Refuge in the Three Jewels with Ven. Amy Miller: Discovering Buddhism Module 7

Five 90-minute classes

*ONLINE VIA ZOOM * THIS EVENT WILL CLOSE REGISTRATION 1 HOUR PRIOR TO THE EVENT START TIME *

ABOUT THE COURSE

Taking refuge means depending on something to keep us safe and happy. There are so many ordinary things that we take refuge in – money, friends and family, relationships, sports, keeping fit, social media, possessions (and even insurance policies to protect our health and possessions) – but the problem is, these are not reliable; life shows us that they don’t always work! During these challenging times of the pandemic, how often do we choose less than satisfactory coping mechanisms that end up contributing to more anxiety and depression in our lives? Thankfully, the Buddha gave us a profound and reliable alternative – taking refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.  Explore what true Buddhist Refuge means and how the Three Jewels – Buddha, Dharma, Sangha – inspire and motivate our practice. By understanding the essence of the Three Jewels, we can develop a healthier mindset that can lend to a more balanced life.

In addition, find out about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in supporting and enhancing our spiritual growth.

If you are interested in delving deeper and taking some committed time to put these teachings into practice, please note that Amy will also be leading a daylong online retreat on Refuge in the Three Jewels from 10am to 4pm P.S.T. on Saturday 26th March. Registration for this standalone event will open soon.

Topics covered in this course include:
• The Meaning of Refuge
• Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha Jewels
• The Essential Practices of Refuge
• Refuge Vows

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Amy J. Miller (Ven. Lobsang Chodren) first encountered Buddhism in 1987 at Kopan Monastery in Nepal and has been ordained since 2000. She has spent a great deal of time engaged in meditation retreats, study, teaching, and Buddhist center management. Prior to studying Buddhism, Amy was a political fundraiser in Washington, DC and also worked for Mother Jones Magazine in San Francisco, California. She also trained as a hospice counselor during the peak of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco and offers courses and retreats on death and dying and end-of-life care.

Amy also leads pilgrimages to Buddhist sites such as Lawudo Retreat Center in the Mount Everest region of Nepal. See her website below for more information.

Amy’s teaching style helps people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living.

She is also the co-author of FPMT’s Buddhism in a Nutshell. For more information on Amy’s teaching schedule and courses, see www.AmyMiller.com.

ABOUT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

This is the seventh in a series of 14 Discovering Buddhism modules covering the complete Buddhist path to enlightenment. You can do each module individually, as a stand alone course, and they do not need to be completed in succession. Discovering Buddhism is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of fundamental Buddhist concepts. It aims to provide an experiential taste of the Buddha’s teachings and the skills we need to make our lives most meaningful. For more information on the Discovering Buddhism program, please click here.

We recommend that students join Discovering Buddhism courses at the start of any given module and make a commitment to attend the entire module.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN CERTIFICATION?

Certification is certainly NOT required to take this course, but it will be available for those who have interest in attaining the FPMT Discovering Buddhism Certification. Students who complete all modules and related certification requirements associated with the full Discovering Buddhism course will receive an official certification for this class from FPMT. If you plan to attend this Refuge in the Three Jewels Module with the aim of counting it towards your FPMT Discovering Buddhism Certification, please contact prior to this module’s start date, to indicate your commitment to completing all of this module’s ‘completion card’ requirements. (These requirements are likely to include full attendance of each class, completion of specific reading tasks, homework, meditation and an exam.) The FPMT Certificate program allows those who complete all 14 modules and the final retreat to apply for consideration to join the FPMT Teacher List as qualified to teach Discovering Buddhism-level courses at FPMT centers.

There will be a practice day required in order to suffice the requirements of certification. This will consist of a daylong retreat with Ven. Amy on Refuge in the Three Jewels which will take place online from 10am to 4pm P.S.T. on Saturday 26th March. Registration for this standalone event will open soon.

WE ARE ABLE TO KEEP OUR GOMPA DOORS OPEN DUE TO THE KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY OF FOLKS LIKE YOU. DONATIONS RECEIVED FOR REGISTRATION OF THIS CLASS GO TOWARDS THE UP-KEEP, FUNCTIONING AND RUNNING OF LAND OF MEDICINE BUDDHA

ALL ORDAINED MONASTICS ARE OFFERED THESE TEACHINGS FREE OF CHARGE. NO ONE IS TURNED AWAY FROM RECEIVING A DHARMA TEACHING DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS. TO INQUIRE ABOUT ACCESS TO THE TEACHINGS FREE OF CHARGE, PLEASE CONTACT: