RESIDENTIAL STUDY PROGRAM: PREREQUISITES FOR ADMISSION

Basic Requirements
Applicants for the Masters Program are recommended to have at the very minimum one year of familiarity with the study and practice of the lam-rim, the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. It is also strongly suggested that new students complete a systematic course of study such as one or more of the other FPMT education programs (Discovering Buddhism, The Foundation of Buddhist Thought, and the Basic Program), or an equivalent program in another organization, prior to enrolling in the Masters Program. To find out more about the standard FPMT education programs being offered, please see the FPMT web site.


Additional Requirements
To enroll in the last two subjects of the core curriculum of the Masters Program there are additional requirements pertaining to tantra. To study the Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, it is absolutely necessary to have received a highest yoga tantra (mahanuttarayoga-tantra) empowerment such as that of Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Kalachakra, Guhyasamaja, Gyelwa Gyatso, or Hevajra. The empowerment must have been received from a qualified lama and entail the taking of the bodhisattva and tantra vows along with the commitment to do the Six Session Guru Yoga practice on a daily basis. In order to study the Guhyasamaja Tantra, it is necessary to have specifically received the highest yoga tantra empowerment of Guhyasamaja.


Application
To be considered for admission, students must submit an application packet for enrollment in the Masters Program at least one month prior to the start of the subject that they wish to study.