Discovering Buddhism
A series of short, practical modules you can join at any time — each one a complete deep-dive into a key Mahayana Buddhist teaching with Venerable Thubten Khadro
Live on Zoom | Practical | Open to All
Over 2,500 years ago, Shakyamuni Buddha gained direct insight into the nature of reality; perfected the qualities of wisdom, compassion, and power; and then revealed the path to enlightenment to his disciples.
Ancient Wisdom for Modern Minds
Looking for clarity, calm, and deeper meaning in life?
In pursuit of enlightenment?
Discovering Buddhism offers practical tools from Tibetan Buddhist philosophy to help you better understand your mind, navigate challenges, and live with more awareness and compassion.
Developed, offered by the FPMT and taught by the warm and highly experienced Venerable Thubten Khadro, this two-year online program is designed for modern minds—curious, thoughtful, and open. You don’t need to be a Buddhist to benefit.
Discovering Buddhism - A fourteen-module program that gives students a solid foundation in the teachings and practice of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism.
Awakening the limitless potential of your mind, achieving all peace and happiness
Overview
The aim of the Discovering Buddhism is to give participants a solid footing in the practice of Mahayana Buddhism.
The course is an introduction to the teachings of the Lam-rim, or graduated path to enlightenment, a step-by-step blueprint of the realisations a single individual needs to actualise in order to attain full enlightenment in one lifetime.
By engaging in this programme, participants will gain an experiential taste of the Buddha’s teachings, some retreat experience, and the skills they need to make their lives most meaningful.
Also, by the end of this programme, participants should have a solid foundation from which to make informed choices about their continued spiritual development.
You can start the programme at any time – and participants don’t have to start at Lesson 1.
Class structure
The first thirteen modules of Discovering Buddhism are taught at over a period of about two years.
Each module consists of:
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Weekly talks and teachings our registered teacher
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Guided meditations
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Weekend practice retreat day
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Required and suggested readings
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Review questions in each class
What You’ll Learn?
The course explores topics such as:
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Understanding the nature of the mind
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Why we experience stress and suffering—and how to transform it
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How to meditate and cultivate inner peace
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Karma, rebirth, and freedom from limiting habits
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Compassion, ethics, and wisdom in everyday life
Flexible & Modular Format
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The full course runs over 2 years
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Divided into 14 modules with clear structure
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Join live Zoom sessions from anywhere
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Participate in the whole journey or just drop in for a module or two
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No need to follow a strict order—learn at your own pace
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Those who complete all 14 modules will receive a certificate of completion for the entire programme.
Who is this for?
This course is for you if you’re:
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New to Buddhism and looking for a welcoming entry point
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A long-time spiritual seeker wanting deeper insight
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Curious about the mind and personal transformation
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Interested in ancient teachings with modern relevance
No need to be Buddhist—just bring a curious mind and an open heart.
Venerable Thubten Khadro
Venerable Khadro was born in Venezuela of European parents, raised in Argentina and after completing a degree in Business Administration, she emigrated to New Zealand in 2004, where she first encountered Tibetan Buddhism. She took ordination in 2014 with the Great Master Lama Zopa Rinpoche.
Since then she has engaged in formal Buddhist studies, including the completion of the Master Programme in Buddhist Philosophy. She has also spent months in solitary retreat including at Lawudo, a remote hermitage in the Himalayas, Nepal.
She has served the FPMT for the past 20 years in various roles, and is currently the Resident Teacher at Yeshin Norbu Center in Stockholm. She has led various courses & retreats in NZ, Australia, Sweden, Colombia, India, Nepal and Germany. Her "international" background allows her to have an open, friendly and warm manner. She is an FPMT registered teacher, a Buddhist Chaplain and an accredited Foundation for Developing Wisdom and Compassion facilitator-FDWC.
The Fourteen Modules:
Each module includes:
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Live teachings with Ven. Khadro
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Recordings of the sessions
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Guided meditations and reflections
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Time for questions, discussion, and community
2. How to Meditate
Explore the definition and purpose of meditation, how to sit, how to set up a meditation session, different meditation techniques, and how to deal with obstacles to meditation.
$150 per module or $40 per session (each module is 5 weeks long)
Oct. 8th - Nov. 5th, 2025
Every Wednesday
7pm - 9pm
3. Presenting the Path
Get an overview of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path to awakening. Study the life story of the Buddha and discover a unique system for putting Buddhist philosophy into practice – the lamrim, or graduated path to enlightenment.
