ON-LINE PROGRAM: PREREQUISITES AND COSTS

PREREQUISITES
The Masters Program consists in five subjects taught over a period of six years. Although it is possible to study each single subject without having studied the previous subject, applicants are recommended to have some basic familiarity with the study and practice of the lam-rim, the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. It is also very helpful to have studied the FPMT Basic Program subjects Mind and Cognition and Tenets (for available materials see www.fpmt.org/education and www.iltk.it/bp).

In particular, in order to study the Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra, it is absolutely necessary to have taken refuge, which implies making a life-long commitment to the Buddhist spiritual path, and to have received a highest yoga tantra (mahanuttarayoga-tantra) empowerment such as that of Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Kalachakra, Guhyasamaja, Gyelwa Gyatso, or Hevajra.

In order to study the Guhyasamaja Tantra, it is also necessary to have received the specific highest yoga tantra empowerment of Guhyasamaja.

These empowerments 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. An empowerment (most likely the Yamantaka empowerment) will be conferred prior to the teachings on the Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra in March 2012. The Guhyasamaja empowerment will be conferred at some point during the course of the Masters Program.

COSTS
While classes officially take place nine months a year, costs for the On-line Program have been calculated taking into account the breaks for the Tibetan New Year (Losar), Easter, and Christmas, as well as the three one-month retreats that occur during the residential Masters Program. The monthly tuition fee of €60 covers the cost of the services and support provided by the On-line Program. Home study students are welcome to join the On-line Program either for the entire period of six years or for one or more of the individual subjects. Applications can be submitted up to two weeks prior to the beginning of each new subject.

Monks and nuns are offered the On-line Program free of charge as long as they participate fully in all aspects of the program, such as forums and weekly quizzes, and write all exams.

FIRST SUBJECT: Ornament for Clear Realization (Abhisamayalamkara)
• Mid-January 2008 to end June 2009
€60 a month for 13 months (payable at the beginning of each month or at other regular intervals for a total cost of €780) or the entire subject payable in a single payment at a cost of €700.


SECOND SUBJECT: Supplement to the 'Middle Way' (Madhyamakavatara)
• Beginning October 2009 to mid-December 2010
€60 a month for 10 months (payable at the beginning of each month or at other regular intervals for a total of €600) or the entire subject payable in a single payment at a cost of €540.


THIRD SUBJECT: Treasury of Manifest Knowledge (Abhidharmakosha)
• Mid-February 2011 to mid-February 2012
€60 a month for 8 months (payable at the beginning of each month or at other regular intervals for a total cost of €480) or the entire subject payable in a single payment at a cost of €430.


FOURTH AND FIFTH SUBJECTS: Grounds and Paths of Secret Mantra and Guhyasamaja Tantra
• Mid-March 2012 to mid-December 2013
Cost to be determined in the future based on the specific time to be allotted to each of the two subjects.