BARRE CENTER FOR
BUDDHIST STUDIES
149 Lockwood Rd. Barre, MA 01005
www.dharma.org
NĀLANDA PROGRAM:
EXPERIENTIAL BUDDHIST STUDIES
The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is offering a special course called the Nālanda Program
during January 2014 (Jan 5-17) for Smith College students, for other Five-College Consortium
students, for students participating in the Buddhist Studies Certificate program, and for any other
college students with an interest in Buddhist Studies. The program is both academic and
experiential, offering the close study of Buddhist texts and traditions in a contemplative
environment that also places emphasis upon the importance of meditation as a tool for Buddhist
studies. The program also seeks to be of particular relevance to college-age students, focusing on
broad discussion around ways of nurturing one’s own personal growth and well-being.
Program:
The program consists of three major components:
1) five days of the close study of the Theravada tradition, working from the Pali canon;
2) two days of silent insight meditation retreat, from Friday evening until Sunday noon;
3) five days of the close study of the Mahayana tradition, focusing on early Sanskrit sutras,
philosophical movements (Madhyamaka and Yogacara), and upon Ch’an practice.
Each weekday consists of four hours of classroom work, 1½ hours of small group discussion,
and two hours of meditation (morning and evening); the weekend retreat involves 40 hours of
continuous silent practice. There is also plenty of free time and time for physical movement.
Financial:
The 12-day program has a nominal cost of $1,000, but scholarships are available for students
who have additional need of support. This fee covers: comfortable accommodation in a single
room; three vegetarian meals a day; all course materials; and approximately eight contact hours
of instruction each day from the center’s faculty.
Ethical Code:
All participants would be expected to agree to behave within the parameters of the Buddhist
tradition’s five precepts for the duration of the program: 1) refraining from killing or harming
living beings; 2) refraining from taking what has not been given; 3) refraining from speaking
falsely or harshly; 4) refraining from sexual activity; 5) refraining from the use of intoxicants.
Faculty:
The first week is taught by Andrew Olendzki (PhD), senior scholar at BCBS, the second
week by Mu Soeng (Zen monk for 11 years), and the weekend retreat by Claire Stanley, a
trained IMS meditation teacher who is a pioneer in the field of meditation and education.
The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies is a
non-profit educational organization dedicated
to exploring Buddhist thought and practice as
a living tradition, faithful to its origins, yet
adaptable to the current world. The center
provides a bridge between study and practice,
between scholarly understanding and
meditative insight. It encourages engagement
with the tradition in a spirit of genuine
inquiry.
Located on 90 acres of wooded land in rural, central
Massachusetts, just a half mile from the Insight Meditation
Society, BCBS provides a peaceful and contemplative setting
for the study and investigation of the Buddha’s teachings.
The secluded campus consists of a 240 year-old farmhouse, a
dharma hall, and three cottages which taken together provide
space for a 5,000 volume library, classroom, meditation hall,
student housing, dining, and offices.
The study center offers a variety of courses,
workshops, retreats, and self-study programs
to further research, study, and practice. Our
programming is rooted in the classical
Buddhist tradition of the earliest teachings
and practices, but calls for dialogue with
other schools of Buddhism and with other
academic fields. All courses support both
silent meditation practice and conscious
investigation of the teachings.
Study is:
Investigating the Dhamma (the teachings of the Buddha).
Practice is: Investigating experience (directly, through meditation).
Integration is: Using experience to investigate the Dhamma;
Using the Dhamma to investigate experience.
The result is: Understanding experience through the Dhamma;
Understanding the Dhamma through experience.
Nàlanda Program
Smith College January Term
Barre Center For Buddhist Studies
Sunday, Jan 5 – Friday, Jan 17, 2014
COURSE SCHEDULE
Sunday
January 5
Monday
January 6
Tuesday
January 7
5:00pm arrival, registration, and move-in
6:00 dinner; 7:30 introductions and orientation
Morning:
Afternoon:
Evening:
Buddha and Buddhism
Exploring the Field of Experience
Introduction to meditation
Morning: The Construction of Reality
Afternoon: Self and Non-Self
Evening:
Meditation practice
Andrew O.
Andrew O.
Mu Soeng
Andrew O.
Andrew O.
Mu Soeng
Wednesday
January 8
Morning:
Afternoon:
Evening:
Buddhist Psychology—Phenomena
Buddhist Psychology—Interdependence
Open: sitting/reading/discussion/free time
Andrew O.
Andrew O.
Thursday
January 9
Morning:
Afternoon:
Evening:
The Practice of Integrity (sila)
The Practice of Meditation (samàdhi)
Meditation practice
Andrew O.
Andrew O.
Mu Soeng
Friday
January 10
Morning: The Practice of Wisdom (paññà)
Afternoon: The modern encounter with Buddhism
Evening:
Retreat Orientation; retreat begins
Andrew O.
Andrew O.
Claire Stanley
Sat. & Sun.
Jan 11-12
Silent vipassanà retreat (till Sunday lunch)
Sunday afternoon and evening: Free Time
Claire Stanley
Monday
January 13
Morning:
Early Buddhist Sects and their beliefs
Afternoon: The emergence of Mahàyàna
Evening:
Buddhist Chanting—Heart Sutra
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Tuesday
January 14
Morning: Prajñàparamità: The Bodhisattva Path
Afternoon: Wisdom, Compassion, and Skillful Means
Evening:
Meditation practice
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Wednesday
January 15
Morning: Madhyamaka
Afternoon: Yogàcàra
Evening:
Open: sitting/reading/discussion/free time
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Thursday
January 16
Morning: Buddhism in China
Afternoon: Ch’an Buddhism
Evening:
Meditation practice
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Mu Soeng
Friday
January 17
Morning:
Mu Soeng, Andrew O.
Buddhism for the future; & wrap-up
Nàlanda Program
Smith College January Term
Barre Center For Buddhist Studies
Sunday, Jan 5 – Friday, Jan 17, 2014
DAILY SCHEDULE
SUNDAY EVENING
5:00 pm
Arrival, registration and move-in
6:00
Dinner
7:30 – 9:00
Introductions and Orientation (in the meditation hall)
DAILY SCHEDULE: Monday thru Friday
6:30 AM
Wake-up Bell
7:00 - 7:30
Meditation Period
7:30 - 8:00
Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00
Helping/Free Period
9:00 - 11:00
Morning Lecture and Discussion
11:15 – 12:00
Morning Small Group Discussion
12:00 - 2:00
Lunch / Free Time
2:00 - 4:00
Afternoon Lecture and Discussion
4:15 – 5:00
Afternoon Small Group Discussion
5:00 - 7:00
Dinner / Free Time
7:00 - 8:30
Evening Meditation Program
8:30 onward
Study Time / Free Time
SILENCE
SILENCE
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY: Silent Meditation Retreat
Silent retreat begins Friday evening. The schedule will consist of alternating periods of
sitting and walking meditation, possibly with some yoga, tai chi, or similar mindful movement added.
The retreat ends after lunch on Sunday, and students will have the rest of the day and evening as free time.