Teacher Training Program
Enrollment based
Fridays 6-8pm - beginning September 5, 2025
The Teacher Training Program exists to provide extensive training for those wishing to become qualified teachers of Modern Kadampa Buddhism.
The program is centered around the study of various Buddhist subjects as explained in the collection of books written by founder of the New Kadampa Tradition, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche.
In addition to completing the study of fourteen texts of Sutra and Tantra, including the six texts studied on the Foundation Program, students are required to observe certain commitments, and to complete a number of meditation retreats each year.
CLASS STRUCTURE
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Prior to class, students study an assigned portion of the text, usually a few pages long, and memorize the essential points. The class begins with chanted prayers and guided meditation. The teacher then reads the assigned portion from the book while giving commentary to the text. Afterwards the students divide into pairs to discuss the section. The teacher and students then conclude with suggestions for the meditation for the next class and how to put it into practice.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
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Students sign up to complete all the books in the program and undertake to attend every class, to learn the material, and to take tests at various intervals throughout the study of each book. Class meets on Fridays from 6-8pm. If for a suitable reason a student is not able to attend the class in person, he or she is expected to listen to the class recording and submit a summary.
TTP students are also encouraged to attend daily Pujas, Wishfulfilling Jewel with Tsog, Offering to the Spiritual Guide and Melodious Drum.
HOW TO JOIN THE TEACHER TRAINING PROGRAM
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The fee is $65 per month which includes membership for the Teacher Training Program and admission to all General Program classes. Membership also includes free access to workshops, retreats and KMC Phoenix special events.
Who can join the TTP Program at Kadampa Meditation Center Phoenix
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Anyone living in the Phoenix area
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Anyone attending classes at the KMC Phoenix for any length of time
Please contact us if you have any questions at epc@meditationinarizona.org
Gen Kelsang Chenma
Teacher Training Program Teacher
BOOKS STUDIED
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The program comprises the following twelve subjects, based on Buddha’s Sutra and Tantra teachings and the corresponding commentaries by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso:
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1. The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, based on the commentary Joyful Path of Good Fortune
2. Training the Mind, based on the commentaries Universal Compassion and The New Eight Steps to Happiness
3. The Heart Sutra, based on the commentary The New Heart of Wisdom
4. Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, based on the commentary Meaningful to Behold
5. Types of Mind, based on the commentary How to Understand the Mind
6. Guide to the Middle Way, based on the commentary Ocean of Nectar
7. Vajrayana Mahamudra, based on the commentary Clear Light of Bliss
8. The Bodhisattva’s Moral Discipline, based on the commentary The Bodhisattva Vow
9. Offering to the Spiritual Guide, based on the commentaries Great Treasury of Merit and Mahamudra Tantra
10. Vajrayogini Tantra, based on the commentary New Guide to Dakini Land
11. Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, based on the commentary Tantric Grounds and Paths
12. The Practice of Heruka Body Mandala, based on the commentary Essence of Vajrayana
Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche has designed a variety of special study programs to help students systematically progress in their practice of Kadampa Buddhism.
"Our present understanding and experience of Dharma is quite superficial. We are like someone who has entered a huge food store and seen many things but sampled only a few. We may have received many different teachings from many different teachers, but we have taken in very little, just a few morsels.
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There is a gap between us and the Dharma. It feels as if the Dharma is there and we are here. Our mind is not mixed with Dharma and so we cannot apply it in our daily lives. As a result, our ordinary everyday problems remain. We also find it difficult to integrate our spiritual path into our daily lives so we cannot use this Dharma to solve our daily problems.
When we study Dharma out mind remains passive, like someone watching television. Therefore our life and our Dharma remain completely separate and unrelated.
Why is this? It is because we are not studying and practicing systematically according to a specially designed spiritual program. If we just dabble superficially in a spiritual path we will never gain a deep and stable experience, and our wisdom will never develop to its full potential. This is why the spiritual programs offered by the New Kadampa Tradition are so important.”
