Correspondence Course

The Buddhist Society
CORRESPONDENCE COURSE IN BASIC BUDDHISM

 - Course packs will be now be sent out from 9th September 2024 and may tak at least two weeks to arrive -

The Correspondence Course is especially suitable for beginners living outside London and unable to attend regular classes/courses at the Society. The opportunity to write personally to an experienced tutor about questions and problems you have in regard to Buddhism is most helpful when you have little or no contact with other Buddhists.

The course describes the basic principles and teachings of Buddhism clearly and straight-forwardly, and gives a brief outline of its history and development. It is a course that stresses the importance of practicing Buddhism rather than thinking about it, and helps the student discover how to do so. There are no ‘qualifications’ or ‘expectations’ of a student.

Cost: UK £25.00, Europe £30.00, Outside Europe £35.00

Correspondence Course Application Form

This is NOT an online course. You will recieve the course material in the post

You can also apply online using by using Paypal:

SYNOPSIS

Lesson 1: WHAT IS BUDDHISM?
Preface – Glossary. A Religion and a Way of Life. Basic Principle. A Practical Discipline. Buddhism, Morality & God. A Tolerant Religion.

Lesson 2: A BRIEF HISTORY OF BUDDHISM
The Life of Siddhartha Gautama. The Effect of Social Background on the Development of Buddhism in Different Countries. The Spread of Buddhism in the East. Buddhism in the West. The Languages of Buddhism.

Lesson 3: THE THREE SIGNS OF BEING
Anicca, Dhukkha, Anatta. The Five Aggregates. The Three Fires. Nibbana.
Anatta & Rebirth.

Lesson 4: THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
The Truth of Dukkha, The Truth of the Origin of Dukkha, The Truth of the Extinction of Dukkha, The Truth of the Way that leads to the Extinction of Dukkha.

Lesson 5: THE NOBLE EIGHT-FOLD PATH
The Fetters. Right Understanding. Right Motives, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration.

Lesson 6: KARMA AND RE-BIRTH
Karma. Re-birth (First Aspect: life to life), Re-birth (Second Aspect: moment to moment). The Twelve Links.

Lesson 7: THE THEORY OF MEDITATION
The Purpose of Meditation. Spurious Claims for Meditation. The Five Hindrances. The Six Types of Character. The Requirements of Meditation. The Guiding Faculties.

Lesson 8: SOME MAHAYANA PRINCIPLES
The Origins of Mahayana. The Six Perfections (Paramitas). The Arhat and the Bodhisattva. The Buddha. Emptiness. Mahayana literature.

Lesson 9: SOME MAHAYANA SCHOOLS
China – The T’ien-t’ai School, The Mantra School, The Flower Garland School, The Ch’an School (Zen), The Pure Land School. Tibet: The History of Tibetan Buddhism, Tantric Practice. Japan.

Lesson 10: THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION
Sila or Moral Discipline. Sitting Meditation. Posture. Types of Meditation.

Lesson 11: BUDDHISM IN DAILY LIFE
The Essential Religious Task. Following the Path. Right Mindfulness & Right Effort. ‘Daily Life Practice’. Establishing a Daily Routine. The Three Refuges. The Five Precepts.

Lesson 12: BUDDHISM COMES TO THE WEST
The Introduction of Buddhism to the West. Developments in Britain since 1970 to present day. Where to start? Further Developments in Britain. Reading list.

Lessons finish with a short section of PRACTICAL WORK, including basic guidance on how to meditate and advice on everyday life practice.