Amrita Mandala Acharya/Instructor Level 1 Course Syllabus

Need for skilled Bodhisattva-teachers

There is a dire need for spiritual knowledge in the world today. Many seekers search for answers but only a few find them. This situation calls for active bodhisattvas who commit to working for the spiritual well-being of this world's seekers. If we know what we are doing and have authentic practices to teach to people, this is not a difficult thing to do but it requires an unyielding spirit, actions of compassion, and relentless efforts to make it happen.

As a method, Amrita Mandala is very unique. Our teachings and practices are taught in an understandable way and they actually deliver what practices are supposed to deliver. Anyone who has practiced the method and its techniques know that it actually works. Knowing this, it makes it all the more important that our community's members get trained as instructors - acharyas - so that they can teach others and get the message out to more seekers so that they also get the chance to transform their confusion and truly know themselves in the most profound manner.

This training is only for those Amrita Mandala practitioners who want to take an active role in helping others by teaching them the dharma.


Outline

Acharya Level 1 Course schools instructors in basic Amrita Mandala teachings and the organizational side of the work. After the course, the acharyas (pronounced uh-chur-yuh, lit. instructor) have knowledge and know-how to teach and guide the core practices of Amrita Mandala at their local groups, weekend courses, and short retreats. After graduation, you can decide whether you will teach the dharma part- or full-time.

If you wish to start and lead a local group in your town and the local area, and offer weekend events every now and then at the side of your day job, then teaching the dharma part-time is for you. On the other hand, if you wish to become a full-time tantric yoga instructor, who makes a living through organizing events and teaching people, this course gives you a solid foundation for you to do so, equipped with the finest of practices.

The course consists of four parts that add up to 300 hours in total. These parts consist of four weekends of training online (50 hours altogether), one's own practice throughout the course (1 hour a day, 230 hours altogether), 10 hours of guided practices during the course at local groups, and 10 hours of literary study.

Course study is supported by an online discussion group and written materials. Students should familiarize themselves in advance with the source materials. Sessions will be recorded on video and the recordings are available to students afterward.

Students who show enthusiasm, are familiar with the practices, perform well in instructor exercises and whose final essay is approved by the teacher, will graduate as Level I Acharyas on the final weekend.

Graduated acharyas are required to lead a minimum amount of sessions. All acharyas commit to organizing and leading local groups in a weekly or bi-weekly fashion and teach at least four weekend courses each year.


Preparation and source materials

The following books by Amrita Baba need to be studied before the beginning of the course.

These books explain the foundational practices of Amrita Mandala that need to be well understood, namely:

  • The Two-Part Formula. Used to generate awakening, i.e. opening of the 1st bhumi

  • Dynamic Concentration, sutric or tantric. Used to generate further awakenings or bhumi openings

  • 13 Bhumi Model. Path map of Amrita Mandala that describes and explains the stages of practice

Content of study

Acharya trainees will learn and guide the following practices, and are allowed to teach them after graduation:

Common preliminaries:

  • Four Noble Truths: Why do we practice? What is dharma for? How does meditation work? Who can practice? Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

  • Ethics as the basis for practice: Honesty and Non-harming. Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

Sutric practices:

  1. Two-Part Formula. Sutra-style vipashyana-practice for subject-self. Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

  2. Basic vipashyana meditation (insight, analytical) for object-selves, from Vimalamitra Wisdom Meditations. Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

Tantric practices:

  1. Basic prayers: Refuge, Bodhicitta, and Dedication of Merit. Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

  2. Tantric guru yoga. Amrita Mandala Preliminary Practices

  3. Connecting the bhumi pillars, from Rainbow Body Yoga

  4. Rainbow Jewel visualization, from Rainbow Body Yoga

  5. Various deity mantras*, incl. Vajrasattva, Tara and others

  6. Various seed syllables for personal practice and group sessions

*these mantras do not require an empowerment

Nonmeditation practices:

  1. Dynamic Concentration, extraordinary shamatha-technique for recognizing the natural state: sutra-style, tantra-style, and nonmeditation-style/semdzin.

  2. Physical Dynamic Concentration, an extraordinary shamatha-technique for recognizing the natural state: sutra-style, tantra-style, and nonmeditation-style/semdzin.

  3. Three Basic Characteristics of the natural state: 1. self-cognizance, 2. aliveness, and 3. groundedness

  4. Aliveness as love: Love glues broken pieces together

Basic pedagogical skills:

  • The job of a tantric yoga instructor

  • What are the main tasks of a tantric yoga instructor? What makes a good instructor? What makes a poor instructor?

  • What do the students need to know about the practices to practice successfully?

  • How to give clear and understandable advice

  • Instructions about the use of voice


Working as an acharya:

  • How to make dharma happen

  • Basic organizing skills

  • In-person and online events

  • Use of social media


Attendance and fees

To graduate, the trainees need to join all four weekends. Absence is allowed only for compelling reasons. Two course days may be replaced with study from recordings.

The course fee is 1600€ in total. The participation fee for each weekend is 400€. The course fees can be paid before the course, during the course (before each weekend), or after the course (within 6 months after graduation).

Participants commit to paying full participation fees when being admitted to the course.

Apply

Only Amrita Mandala Sangha members can apply to this course.

Apply by sending your informal application to Amrita Baba, kimkatami@hotmail.com