Advanced Buddhist Studies 2027
A Yearlong Deep Dive into the Path of Tantra
Live Class Sessions Wednesdays 7-9pm ET
January 27 - December 7, 2027
Led by Senior Buddhist teacher and acclaimed author, Ethan Nichtern, this yearlong program offers a deep dive into Buddhist philosophy and meditation, with a focus on the Tibetan tantric tradition. Designed to be geeky-yet- practical, this program explores ancient Buddhist wisdom through a modern lens, with a focus on how students can bring the teachings off the meditation cushion and into their daily lives.
This program is best suited for those who already have a strong foundation in basic Buddhist teachings, or have already completed the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program.
If you’re new to Buddhism or seeking a more foundational program, check out the Yearlong Buddhist Studies program, which assumes minimal or no prior background in Buddhism or meditation.
Five 6-Week Course Modules
with Live Class Sessions on Wednesdays, 7-9pm ET (New York City Time)
MODULE 1 : The Twelve Links in The Chain of Karma
January 27 - March 3
We take a deeper dive into how habit energy works, working with transforming our addictive and “hooked” mind states into freedom and positive action. Readings from Dr. Judson Brewer, Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, Ethan Nichtern, and more.
MODULE 2 : The Philosophy of the Middle Way
March 24 - April 28
Emptiness is hard to understand and even harder to practice. Let’s dive in to make it practical and useful. Readings from Dr. Robert Thurman and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.
MODULE 3 : The Bodhisattva’s Compassion
May 19 - June 23
We ease back into the mind training slogans of Atisha – a lifetime of study in their own right — to try to bring deeply meaningful pieces of the bodhisattva’s transformative wisdom and compassion into our daily lives. Readings from Tenzin Palmo, Norman Fischer and more.
MODULE 4 : Intro to Tantra Pt. 1: Visualization & Mantra
September 8 - October 13
Now we move into the preparation for tantra – which is based on the idea that we are already awake and already free. How do we tap into that experience? How can we use visualization and mantra meditations to reimagine ourselves, and create a Sacred World? Readings from Reginald Ray and others.
MODULE 5 : Intro to Tantra Pt. 1: The Path of Unconditional Awareness
November 3 - December 7
Dzogchen—The Great Perfection— is considered the highest practice of unconditional wakefulness in tantric Buddhism. Here we explore its experiential principles and practices as a dedicated community, working to rest in the warm, spacious insightful mind which we all possess. Readings from Tulku Urgyen, Bruce Tift and others.
Meet the Teaching Team
Ethan Nichtern is a Buddhist teacher and the author of The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path (Farrar Straus and Giroux, North Point Press), recognized as one of Library Journal’s Best Books of 2015 and featured on Tech Insider’s “9 Books That Define 2015.” His most recent book, Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds (New World Library), was released in June 2024 to critical acclaim.
In addition to his writing, Ethan hosts The Road Home podcast, which has been exploring modern Buddhism and meditation since its launch in 2018. Since 2002, Ethan has taught meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and workshops around New York City and North America and Europe, along with working with students privately. Ethan’s insights on Buddhism and meditation have been featured by CNN, NPR, ABC/Yahoo News, The New York Times, Vogue.com, Ten Percent Happier, Business Insider, Nautilus, and Vice.
Heather Shaw has been teaching yoga and other embodied contemplative practices since 2001. A student of Tibetan Buddhist and Vipassana meditation, as well as contemplative psychology, Heather’s path began in the Shambhala lineage through her work at OM yoga center, where she met her longtime friend and meditation teacher, Buddhist author Ethan Nichtern.
In 2018, Heather completed a certificate in Nalanda Institute’s Contemplative Psychotherapy Program, with a capstone focus on creating mindfulness-based curriculum for grades K-12. She is also a certified meditation instructor through Dharma Moon. In addition to teaching yoga, she works with people of all ages as a meditation instructor, contemplative coach and mentor.
