Dharma Rain - Children's Programs

Dharma Studies Classes / Seminary Program

Purpose

Dharma Studies / Seminary classes are intended to create and maintain a shared body of knowledge and understanding about Dharma and Soto Zen within the Sangha. Classes may be taken for formal seminary credit toward graduation, or for personal enrichment without concern for credit. In either case, Dharma Studies / Seminary classes are intended for senior practitioners with an understanding of fundamental Buddhist and Soto Zen concepts and vocabulary.

Dharma studies classes are in-depth explorations of Dharma available to members of Dharma Rain for personal enrichment. Students may choose to audit the material by attending classes and reading, or do the class assignment for their own experience. Tuition is $50 per term.

The seminary program is for the training of members who expect to move into leadership and instructor roles. These students must apply and meet the criteria listed below. Their class work will be subject to a higher level of observation and review, with a focus on their ability to integrate and express the material. When a person enters the seminary training track, their prior work in seminary-level courses is reviewed, and it may be requested that they repeat a class in order to have their work assessed at this greater level of scrutiny. Tuition is $100 per term. See upcoming classes.

Prerequisites and Eligibility

Before taking any other seminary class, sangha members are expected to be experienced practitioners and senior members of Dharma Rain (practicing and pledging regularly for at least a year.) All students are required to attend the Foundational Teachings and Precepts classes before any other seminary classes. (They do not have to take these classes for seminary credit in order to take other seminary classes.) Each class is offered annually without charge. Certain seminary classes may have further prerequisites as well. Seminary instructors who feel a student does not have adequate knowledge or understanding to benefit from a particular course may ask the student to do extra work for preparation, or to leave the class in order to avoid slowing down the discussion and progress of other students.

Those who want to graduate from seminary will need to take the Precepts and Foundational Teachings classes for credit. Individual instructors of each series will develop projects for seminary students. Those senior members who have already taken these classes informally and feel they are able to do so may challenge these classes by arranging to do so with a seminary instructor. Such challenge may take any form the instructor and student together determine is adequate and appropriate. The instructor will inform the seminary registrar of successful challenges. Other seminary courses cannot be challenged in ordinary circumstances. College coursework in subjects such as psychology, religious studies or education does not fulfill requirements for seminary.

Eligibility to enter seminary requires an application, regular contact with a teacher (at least once a term), three years of practice, status as a senior member at DRZC, attendance at a term student program, and attendance at a sesshin. To finish the program, seminary students must complete the class requirements listed below. They must also maintain contact with a teacher, assist in an instructor capacity (Wednesday class, sitting group, affiliated group or public outreach) and make a public oral presentation, to be determined.

Fees

Tuition is charged for all seminary courses taken for credit, regardless of whether they are designed specifically for seminary students or offered as open classes to the Sangha at large. The seminary student requires extra attention from the registrar as well as the instructor. The instructor must develop and review a project and be vigilant toward the seminary student’s progress, even in a Wednesday night class with shifting members. There are also costs and time associated with recording and posting the lectures, and monitoring students’ progress toward graduation.

Independent Study Groups

Authorized instructors and teachers may offer study groups intended for enrichment, with permission of the Dharma Council. Such small group classes or groups are not considered seminary classes and will not count for credit toward Seminary requirements. Instructors may manage these groups independently: they can set prerequisites, limit numbers, require reading outside of class time and so on.

Each small group study will have a fee of $25 to cover building costs. The instructor handles registration and is responsible for collecting fees.

Distant Students

Distant students may take seminary classes, for the same fee. (Costs are essentially the same for all students, as is preparation and follow-up.) They are required to register, listen to lectures and do a project in the same way as other members. They are encouraged to stay in regular contact with the instructor and make comments to the class through letters or e-mails.

Class Requirements

A total of ten classes is required, including all of the following:

  • Foundational Teachings
  • Precepts
  • Buddhist History and Texts
  • Dogen Studies
  • Wisdom Sutras and Platform Sutra
  • Daily Scriptures

Students are also required to take one class from each of the following four categories.

Major Sutras

  • Lotus Sutra
  • Avatamsaka Sutra
  • Lankavatara Sutra
  • Vimalakirti Sutra

Lineage

  • Bodhidharma and the Chinese Ancestors
  • Keizan and the Japanese Ancestors
  • Nagarjuna
  • Shantideva
  • * Women's Lineage

Issues of Leadership

  • Spiritual Ethics
  • Group Dynamics and Conflict Resolution

General Dharma Studies

  • The Bodhisattvas
  • The Paramitas
  • Methods of Practice
  • Brahma Viharas
  • Abhidharma