Deepening Practice & Mission 301 course
is open to those graduates of our 201 course who wish to further deepen their study and practice of Mahayana and Shin Buddhism,
and actualize their life's purpose.
Not Offered This Year
Book Selection
Dec. Dharma Breeze by Nobuo Haneda
Mar.
Be Free Where you are and Cultivating
the Mind of Love: the
Practice of Looking Deeply in the Mahayana Buddhist Tradition
by Thich Nhat Hanh
Apr. The Evil Person by Suichi Maida
& Jodo Shinshu: An Introduction
by Seigen Yamaoka
Jun.
One other book of choice relating to Zen or Pure Land Buddhism
Due
on the BFF Spring Retreat.
The Course
Pre-requisite: Discovering Buddhism Course 201
Education: This advanced 301 course covers the
religion, history and spirituality of the Shin Buddhist tradition, a study on important Mahayana sutras like the Heart
Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Sutra and
the Sutra on the Better Way to Catch a Snake. Also, mindfulness practice will be
further studied and emphasized.
Requirements: 301 Participants must read
all of the required 4 books and are expected to do all homework assignments
and choose and read a new book of their choice on Zen or Pure Land Buddhism, in which then they will write one or two paragraphs
on how the book applies to their daily lives, which will be presented at the BFF Spring Retreat. Furthermore, they must attend two
retreats: one Shin/Pure Land and Zen.
Requirements for Completion
Practice: All participants must attend
a BFF retreat or some other approved retreats relating to Shin and Zen practice. In addition, participants are expected
to practice the nembutsu, sitting or walking meditation, mindfulness, deep hearing and the Five Precepts on a regular basis.
Commitment: All participants should have
a 75% Sunday morning attendance record from the beginning of the course to the last day of class. All participants are allowed just one absence from a class but homework must be delivered via e-mail or
post mail before the missed class. Attendance
will be taken during sangha gatherings & workshops.
Leadership Experience: 301 Participants
will continue to help set up, lead a liturgy and facilitate the discussion of at least one Sunday morning gathering. For the
discussion, participants will choose a discussion topic of their choice.
Furthermore, 301 participants will
facilitate at least one class of the Discovering Buddhism Course 101; they will
co-facilitate with other 301 and/or 201 class members.
Discipline: All homework must be completed
and handed in at the time of the class.
Donation:
non-members $85 and members $68
the first book is included as a gift (a $15 value). If possible, participants will be offered discounted prices for some books. Make donation checks payable to the BFF.
Time & Place: The course will meet
once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, after regular sangha gathering in Middletown. Classes
will be 3 hours each.
