burg, Durban, Cape Town, South Africa; South Devon, UK; West Germany; Sanoma County & Bay Area CA, US; Tel Aviv, Israel. Details of further groups will be available later.

Course Dates:

Residential

Term One
  • Study Residential - Jan 5th – 10th   2010
  • 12 week study modules – Jan 16th - April 3rd
Term Two
  • Study Residential – May 25th - 30th 2010
  • 12 week study modules –June 5th – August 21st
Term Three
  • Study Residential – September 3rd – 8th 2010   
  • 12 week study modules – September 18th – December 4th    


Home Study

•    Home study will start post January 6th 2010 when the material will be available.Material for each term is available on completion of the previous term.  


This program is designed to acquaint students with and deepen their knowledge of:

•    The core tenets of Buddhist philosophy and practice.
•    Meditation practice and a practical understanding of methods and their fruits.
•    Significant Theravada and Mahayana Sutras
     as well as commentary from accomplished practitioners.
•    An appreciation for the 2,500 year lineage of Buddhist practice, including the historical context
     of the Buddha and an understanding of monastic observances as applicable to lay life.  
•    The principles and practices of the Pure Land and Chan schools.
•    The exploration of integration of Dharma within a contemporary psychology.


It is further designed to:

•    Provide a link between the retreat experience and practice in daily life.
•    Support the growth of sangha within local communities
     by enabling an on going link between committed practitioners.
•    Support those who wish to start their own sitting groups in their local area.
•    Support those interested in exploring engaged Dharma within the world.


Course Commitment

•    If residential, a commitment to the three study retreats
•    To undertake a daily morning and evening sitting practice.
•    To read and study one Sutta weekly (two if personal time allows)
•    To listen to one Dharma talk a week, (two if personal time allows)
•    To use the contemplative exercise that will be emailed out weekly.
•    If working with co-participants, to meet regularly to study / practice together.


For further support the course offers:

On line access to download:
  • Dharma talks & supporting text references
  • Daily chanting and recitation of mantra
  • The encouragement to undertake observance days on each full moon.
  • A book list of suggested texts which support the course
  • For those who cannot access internet downloads, a CD in MP3 format.
  • A Face Book Group for on going discussion of course material and practice


Further support suggestions

  • Before applying for the course it is suggested that you actively see if you can encourage nearby Dharma friends or practitioners to join a group that meets once a month to listen to a talk, read a Sutta and sit together.
  • Keep a journal to write quotes from the reading texts, insights from the talks or contemplations from your own weekly process.
  • Make sure you set a regular time to sit in the morning or evening, for a length of time you can succeed at, depending on your work schedule 30 – 45 mins each sit is suggested. Designate a regular sitting space.


You will need:

•    Acess to the internet & high speed broadband for downloads
•    A willingness to contribute to the Face Book discussions
•    An open mindedness when encountering traditions or concepts that are unfamiliar to you.


Course Curriculum

Term One
•    The 10 Paramitas
•    Refuge
•    Uposatha (Observance Days)
•    Samadhi and the Hindrances
•    Jhana Factors
•    Sati – Mindfulness

Term Two
•    Wisdom - Prajna
•    View & Karma
•    3 Characteristics
•    4 Noble Truths
•    5 Spiritual Faculties
•    The floods (Asava) or outflows
•    Nibbana, Chan and the non dual

Term Three
•    Sunyata (Emptiness)
•    4 Brahma Viharas
•    Bodhicitta & Bodhisattva Ideal
•    The use of ceremony & enabling rites of passage
•    Cultivation of Sangha
•    Buddhist Psychology & therapeutic application
•    Turning the Dharma Wheel in the World


Course Material

The course will draw from Dharma talks and texts from the following teachers:

•    Kittisaro
•    Thanissara
•    Bhikkhu Bodhi
•    Other teachers whose work can support the course curriculum


Course Tutors

•    Kittisaro Originally from the US, graduated from Princeton as a Rhodes Scholar, he is a Buddhist practitioner for over 30 years, spending 15 years as a monk in the Forest Sangha of Ajahn Chah. Kittisaro has also practised for 25 years Pure Land and Chan drawing from the lineage of the Chinese master Master Hua.

•    Thanissara Originally from London, she is a Buddhist practitioner for over 30 years with 12 years experience as a nun in the Forest school of Ajahn Chah. She has strong links with the Dharma door of Kuan Yin (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva) and has an MA in Buddhist psychotherapy from the Karuna Institute and Middx University UK.


Cost

The course is run on Dana (free will offering) in accordance with both monastic tradition and the ancient Buddhist principle of generosity in response to the offering of Dharma teachings. Besides offering Dana to support the on going teaching of Dharma, participants are requested to support costs for materials and posting or for staying at Dharmagiri if they are undertaking the residential course. Guidance is available from the office and on www.dharmagiri.org

To Apply

Please respond to the below questions in a way that is authentic to your experience.

1.    What is your previous experience of meditation and Buddhist practice?
       Please list any retreats attended and teachers who you have practiced with.
2.    What is your experience with other spiritual and contemplative traditions?
3.    Why would you like to do this course?
4.    Do you foresee any difficulties in fulfilling its requirements?
5.    What aspects of Buddhist practice do you find either supportive or challenging?
6.    Are you able to form a group or join with a co-participant to follow the course with?
7.    Please let us where you are currently living, in case there are others signed up nearby.


Please send your application to Dharmagiri office and let us know whether you are interested in applying for the residential or for the home study course. sms.dharmagiri@gmail.com