The short answer is Yes. The longer answer is that you will need to attend all of Geshe Michael’s 2025 classes on the Lam Rim live—either in person, online, or during the official rebroadcasts. The additional classes and workshops offered during the programs are for enrichment, but are not necessary as a prerequisite for taking Diamond Way classes with Geshe Michael.

No. Just like any serious preparation for Diamond Way—including De Lam, the first three traditional Diamond Way courses—you must be taught by a live person to receive the oral transmission. We will offer catchup courses led by senior teachers if classes are missed. This will happen later in 2025 as a second chance to qualify. Also, if a student joins after the first course or later on, they may join these catchup courses to qualify as well.

Yes. There will be a homework and a quiz for each of the required Lam Rim classes, and a final exam at the end of the 15 preparation classes that are being taught over the next year or so, prior to empowerment. The homeworks and quizzes will be available following the end of each course.

Geshe Michael would like everyone to study the Lam Rim with him this time, even if you have studied Lam Rim or De Lam previously or have an empowerment already from him or from any other teacher. It’s not that Geshe Michael’s presentation would be deemed better than any other lineage presentation of these teachings, but rather that the Lam Rim is meant to be a lifelong practice and study. It is the traditional preparation for Diamond Way, according to many great teachers including Pabongka Rinpoche and others. Geshe Michael himself was taught Pabongka’s Lam Rim three times by his teacher—we studied it only ONCE with Geshe Michael for over fourteen years—and so it would be natural to review once again prior to receiving Diamond Way from Geshe Michael, whether for the first time or afresh.

Geshe Michael is very clear: keep studying with your teacher. These teachings from him will be a delicious dessert, alongside the primary guidance and teachings you are already receiving from your teacher.

Not at all. Geshe Michael encourages everyone to keep up with their studies and practices from those 18 courses. This advanced 18 courses of study is the most comprehensive curriculum ever developed, covering all the essential points of the Diamond Way practice. Each student should find a teacher to guide them through those courses when they are prepared and ready. The depth and beauty of those courses is immeasurable, and we encourage everyone to spend as much quality time as possible with these priceless teachings.

The normal pathway to enter the advanced teachings is to complete the 18 course foundational series. These cover all the practices and knowledge base one needs to understand all the steps of the path. Additionally, the student needs permission from their teacher to join the advanced courses, which includes an evaluation of their preparedness, understanding, and integration of the learnings in the 18 foundation courses.