AMIDA TRUST PURELAND BUDDHISM INTRODUCTORY COURSE INTRODUCTION AND STUDY GUIDE

AMIDA TRUST

PURELAND BUDDHISM INTRODUCTORY COURSE

INTRODUCTION & STUDY GUIDE

The Course

Welcome to the Pureland Buddhism Introductory Course

This is a course in Buddhism. The Buddhist teaching is called Dharma. This course introduces the basic concepts and methods of Buddhist Dharma in a simple graduated sequence. The perspective adopted is that taught and practised in the Amida Sangha. The word sangha means a spiritual community. Buddhist groups are called sanghas. The Amida Sangha is a religious order in the Buddhist tradition. The Amida Sangha is sponsored by the Amida Trust, a non-profit foundation registered in the United Kingdom.

If you are new to Buddhism, you will find everything you need here in order to get a quite thorough understanding of the basic teachings. The course takes you step by step from broad concepts and simple practices toward more subtle points and more advanced methods. The Amida approach draws upon all the main writings and traditions of Buddhism, considering them from a Pureland perspective. Pureland is the most popular form of Buddhism in the far east.

This programme is offered free and you also get free tutoring. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please do this by joining or supporting Amida Trust by using the support form. The course is, however, free. You are under no obligation. If you do find the material interesting enough to want to study further or if you want to be involved with Amida Trust in other ways, you are welcome. We offer this free service to spread interest in Pureland Buddhism – that is what we are here for.

Some people like to study in groups. Several groups have been formed by people wanting to follow this course. If this idea appeals to you, do involve your friends or propose the idea to your local meditation group, Buddhist society or any other association you think might be interested.

Recommended Method of Study

1. Each lesson has either an introduction or a resume. Read this at the beginning of the lesson. If it is not clear to you, refer back to previous lessons before continuing.
2. Next read the numbered sections of the lesson through once.
3. Reread the lesson, making sure you understand each section in turn.
4. Answer the self-test questions, writing down short answers.
5. Send your answers to Lisa who is currently tutoring this course.
6. When the tutor responds, refer back to the lesson text to clarify your understanding of any points you had difficulty with.
7. At some points you will need he tutor's response in order to access the next set of lessons on the course.
8. Later lessons also have discussion questions. While you wait for a response to the self-test questions, you can consider the discussion questions. These are particularly useful if you are studying in a group. 9. Write in a notebook or your own study file any thoughts you have about the subject raised in the lesson, either theoretical or in its personal reference to yourself.
10. You can also write about these issues to the tutor if you wish.
11. 24 hours after completing it, go back and reread the text of the lesson.
12. Once in a while, go back and redo the self-test questions from earlier lessons.
13. After every five lessons there is a revision test. If there are points you do not remember, refer to the relevent lesson.
14. Send your answers to the tutor.

PLEASE NOW PROCEED TO LESSON ONE BY CLICKING HERE