

FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar: Contemplative Pedagogy for Dharma Teachers
July 11 - July 13
Important Information About the New TDSS Format
We are happy to share that the updated Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) is now being offered in a hybrid format, with options for both in-person and online participation. At this time, the course is available only in English.
Please note the following important details about access and participation:
- The online course content will be made available only to individuals who are enrolled in the full course—whether attending in person or online.
- Once enrolled, participants will have ongoing access to these materials for personal study and review.
- Live sessions and breakout group work will not be recorded or made available after the course.
- Certificates of Completion: Participants will receive a certificate of completion for either online or in-person attendance. The certificate will note your mode of participation and confirm that you’ve met the course requirements.
- Pre-Seminar Modules: These will now be available starting July 1. You can complete them on your own time before the live seminar weekend. Links to access those coming this week.
We understand that time zones and schedules vary. If you are interested in doing the full course online but are unable to attend the synchronous sessions at all, please email us directly at education@maitripa.org, and we do our best to support your participation.
We are currently experimenting with various modes of delivery for the TDSS to be made available in the future. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we offer the most comprehensive experience currently possible.
Thanks to a grant from FPMT, this seminar is being offered to registered participants at NO COST live in Portland, Oregon and online. Please see registration for housing support options in Portland.
Contemplative Pedagogy for Dharma Teachers: FPMT Teacher Service Development Service (TSDS) Seminar
With Venerable Lozang Yönten and Namdrol Adams
Location: Maitripa College
Dates & Times: 7/11: 10-5 7/12: 10-5 7/13: 10-3 (all times PT)
Hybrid Model (In-person and Online)
Please review the information below and follow the link to register:
Introduction
The July 2025 FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar (TDSS) at Maitripa College marks the next step in the evolution of training and support for Dharma teachers in the FPMT. Building on nearly a decade of collaborative effort within our community, this seminar embodies the insights, aspirations, and lived experiences of senior teachers, students, and the wider FPMT community around the world.
The foundations of this seminar were established in 2017, when experienced Dharma teachers and senior students came together to shape a shared vision for teacher development. Their work culminated in the first TDSS, piloted in various regions and contexts. It laid the groundwork for this iteration, now informed by refined pedagogy, flexible formats, and emerging best practices.
The 2025 TDSS has been shaped by fresh feedback and evolving priorities identified at the April 2025 CPMT meeting, where FPMT teachers emphasized the need to better support emerging teachers, integrate contemporary pedagogy, and balance lineage fidelity with accessibility. This TDSS draws on the expertise and best practices developed across the international FPMT community.
In response to evolving needs, this TDSS has been designed as a hybrid-learning program combining online and in-person participation, to increase flexibility and accessibility. With a mix of asynchronous and hybrid modules, it aims to support diverse learners, reduce travel demands, and pilot new pedagogical approaches. This shift reflects a broader commitment to offering high-quality Dharma education beyond traditional formats, while preserving the integrity of the teachings and the value of in-person experience.
This training is grounded in the heart advice of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi, Abbot of Kopan Monastery and member of the FPMT International Board, and Yangsi Rinpoche, President of Maitripa College. Their shared vision guides the development of compassionate, ethical, and skillful Dharma teachers prepared to meet the world with wisdom.
We welcome you and deeply appreciate your aspiration to teach and serve. May this seminar support your personal growth, confidence, and joyful commitment to the Dharma.
Overview of the 2025 TDSS
The 2025 FPMT Teacher Development Service Seminar will contain:
- Asynchronous Pre-Seminar Modules – These will now be available starting July 1. You can complete them on your own time before the live seminar weekend
Foundational teachings, reflections, and preparatory content to complete at your own pace before the live sessions, helping ground and enrich your experience.
- Live Hybrid Seminar – Zoom & in-person at Maitripa College, July 11-13, 2025
An interactive, community-based environment with real-time teachings, group discussions, practicum sessions, and shared reflection—accessible both in person and online.
- Asynchronous Post-Seminar Modules – To be completed by July 31, 2025
Follow-up content for integration and continued reflection, supporting the deepening of understanding, the application of insights to teaching practice, and connection to ongoing mentorship within the FPMT.
The Schedule
- Asynchronous Pre-Seminar Online Modules: These will now be available starting July 1. You can complete them on your own time before the live seminar weekend
Module | Title | Topics | Format |
Module 1 | Introduction to the Teacher Development Seminar | Orientation.