$150 per module or $40 per session (each module is 5 weeks long)
Nov. 12th - Dec. 10th, 2025
Every Wednesday
7pm - 9pm
4. The Spiritual Teacher
Investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher.
5. Death and Rebirth
Explore the process of death and rebirth and its impact on how we live our lives. Learn to fulfill your purpose in life, resolve conflicts, and develop the skills to help yourself and others at death.
6. All About Karma
Learn the essential facts about the law of actions and their results. Explore ways to deal with life more effectively and take control of your future.
7. Refuge in the Three Jewels
Find out what it means to take refuge in the Three Jewels – the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha – and the essential practices of refuge. Learn about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in enhancing our spiritual growth.
8. Establishing a Daily Practice
Assemble the tools you need to develop a successful daily practice and find out the elements necessary to generate realizations. Get some tips for making every action you do meaningful.
9. Samsara and Nirvana
Investigate what “samsara” is and how we are stuck in it. Find out what “nirvana” is and how to achieve it. Learn how to be free from suffering and gain practical tools to deal with and eliminate disturbing emotions forever.
10. How to Develop Bodhichitta
Discover practices that develop our innate qualities of compassion. Learn to apply these techniques to generate bodhichitta, the mind of enlightenment, known as the very heart of Buddha’s teachings.
11. Transforming Problems
Learn the disadvantages of selfishness and the advantages of cherishing others. Learn to employ the special techniques of mind training (lojong) to transform problems into happiness.
12. Wisdom of Emptiness
Learn how to develop calm abiding (shamatha), the ability to remain focused in meditation for as long periods as you want without distraction. Try different ways of meditating on emptiness, the lack of true existence of the self and all phenomena, the realization of which is crucial for the attainment of liberation and enlightenment.
13. Introduction to Tantra
Learn what tantra is, how it works, and why it is a powerful form of practice. Get a broad overview of the four classes of tantra and learn to practice simple kriya tantric methods. Learn how to integrate tantra with lamrim meditation to obtain the best results.
14. Special Integration Experiences
Undertaking intensive practices of purification, a ten-day lamrim course/retreat, and three Nyung Nä retreats creates the inner conditions needed to gain the realizations of the path to enlightenment. The purification practices entail 100,000 prostrations to the Thirty-Five Buddhas and 100,000 long Vajrasattva mantras (two of the nine traditional preliminary practices). The ten-day lamrim course/retreat can be done on one’s own or at some FPMT centers, including Kopan Monastery in Nepal. A Nyung Nä is a two-day fasting practice related to the buddha of compassion. It can be done at many FPMT centers, especially during the month of Saka Dawa, which falls in May-June. This module can be started at any time in the program but is best started early on, such as after the module All About Karma, as it takes some time to complete.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
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Do I need to be a Buddhist to join this course?
No! This course is open to everyone. You don’t need to consider yourself a Buddhist or commit to any belief system. It’s designed for people who are curious about the mind, meditation, and living with more awareness.
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What if I can't attend all the modules?
You’re welcome to join for just a few modules. Each one stands on its own and doesn’t have to be taken in a particular order.
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What if I miss a session? Will there be recordings?
Yes. All live Zoom sessions are recorded and available to participants, so you can watch them in your own time if you miss a class.
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How long is each module?
Each module usually runs over 5 weeks, with weekly 2 hour live Zoom sessions, guided practices, and optional readings or reflections.
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Is this course theoretical or practical?
Both. The course offers deep philosophical teachings alongside practical tools—like meditation, reflection, and discussion—so you can apply what you learn to daily life.
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Who is Venerable Thubten Khadro?
Ven. Khadro is a senior teacher in the FPMT tradition with decades of teaching experience. She is known for her clarity, warmth, and ability to make Buddhist wisdom accessible and relevant to modern life.
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What if I’ve already studied Buddhism or taken some DB modules?
Wonderful! You’re welcome to revisit modules you’ve done before or explore new ones. The live format brings fresh insight and the chance to learn in community.
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How much does the course cost?
Each module costs $150
Singular sessions are prices at $40
Bundle option of the full program: $1700 -
Is there homework or assessments?
There are optional readings, meditations, and self-reflection exercises to deepen your learning—but no formal exams or grading.
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Can I receive a certificate of completion?
Yes. If you complete all 14 modules and the integration practices, you're eligible for an FPMT Discovering Buddhism Certificate of Completion.