This course ran as a paid-for study programme from 2009 until 2024. Thousands of students from some 34 countries used it to get a better-organised and authentic understanding of Buddhism, as it is viewed by the Tibetans.
It was created and run by Dharmacharya Ken Holmes on behalf of the Kagyu Samye Ling monastery. The course is now available to everyone, as downloadable study modules, and is free of charge.
The original course was presented in monthly modules of some 50+ pages, with two months’ break each year, i.e. 30 modules in all. At first, there were exams, an online student forum and some tutorial input on an ad hoc basis, all coming from Ken. These aspects are no longer available but the full 1700 pages of information is all here. Each module is based on teachings given by the greatest Kagyu masters, mainly at Kagyu Samye Ling in the period 1980-2000.
Link for Year One files:
http://khenpo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Year-One-Master-2022.pdf