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Is there a reason why you start with the teacher sometimes teachers say things that are opposite of each
training program first, before setting up the school? other, so you don’t know which one is correct.
Here in the foundation studies program, you have
Mingyur Rinpoche: It is very important that the the entire map of the Buddha-Dharma. Subsequently,
teacher is first trained, because we are going to have you will have a key. So after that, whatever you learn,
a lot of living experiential wisdom being experienced you can put it into different parts of the map. Some
in the school. We also don’t have a curriculum. The teachings are based on the Theravāda, some teachings
students will make the curriculum by themselves, so are based on the Mahāyāna and some teachings are
the teachers would have to teach from their experience, based on the Vajrayāna. Then your knowledge will
from their hearts. Therefore teacher-training is very become richer and richer.
important. Normally in regular schools in Nepal, a
person who has completed his Masters degree doesn’t Is the Foundation Buddhist Course at Abiding Heart
need to go through any teacher-training. He just picks only open to Buddhists?
up the class book and he is ready to teach.
Mingyur Rinpoche: This program is open to anyone
However, here we are very particular about having a who is interested. They can be Buddhists or non-
strong teacher-training program. Even with the existing Buddhists. But the teachings are Buddhist teachings!
mainstream teacher-training programs, there is already
too much focus on intellectual training. So even though Rinpoche, is there anything else you would like the
at present we cannot set up a big school here, but if you readers to know about Abiding Heart Education?
train the teachers, they can sprout out in many places.
Mingyur Rinoche: The main thing is that Education
How is the Experiential Foundation Buddhist and the way of life – both inner and outer, should be
Course at Abiding Heart Education different from one. Education is not just for our external life. Education
other Buddhist philosophy programs and retreat purely for our external life has limitations, but if
programs? education transforms our inner life, from inside to out,
then there are no limitations. This is what we want to
Mingyur Rinpoche: We try to put ‘View’, ‘Meditation’ emphasize here at Abiding Heart Education.
and ‘Application’ together. Furthermore, we integrate
and emphasize a lot of ‘doing’. We have art, sculpture When we were at Tergar Osel Ling Monastery, we
and many other activities to apply meditation. In the saw much construction taking place. Can you please
morning, you learn the theory and meditation. In tell us a bit about the projects that are ongoing at
the afternoon, you apply them in different forms. We Tergar Osel Ling Monastery?
also distil the essence of the three yānas – Theravāda,
Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna. This is like a key. Once you Mingyur Rinpoche: In the monastery, there are two
know this, you have the map of the entire Buddha- main projects. One is the traditional Buddhist studies
Dharma. Many students are confused, especially project combined with meditation practice for the
Buddhist students who go to many different teachers. monastic sangha. Many institutions teach Buddhist
One teacher says Dharma is like that. It is almost as if philosophy, but there is not much meditation. There
you are looking at an elephant with closed eyes. When are retreat centers with lots of meditation, but people
you touch one part of the elephant, you think the don’t have the background knowledge. So here in this
elephant is like a snake. When you touch the trunk of an institution they will be combined. Our monastic sangha
elephant, you think the elephant is like a tree. When you will both study and meditate.
touch the belly of the elephant, you think the elephant
is like a drum. Hence you get confused. Furthermore,