Course One of the five-course series, The Heart of Buddhism: A Year Long Buddhist Studies Program with Lama Tsultrim Allione and guest teachers.

The Buddhist Path 

The Buddhist path offers profound guidance for working with the individual and collective challenges we face — and transforming suffering into liberation. These teachings show us how we can each become a light in the darkness, embodying the luminous spaciousness that is the heart-essence of who we are.

Experience how the Buddha’s own journey from seeking to liberation offers profound guidance for navigating today’s challenges. Your exploration begins with five weekly sessions, each carefully designed to build your understanding and practice. Whether you participate live or through recordings, you’ll be part of a global community of practitioners walking this path together.

What You’ll Experience in Course One

• Discover important historical context for a Buddhist spiritual path
• Learn the foundational practice of shamatha meditation, which offers stability amidst uncertainty
• Discover the often-overlooked role of women in the Buddha’s life

The Learning Experience
Each session meets Fridays from 10am-12pm MST. Please use this link to see how this daily schedule translates into your timezone.

• January 31, 2025
• February 7, 2025
• February 14, 2025
• February 21, 2025
• February 28, 2025

Recording Access: All participants will have access to the recorded sessions for 30 days after the program closes (until March 28, 2025).

• Live sessions Fridays 10am-12pm MST
• Session recordings available within 24 hours
• Engage with a global practice community in weekly discussion forums
• Flexible learning environment; participate live or study at your own pace

Who Is This Program For? This program is ideal for both beginners and more seasoned practitioners. It is also an excellent entry point for those looking to formally enter the path of Vajrayana either with Tara Mandala or through another lineage.

Tuition:  To make the dharma accessible to more people, Tara Mandala is offering Course One with a “By Donation” option, as well as Supported and Benefactor levels. Your choice of the Benefactor level opens doors for others – creating access to transformative learning experiences, and enabling Tara Mandala to offer more programs with a “By Donation” option. Every additional $100 is a sponsorship for one person to attend. Please consider offering a sponsorship, by becoming a Benefactor or donating to the scholarship fund. 

The Complete Journey: Five Courses of Buddhist Study

This is the first course of a year of comprehensive Buddhist study and practice. Over five, five-week courses throughout 2025, we’ll explore the history, core teachings and practices that guide Buddhist practitioners in the Tibetan tradition in waking up to their true nature of innate compassion and wisdom. Each course builds upon the previous while standing alone as a complete teaching:

The Path of Liberation (January 31 – February 28, 2025) with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dr. Amelia Hall, featuring Wendy Garling

What the Buddha Taught (March 21 – April 18, 2025) with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dr. Amelia Hall, featuring Lopön Karla Jackson-Brewer

The Awakened Heart (May 22 – June 19, 2025) with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dorje Lopön Chandra Easton, featuring Robert A. F. Thurman

Sacred View, Sacred World (September 5 – October 3, 2025) with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Dorje Lopön Charlotte Rotterdam, featuring Dr. Miranda Shaw

The Great Perfection (October 24 – November 21, 2025) with Lama Tsultrim Allione and Tulku Ösel Dorje, featuring Erik Pema Kunsang

Save by Enrolling in the Complete Program Experience the full journey of Buddhist study and practice. Save when you enroll in all five courses together. Complete the program and deepen your study with a global practice community. To enroll in the five-course package, click here.

Cost for the Complete Program (all 5 Courses), payment plan available:

• Supported: $896 ($762 early bird before January 20th, 2024)
• Benefactor: $1,346 ($1,144 early bird before January 20th, 2024)
• Scholarships & Sponsorships available

What is a Tara Mandala Online Program?
Tara Mandala offers online programming via live and pre-recorded curriculum that give you the opportunity to access dharma teachings, engage in guided practice, experience personal retreat and hands-on learning, while connecting with other participants through easy-to-use online platforms and an engaged community network. When needed, the program description and schedule will inform you in advance if and when a specific online session must be attended live if a direct transmission (Tib. lung) may be given. Access to recordings of all sessions will be available for additional viewing for one year. 

Tara Mandala Pricing Guidelines
For Course One, Tara Mandala will offer the lowest tuition level as “By Donation.” The higher tuition levels directly enable Tara Mandala to continue offering programs on a donation basis. Every additional $100 enables one person to attend at no cost. Please register at the Supported and Benefactor levels if you are able to. As we work to become an equitable, diverse and inclusive community, our pricing guidelines are intended to be a map, inviting each of us to take inventory of resources that contribute to our access to precious dharma teachings. While we do ask you to look inward, please know there is no right or wrong answer. We encourage you to select the rate appropriate to your circumstances. To learn more about Tara Mandala’s pricing guidelines for Online Programs, In-Person Retreats, and Special Promotions, please visit this page. 

Offering dana to the teacher
The practice of offering dana, which means “generosity,” is the traditional offering the student makes to the teacher as a symbol of appreciation, gratitude, and reciprocity for receiving the precious teachings. To learn more about dana and suggested dana ranges, please click here.

Click Here for Our Online Programs Cancellation and Refund Policy