Starts December 2024

About the Advanced Meditation Teacher Training

Take meditation teaching to the next level by receiving an Advanced Meditation Teacher Certificate from the Buddhist Studies Institute. There is an urgent need for Meditation teachers who have rigorous, in-depth training beyond Mindfulness techniques. Mindfulness has opened the door to meditation in every possible setting from elementary schools to board rooms. This has left a gap for those interested in Buddhist meditation and Buddhist traditions; students want to learn more and need expert teachers to guide them.

This course focuses on the teaching of three core practices to introduce students to the Buddhist tradition. Advanced Meditation teachers will learn to lead: 

  • Tonglen, the meditation on love and compassion from Mahayana Buddhism
  • The Heart Sutra chanting meditation, the foundation of non-duality
  • The Four Noble Truths, the Buddha’s first teaching and the core principles of Buddhism

This course will span three years, from 2024 to 2027. Core coursework and practicums will take place between September and January each year during that period; students are required to remain enrolled in Vajrayana Training throughout the year.

  • 2024-25

    Tonglen

    1. Learn to Teach Tonglen
    September 13-15th 2024, Friday-Sunday 9am-12pm pt

    2. Weekly Practice Sessions with Accountability Partners
    Sept 16-Nov 3

    3. Weekly Practicums
    Nov 4th-December 8th, Wednesdays, 1pm-2pm pt

    4. Final Practicum
    During 21-day Meditation Marathon, January 2025, 8 am pt

  • 2025-26

    Heart Sutra

    1. Learn to Teach the Heart Sutra
    September 26-28th 2025, Friday- Sunday 9am-12pm pt

    2. Weekly Practice Sessions with Accountability Partners
    Sept 29 – Nov 2

    3. Weekly Practicums
    Nov 3rd – Dec 8th, Wednesdays 1pm-2pm pt

    4. Final Practicum
    During 21-day Meditation Marathon, January 2026

  • 2026-27

    4 Noble Truths

    1. Learn to Teach the Four Noble Truths
    September 25-27th  2026, Friday- Sunday 9am-12pm pt

    2. Weekly Practice Sessions with Accountability Partners
    Sept 28 – Nov 1

    3. Weekly Practicums
    Nov 2nd- December 7th, Wednesdays, 1pm-2pm pt

    4. Final Practicum
    During 21-day Meditation Marathon, January 2027

Register Here for Advanced Meditation Teacher Training

Course Expectations

  • Attend three yearly weekend intensives.
  • Attend weekly practice sessions with the cohort
  • Attend 19 practicum meetings to practice teaching and receive feedback from faculty (approx 6/year, in fall)
  • Assistant teach one class per year with faculty review and feedback during 21-day meditation marathon- this is the final practicum for that module.
  • Complete assigned readings and quizzes
  • Complete a final exam
  • Receive a certificate

Tuition

Early Enrollment Tuition through August 23rd, 2024
$1500, plus Snow Lion Membership ($150 a month for duration of program – includes BSI membership benefits for three years)

General Tuition
$1800 + Snow Lion Membership ($150 a month for duration of program – includes BSI membership benefits for three years)

General Tuition Payment Plan
$450/month for 4 months, + Snow Lion Membership ($150 a month for duration of program – includes BSI membership benefits for three years)

This course is included in All-Access Pass membership
For those enrolled in AAP during the three year period of the course.

Financial Aid Considerations  All course costs are set at a minimum fee already, with financial aid built into all tuition rates. Because we are a non-profit organization, the costs of all activities and overhead of our organization must be covered by the participants of the courses or donations and all courses are offered at below cost. For those who are experiencing genuine financial hardship and wish to enroll in the course, Scholarship applications are available. Applications must be received in advance. Programs are always free for monastics, who attend as our honoured guests.

Financial Aid Application: https://forms.gle/xwYaTamt2autMLKa9

Monastic Scholarship Application: https://forms.gle/yudBajX8wXXXsB2FA

Pre/Co-Requisites

Certification for the Advanced Meditation Teacher Training requires completion of the following pre/corequisites. These can be taken concurrently and/or completed during the 3-year span of MTT2. You can use your member discount code to register for these programs as enrollment opens.

