Wisdom, Kindness, and Calm

Three Steps to a Better Life

I begin my YouTube videos by asking if my audience would like to live wiser, kinder, and calmer lives. It's an easy choice for most of us, it sounds great! Now you have the chance to start, with this free mini-course!

In this course you will learn:

  • The basics of what wisdom, kindness, and calm really are.
  • How wisdom, kindness, and calm are the heart of early Buddhist teaching.
  • How wisdom, kindness, and calm interrelate, condition, and reinforce one another.
  • Ways to begin cultivating wisdom, kindness, and calm in your life.

In addition to the video lectures, you will also receive:

  • Detailed course notes in .pdf form, to review at your leisure, including links to texts and books mentioned.
  • A copy of a book chapter that provides a deep dive into these concepts.


Your Instructor


Doug Smith
Doug Smith

You may have seen Doug's popular YouTube videos at Doug's Dharma. He is a contributor to the Journal of the Oxford Centre for Buddhist Studies and the Oxford Handbook of Buddhist Ethics. He holds a PhD in philosophy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has many years of practice in the Zen and Insight traditions. As well as being the Founder and Director of the Online Dharma Institute, he is also Study Director at the Secular Buddhist Association.


Course Curriculum


  Free Mini-Course
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
Who should take this course?
Anyone interested in creating a wiser, kinder, and calmer life!
Does this course follow any particular Buddhist tradition?
The courses on the Online Dharma Institute are aimed at presenting the teachings of early Buddhism in contemporary language and in a contemporary format. Additionally, the Online Dharma Institute takes a generally secular approach to the dharma, striving to present the teachings that are most down-to-earth and directly beneficial to our present life. We aim to be ecumenical in the presentation of historical material, and will discuss more speculative elements of the early teachings as well.

Don't miss this free opportunity to start living a wiser, kinder, and calmer life!

Get started now!