Lineage grounding. Schedule overview. |
Video + reading PDF. |
Module 2 | Introduction to the Qualities of a Dharma Teacher | Study, ethics, discipline. Heart advice from Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Khen Rinpoche, & Yangsi Rinpoche | Recorded talks + reflection prompts. |
Module 3 | Understanding Learners | Learning styles. Sequencing Dharma for beginners. Trauma-informed pedagogy. | Slides + short quizzes + forum. |
Module 4 | Facilitation Foundations | Safe spaces. Inclusive learning. Power dynamics. | Guided reflection + peer sharing forum. |
- Live Hybrid Seminar – Zoom & in-person at Maitripa College, July 11-13, 2025
Day 1: Foundations of the Teacher
Time | Session | Format |
10:00am–12:00pm PDT | Session 1: The Qualities of a Teacher | Live hybrid |
1:00pm–3:00pm PDT | Session 2: Understanding Learners | Live hybrid |
3:30pm–5:00pm PDT | Session 3: Group Dynamics & Leadership | Live hybrid |
Day 2: Pedagogy in Practice
Time | Session | Format |
10:00am–12:00pm PDT | Session 4: Course Planning I: Teaching in Gompa & Classroom Settings | Live hybrid |
1:00pm–3:00pm PDT | Session 5: Course Planning II: Teaching Online & Hybrid | Live hybrid |
3:30pm–5:00pm PDT | Session 6: Practicum – Presenting a Simple Teaching | Live hybrid (recorded for feedback) |
Day 3: Integration, Ethics, and Community
Time | Session | Format |
10:00am–12:00pm PDT | Session 7: Ethics, Authority, and Cultural Relevance | Live hybrid |
1:00pm–3:00pm PDT | Session 8: Mentorship and Lifelong Development + Closing Circle | Live hybrid |
- Asynchronous Post-Seminar Modules – To be completed by July 31, 2025
Module | Title | Topics | Format |
Module 5 | Reflective Teaching Practice | Integration journaling. Personal teaching goals. | Journal upload + forum |
Module 6 | Mentorship Paths in FPMT | TDSS Review.
Choosing a mentor. |
Video + mentor request form |
Supporting Tools & Features to enhance your learning experience:
- Access to all materials via Maitripa Mandala Online (launches Summer 2025)
- Ongoing active discussion forums to connect, reflect and learn with peers
- Live sessions recorded for flexible access across time zones
- Personalized feedback through private practicum review channels
- Certificate of Completion issued to recognize your full participation
QUESTION: How long will the asynchronous parts of the TDSS take me to complete?
ANSWER:
Looking at Modules 1–6 of the Teacher Development Service Seminar, an average student working asynchronously and independently—without group engagement or live sessions—can expect to spend approximately 10 to 15 hours total to complete the asynchronous coursework. Here’s a sense of the time commitment and learning involved in each module:
Module 1, Introduction to the Teacher Development Seminar, is primarily orientation-based. It includes a short video and an overview reading that introduces the purpose and structure of the seminar. Because the content is mostly informational and designed to help participants get their bearings, most students will likely spend about 1 to 1.5 hours on this module.
Module 2, Introduction to the Qualities of a Dharma Teacher, invites deeper engagement. It includes recorded talks from FPMT lineage teachers and reflection prompts related to ethical conduct and the foundations of Dharma teaching. Given the importance of these teachings and the space for personal reflection, students will likely spend 2 to 3 hours listening, reflecting, and journaling meaningfully.
Module 3, Understanding Learners, presents a more academic engagement with pedagogy, including content on learning styles, trauma-informed teaching, and sequencing teachings for new students. It includes slides, short quizzes, and a peer forum post. To read through the materials, complete the quizzes, and participate in the discussion, an average student would spend 2 to 3 hours on this module.
Module 4, Facilitation Foundations, continues the pedagogical thread with a focus on creating inclusive learning environments and navigating group dynamics and power. Students are asked to complete guided reflections and contribute to a forum. The nature of this material typically elicits thoughtful writing, so students should expect to spend another 2 to 3 hours on this module.
Module 5, Reflective Teaching Practice, appears after the live seminar but can be considered part of the asynchronous arc. It invites students to integrate what they’ve learned through personal journaling and the setting of teaching intentions. Because of its reflective and inward focus, this module will likely take 2 to 3 hours, depending on the depth of engagement.
Module 6, Mentorship Paths in FPMT, is shorter and more administrative in nature. It includes a brief video and a form to help students begin the process of selecting a mentor. Since the task is more straightforward, most students will spend about 1 to 1.5 hours completing this final module.
Altogether, these modules are thoughtfully designed for adult learners and can be completed with a time investment of about 10 to 15 hours. The total time will vary slightly depending on the student’s pace, the depth of reflection, and familiarity with the material, but this estimate reflects a reasonable expectation for an average participant.