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  • I believe that at every level of society - familial, tribal, national and international - the key to a happier and more successful world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to become religious, nor do we need to believe in an ideology. All that is necessary is for each of us to develop our good human qualities

    - His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama
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Membership

Membership is open to anyone, Buddhist or non Buddhist, who is committed to developing a good heart for the benefit of all living beings. If your membership has expired, you must sign up as a new member. If you are having trouble renewing or logging in to your membership please contact us ASAP.
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Atisha Centre is nestled in the quiet native bushlands of central Victoria, near Bendigo.
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Atisha Centre is affiliated with the FPMT.

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Buddhism in a Nutshell

Buddhism in a Nutshell is an introductory course on Buddhism for complete beginners. It presents basic Buddhist philosophy and principles within the Tibetan Mahayana context, and provides simple meditation instruction. Book through the calendar.

Buddhism in a Nutshell is presented in four or five sessions (depending on the length of each session) and covers these basic principles of Buddhism:  

§       Life of Shakyamuni Buddha; the similarities of Shakyamuni Buddha’s life to ours; how the Buddha answered the big “meaning of life” questions that we all have
§       The Four Noble Truths
§       The structure of the Four Noble Truths based on the medical model
§       Truth of Suffering — the diagnosis of our existential situation
§       Truth of the Cause of Suffering — karma, delusions, ignorance
§       Truth of the Cessation of Suffering — nirvana
§       Truth of the Path to the Cessation of Suffering — practices of the wisdom and methods taught by the Buddha
§       Buddha’s teachings in a gradual form for the practice of one individual … where to start, what next, etc.
§       What does it mean to be a Buddhist, an “inner being”
§       Specifics of the path: three principles of the path using Foundation of All Good Qualities
§       Different kinds of Buddhism: Theravadan, Mahayana, Vajrayana, Zen, Ch’an, Pure Land, etc.
§       Different schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Gelug, Kagyu, Sakya, Nyingma
§       A little history of Buddhism  

Buddhism in a Nutshell is an FPMT curriculum and is offered at many FPMT centers around the world.

To see when Buddhism in a Nutshell is offered at Atisha Centre, and to make a booking, please go to our Calendar >>