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 Simon 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