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Prison Correspondence CourseBuddhist Correspondence Course& Self-Study Course Introduction The Correspondence Course & Self-Study Course (Course) for prisoners are sponsored and administered jointly by the Buddhist Association of the United States (Chuang Yen Monastery) and the Buddhist Association of Connecticut (Hai An Pagoda). Both Courses cover the same material and differ only in the manner in which they are taken by the student. The Course faculty consists of members of the Sangha of those organizations and/or practitioners who have successfully completed an intensive course of instruction in Buddhism and who have been ordained as Dharma Teachers in the Hai An Pagoda Dharma Teacher Order. The Courses are designed to familiarize the student with the life of the Buddha, Buddhist concepts and theory, and the major schools of Buddhism and their practices. The goal of the Courses is to help the student integrate Buddhism into their life by showing how Buddhist practices can help reduce unskillful states of mind such as anger and hatred and cultivate skillful states of mind such as equanimity and compassion. The curriculum for both Courses is identical. It is, however, subject to change depending upon an ongoing review of the material by the Course faculty. The Courses consists of a series of reading sections broken down into reading assignments. Written questions will be asked on the material covered in each assignment that will test not only the students understanding of the material, but also their thoughts on how the material may be applicable to their life. The student may choose from two options in taking the Course - Correspondence Course or Self-Study Course. Correspondence Course: Written questions will be asked on the material covered in each assignment. Answers to these questions are to be returned in writing for review by the Course faculty. The student will receive feedback, on a regular basis, as to their understanding of the material covered. The grading is done on a Pass/Fail method. The student is encouraged to ask questions about any part of the reading assign-ments that they do not understand before answering the assignment questions. At the conclusion of each reading section, there will be an over-all review with questions before proceeding on to the next section. At the conclusion of the Course, the student will be given a final examination with questions covering the material and their understanding and application of the material used in the course. Graduation depends upon passing the examination and upon completion of a feedback form regarding the material covered and the prisoners suggestions for improving the Course. Upon satisfactory completion of the course a Certificate of Buddhist Studies will be issued to the student and, if requested by the student, appropriate prison authorities will be advised, in writing, of the successful completion of the Course and the awarding of the certificate to the student. Self-Study Course: Written questions will be asked on the material covered in each assignment. The questions serve to help focus the student on the material covered. No written answers are returned to the Course Faculty for grading, although the student is encouraged to ask the Faculty questions on any material that is not clear to them. No Certificate of Buddhist Studies is issued upon completion of the Self-Study Course and no letter to prison authorities regarding completion of the Course is sent. For Both Courses: All material sent to the student is provided at no charge to them. There is no set time limit for completing the Course. The goal is the understanding and application of Buddhism to the student's life, not speed in completion of the course - the student is free to progress at their own pace. The Course faculty will continue to be available to the student after completion of the Course to assist them in continuing their studies and practice of Buddhism. Upon receipt and acceptance by the Course faculty of the students application, for those choosing the Correspondence Course, the first reading assignment will be sent to them along with written questions covering the assignment. For those choosing the Self-Study Course, all questions relating to the first Course section (which consists of a series of reading assignments) will be sent in the initial shipment. If the you have any questions concerning the Course please contact: Buddhist Correspondence Course c/o Rev. Richard Baksa 1709 Mexico Avenue Tarpon Springs, FL 34689 richardbaksa@verizon.net |