Born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, Maho Kawachi first encountered meditation and Buddhism in downtown Manhattan in 2000. She became an avid practitioner in 2008 and has over a decade of experience, practice, training, and certification credentials including completion of the Interdependence Project Teachers Training, Mindful Meditation Teachers Certified Program, and Mindful Mentor Training. She has trained with and under many influential teachers, including Ethan Nichtern, Jack Kornfield, and Tara Brach, and was fortunate to meet with HH the Dalai Lama in 2017.
EARLY BIRD SPECIAL OFFER
Register by November 15, 2026 and receive FOUR FREE GIFTS:
Signed copy of the The Road Home: A Contemporary Exploration of the Buddhist Path by Ethan Nichtern
Signed copy of Confidence: Holding Your Seat Through Life’s Eight Worldly Winds by Ethan Nichtern
A Mindful World insulated mug
Free ticket to our New Year’s Eve Intention-Setting Gathering on December 31st.
Offer only available for standard or sponsor tier support levels
Jackie Stewart teaches meditation and Buddhist Studies while nurturing her two young sons in NYC. She is a student of Mingyur Rinpoche, and serves as a practice leader in his international community, Tergar. Jackie received a MA from NYU in Media, Culture, and Communication, with a professional background in the film and TV industries. She co-founded Cōv Pregnancy, a supportive program guiding women through the transformation into motherhood and beyond. Her work has been featured in Shape, Cosmopolitan, and TimeOut New York. She has guest lectured at universities across the country, and has taught for companies including Microsoft, Reebok, Live Nation, Ralph Lauren, and others.
We are committed to making programs accessible to those with genuine interest in participating. If you are not able to afford the subsidized rate for this program, please submit a request for assistance here: Scholarship Request Form
FAQs
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The topics in this course are primarily presented from the perspective of tantric or Vajrayana Buddhism, as well as Mahayana Buddhism.
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This course is designed for those who already have a basic foundation in Buddhist studies. If you already have a regular sitting meditation practice for at least one year, and you have completed at least a year collectively of prior study of Buddhism, you are most likely ready to join us. If you have already completed Dharma Moon’s Yearlong Buddhist Studies program, you have satisfied the pre-requisites for this course.
If you are newer to Buddhism or need a refresher on foundational teachings (e.g., four noble truths), we recommend our introductory Buddhist studies program.
If you’re not sure which program is right for you, email us (hello@amindful.world).
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Live class sessions take place Wednesday evenings, 7-9pm ET (New York City time), starting January 27.
Each course module contains 6 live class sessions. There is a 2 week break in live class sessions between each module, and a longer summer break between modules 3 and 4.
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Each live class session includes guided meditation practice, lectures, small group discussions, and Q&A with the teachers.
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That’s perfectly fine! Recordings for each class session will be available the next day, and you can still interact with your classmates and teachers using the discussion board.
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There are 3-4 main books we will read over the course of the year. We suggest purchasing these, if possible.
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There are no tests or evaluations, but you will have the opportunity to submit optional reflections on your learning. Optional reflections are not graded; instead, they provide an opportunity to clarify your understanding with the support of your faculty advisor.
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Each week includes about 15-60 min. of suggested reading and/or audio/video content to review.
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Class sessions are 2 hours each week while class is in session. Readings can take about 15-60 min. a week or more, depending on how deeply you want to engage!
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There are several opportunities to interact with your classmates:
During live class sessions in small discussion groups
On the course discussion board
Via micro-sanghas, which are self-organized groups of 4-5 students who meet periodically or keep in touch via email over the course of the year
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Yes, each student will be assigned a faculty advisor who will serve as that student’s point-person for questions or support during the course of the year.
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Yes, you may request a scholarship by completing this form.
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Yes, individual modules will be available for purchase over the course of the year; signing up for the full year program provides the best value.
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We allow full refunds through the first class session on January 27, 2027. After that, we do not provide refunds. This helps us ensure we have enough funds to pay our teaching staff for the full year.
