Introduction to Buddhism 101: The Life Of The Buddha (Bloomfield)

The Nalandabodhi Introduction to Buddhism series explores basic principles of Buddhism and lays the foundation for deeper study.  They are friendly, genuine, and skillfully designed for a modern Western audience. If you are new to Buddhism this is a good place to start.  If you have been studying Buddhism, these courses can serve as a refresher and bring new insight into the foundational teachings of the Buddha.

All are welcome. No prior experience with meditation or Buddhism is required.

The courses are based on talks by Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. Senior Nalandabodhi students facilitate the discussion using sourcebooks based on Rinpoche’s talks.

The first course in the Introduction to Buddhism series is The Life of the Buddha & The Spiritual Journey (INT 101).

The Life of the Buddha and the Spiritual Journey begins with the life story of the historical Buddha and how we can use his life as an example. We are asked to consider Buddhism as a science of mind, and to reflect on whether we truly want to wake up and what keeps us from doing so. It concludes with discussions on the three wisdoms (hearing, contemplating, and meditating), the two types of meditation (calm-abiding and insight), and a brief introduction to the three approaches of Buddhism, as well as the type of spiritual friend that accompanies each approach. The course includes some basic meditation instructions and covers the points of good sitting posture.

Location:

This series will be held at our Bloomfield center. (If you are unable to join us there, consider joining our West Suffield class on Wednesdays.)

Dates/Times:

In Bloomfield: Saturdays 5-6 PM, starting January 17 , 2026 and meeting weekly through February 14th. 

All are welcome!

Cost: Registration is required (to help us plan), but there is no registration fee. The only cost is for the sourcebook ($15). Physical copies can be purchased through nalandastore.com. E-book versions are available through Apple Books or Google Play. (Links for the other Introduction to Buddhism series sourcebooks are here.)

Contact: You can register using the form below. Or you may contact Deborah Calloway to register, to reserve course materials, or for any questions you may have.