  • Meditation Teacher Training 1 (MTT1) is offered every year and can be taken concurrently during the 3-year span of MTT2. Live attendance is required to participate. Click Here for more details 
  • Ngondro Training can be completed in 1-3 years, anytime during the 3-year span of MTT2. The classes in this training are recorded and can be attended as a hybrid training, with the majority of classes attended asynchronously. Click Here for more details 
  • Vajrayana Training is included in your MTT2 registration. Once you have completed ngondro in any lineage, or if you are currently enrolled in Ngondro Training, you are eligible for attending Pema Khandro Rinpoche’s Live Bi-Monthly Classes in Vajrayana Training. The classes in this training are recorded and can be attended either live or asynchronously. Click Here for more details
  • Retreats are also required to attend during the 3 year training period to ensure intensive engagement with the Nyingma lineage and Pema Khandro’s teachings, and to serve as teaching assistants when needed.

Credentials

Graduates are eligible to be appointed as Umdze’s, the practice leaders for the Buddhist Studies Institute.

This is a required course for the Chaplaincy Certificate, which is scheduled to launch in 2025. 

About the Teachers

Pema Khandro
The course curriculum is designed and led by Tulku Pema Khandro, Ph.D., internationally renowned teacher and scholar of Buddhist philosophy. Pema Khandro has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, a Master’s degree specializing in Tibetan buddhism, and a Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies. Her scholarly research focuses on the intellectual history of Buddhist meditation in Tibet, the history of Dzogchen and on gender studies. She is the founder of Ngakpa International and its three projects, The Buddhist Studies Institute, Dakini Mountain and the Yogic Medicine Institute. In her work as a Buddhist teacher she is an authorized Lama and lineage holder of the Nyingma and Kagyu traditions and was enthroned to carry on the lineage of her predecessor, the first Pema Khandro, a twentieth century yogini in Eastern Tibet. She is certified in two systems of natural medicine, Ayurveda and Tibetan medicine as well as three times certified as an Advanced Yoga teacher, and she has led dozens of courses in nutrition, meditation teacher trainings, yoga teacher trainings and natural medicine courses for health workers from every field. In her humanitarian work she has supported children, orphans and elders in the Himalayas.  She has led a vibrant world-wide community since 1999. Through the Buddhist Studies Institute, she also offers a complete curriculum of training in Tibetan meditation and Buddhist Philosophy.

Aruna Rig’dzin was ordained in Nyingma Lineage by Pema Khandro Rinpoche in 2007.  She is one of the Directors of Ngakpa International and the Community of Buddhist Yogis, as well as Director of the Yogic Medicine Institute. She is a NAMA certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and has over 19 years’ experience as an Advanced Yoga and Meditation Instructor.  Aruna is passionate about healing, sustainable living and giving people the tools to live a vibrant, healthy and joyous life.
Dr. Satya has been studying with Pema Khandro since 2001. She is the Director of Operations for Ngakpa International and the Buddhist Studies Institute since 2010, and is a board member. Satya is the Clinic Director of the Yogic Medicine Institute since 2004, a Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, as well as a NAMA certified Ayurvedic Practitioner and Panchakarma Specialist. She is the Retreats and Wellness Director at Dakini Mountain Retreat Center in the Tahoe National Forest.

Consistency of Conduct

The Buddhist studies institute advocates for observation of Buddhist ethics, maintaining personal discipline and observing practices necessary for suitable health throughout the course and throughout one’s teaching career.

  • Embodying Buddhist principles:
    • generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, compassion, equanimity
    • respect for teachers and sangha
    • harmony with teachers and sangha.
  • Ethical integrity:
    • upholding the five precepts and Commitment to Buddhist ethics
    • especially maintaining sobriety (in terms of being free from substance addictions)
    • and refraining from sexual misconduct (includes refraining from romantic relationships with students and refraining from breaking vows or causing others to break their vows.)
    • Refraining from hate speech (including hate speech on social media).
  • Ethical commitment to refrain from engaging in sexual relationships with any students.
    • The Buddhist Studies Institute follows a zero tolerance for abuse policy. Sexual relationships with students is grounds for having certification revoked.
  • Continuing psychological and emotional stability and well being throughout the duration of the course.
  • A wish to lead, based on service, gratitude, humility, and kindness rather than ego-driven ambition or narcissism. This includes:
    • a conscious awareness of one’s own limitations;
    • understanding the scope of one’s competence and authority;
    • the willingness to draw on support from teachers and other professionals;
    • adopting the practice of referring when students have needs outside one’s scope of competency; attribution of credit to sources/teachers when repeating or using their works.
  • Personal and interpersonal maturity:
    • ability to maintain a harmonious relationship with teachers and peers, emotional maturity to work through difficulties in practice and interpersonal difficulties, maintaining respect for past teachers and dharma community
  • Respect for diversity:
    • Respect towards other religious views, expressing kindness towards all beings regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation or sectarian affiliation; respect for all types of Buddhism.
    • Completion of required self-paced modules on anti-racism, anti-sexism, and trauma informed teaching