We have now concluded the first round of the FPMT’s Buddhist Mind Science Introductory Program. We offered all seven modules from 16 Mar 2025 – 14 Jun 2026 concluding with a Retreat Day highlighting meditations and reflections from the seven modules along with discussion. This series was well-attended and enjoyed. Thank you to everyone who participated. We aspire to offer this series again in the future, however there are not currently dates scheduled for the next round.

New FPMT Series! 

Buddhist Mind Science –
Activating Your Potential

Seven-module Series

facilitated by Simon Harrison, FPMT Registered Teacher
on Sundays
Click here for current schedule of modules

Discover the workings of the mind and the mechanisms of suffering and happiness. Unlock your potential for mental balance, compassion and wisdom Welcome to this journey to unlock our potential and cultivate lasting happiness. Buddhism it is considered by some a “science of mind,” because it presents a comprehensive and deep description of the mind, it studies its various aspects and functions, and it provides methods to observe it directly and to discover and activate our inner potential. And it does so with one intention: to overcome suffering and its causes and to cultivate true, lasting happiness.

In this course we will explore each module from an experiential point of view, using both scientific and Buddhist knowledge of the mind and meditation, in a journey that may translate into increasing lasting happiness and a positive impact on oneself, others, and the world.

The course follows a gradual approach, with a strong experiential component that invites everyone to reflect and check by themselves the different topics presented along the course. With a strong emphasis on transforming daily life in meaningful ways, it provides both Buddhist and scientific perspectives. It consists of seven short courses (or modules):

1. Cultivating lasting happiness: What Buddhism and science have to say about it, is an exploration of purpose in life and what leads to dissatisfaction and suffering, and what to happiness, for oneself and others. It also explores the value of warmheartedness and wisdom, and it lays out the general foundation for the following modules.
2. Transforming the mind to cultivate lasting happiness, focuses on meditation, mental balance, and emotions.
3. Getting to know your mind, focuses on the mind.
4. Fundamental trainings to cultivate lasting happiness, presents the foundations of the Buddhist paths.
5. Wise paths to the heart, focuses on warmheartedness.
6. The nature of perception, focuses on wisdom.
7. Embodying warmheartedness and wisdom, explores how to bring the values of warmheartedness and wisdom into the world.

Each module can be engaged as a short stand-alone course and consists of six units that include readings, exercises, reflection, debate, and meditation.

Click on any of the module icons below to read more details about that particular module.

Brief Bio of Simon Harrison, Registered FPMT Teacher

Simon met Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche 47 years ago. He has been trying to follow their instructions to ‘check up’ since. He reports he is still working on it. Simon has been involved with Dorje Chang Institute for 44 years. He has served as a trustee for many years and currently serves as the Chairman. Simon has taught introductory level classes, including Discovering Buddhism modules, led meditations and facilitated discussion evenings for the intermediate level FPMT Basic Program classes. Simon offers a depth of Buddhist study, reflection and practice, gained with perseverance over the last four decades, that is helpfully combined with a Western scientific approach. His teachings offer a helpful bridge for students exploring and questioning Buddhism in a Western cultural setting.

We plan to offer this Buddhist Mind Science series more than once. It is perfectly fine to join any module on its own, or to attend a few, or the entire series as a whole. To deepen one’s understanding and exploration this series can also be done more than once.

The first round of the Buddhist Mind Science Series is currently being offered at DCI on the dates below. Usually each module includes six sessions. (The first time Module 1 was offered, it was offered in a more brief “taster” format over three sessions.)

Please visit our program calendar closer to the time for exact dates:

Module 1: March 2025

Module 2: April – June 2025

Module 3: June – July 2025

Module 4: August – September 2025

Module 5: November – December 2025

(Annual Summer Break mid-December to mid-February)

Module 6: 22 February – 19 April 2026 (6 sessions in total – no classes on 15 March or 5 April. P.S. 12 April postponed till 19 April due to storm)

Module 7: 26 April – 7 June 2026 (6 sessions in total – no class on 31 May King’s Birthday Weekend)

Retreat Day! 14 June 2026 10am – 4pm Open to all (even those new to the program)

Facility Contribution per session $10 (Dharma Friend Monthly Contributors free)

Materials Fee $25 includes PDF course manual and handouts for all six sessions

Struggling financially? Please never let financial constraints stop you from attending Dharma classes. Consider taking part in our Volunteer Work Exchange Offer. Simply send us an email or talk to our office to arrange this in advance.