The Buddhist Studies Circle is a weekly, discussion-based group for anyone interested in exploring how Buddhist teachings function both in their historical depth and in the context of modern life. The Circle offers a welcoming space for shared inquiry, thoughtful reading, and conversation, open to practitioners and non-practitioners alike. Meetings are offered in person at Samye Hermitage New York and online via Zoom.

Spring 2026 Theme: Shravakayana — The Foundation of the Buddhist Path

January 15–May 14
Weekly · Thursdays, 6:00–7:30 pm

The Spring 2026 cycle begins with an open orientation session on January 15, offering an overview of the course theme, structure, and resources. This introductory meeting is designed for anyone curious about joining and provides a low-pressure opportunity to explore the Circle before committing. New participants are welcome to join during the first weeks of the cycle.

Beginning January 22, the Circle will follow Shravakayana: The Foundation of the Buddhist Path, using the online course taught by Matthew Zalichin through Samye Institute as our primary resource. As a group, we will move through the material together week by week, using our meetings to discuss key teachings, reflect on shared questions, and explore how these foundational practices inform lived experience and contemporary spiritual life.

In the same spirit as our meditation practice, this course approaches the Buddhist path from the ground up. Rather than rushing toward advanced ideas or techniques, we return to the simplicity and clarity of the foundational teachings—cultivating ethical sensitivity, discernment, and confidence in our own experience. As emphasized by Phakchok Rinpoche, genuine realization develops gradually, through steady engagement with each stage of the path. The Shravakayana—the first of the nine vehicles—offers this essential ground, supporting both meditation practice and daily life with clarity, humility, and care.

Readings will include selections from classic Buddhist sources, including The Treasury of Knowledge, alongside guided reflection and group dialogue.

What to Expect Each Week

Participants are invited to engage with the Samye Institute course materials between sessions at their own pace. Our weekly gatherings are not lectures, but facilitated conversations focused on understanding, integration, and lived application. No prior study is required, and participants are not expected to master the material independently—the Circle moves through the curriculum together in a steady, supportive way.

Course Overview

The Spring 2026 Buddhist Studies Circle follows the Shravakayana curriculum offered through Samye Institute, organized around three core areas: View, Meditation, and Practice Supports.

View: The Shravaka Path
Introduction to the Shravakayana; the Three Jewels; suffering and its causes; the Eightfold Path; vows of individual liberation; the ten non-virtues; absence of a self of persons; and the philosophical schools of the Shravakayana.

Meditation
Shamatha and vipashyana; the Treasury of Blessings; obstacles to meditation; resting the mind (Parts One and Two); the skeleton meditation; and the four mind changes.

Practice Supports
Chants for meditation sessions; Treasury of Blessings sadhana visualization guidance; and concluding reflections on the Shravakayana path.

The Buddhist Studies Circle pauses for the summer and will resume in Fall 2026 with a new seasonal theme.

Additional Resources
The Shravakayana: The Foundation of the Buddhist Path course materials are available through the Samye Institute and can be found here: https://www.samyeinstitute.org/courses/shravakayana/

Access to the course is included for Samye Institute patrons. If financial considerations are a concern, please know that support is available, and we warmly encourage you to reach out to Samye Institute to make this request—no one should feel that cost is a barrier to participation.