Time: 11am to 12noon
Date: March 17 - December 31, 2008
Courses:
(March 14 - April 30)
BUDDHA NATURE
Texts: Vasubandhu's Treasury of Knowledge ( Abhidharmakosha , Chos ngon pa'i mdzod ); Maitreya's Ornament for Clear Realizations ( Abhisamayalamkara , mNgon par rtogs pa'i rgyan ); Maitreya's Sublime Continuum ( Mahayanottaratantrashastra , Theg pa chen po'i rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos )
Following the above-mentioned texts, the teaching will outline how the disposition for enlightenment is perceived by the Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, Chittamatra and Madhyamika schools of philosophy. The presentation of Buddha nature, which shows the fundamentally pure nature of our minds and our innate disposition for enlightenment, is a profoundly and uniquely optimistic aspect of the Buddha's teaching.
(May 1 - July 15)
MIND AND MENTAL FACTORS
Text: Kachen Yeshi Gyeltsen's A Necklace for the Clear Minded, Clearly Explaining the Nature of Mind and Mental Factors.
This text is a comprehensive presentation of Buddhist psychology which examines not only unhealthy and harmful states of mind but defines what constitutes good mental health and indicates our tremendous potential for inner development. The purpose of studying this topic is to allow us to identify clearly which states of mind are to be cultivated and which we need to discard.
(July 16 - September 30)
THE CAUSES FOR HIGH STATUS AND DEFINITE GOODNESS
Text: Nagarjuna's Precious Garland ( Ratnavali , dBu ma rinchen ‘phreng ba )
This teaching will draw on Nagarjuna's explanation of how to attain high status, which refers to the happiness enjoyed in a good rebirth. This involves sixteen practices which also provide guidelines for an ethical and happy life now and can be practised by anyone. Definite goodness refers to liberation and highest enlightenment. In order to attain either of these we need to understand the fundamental nature of things and, in the case of the enlightenment of the Mahayana vehicle, we also need to develop bodhichitta , the spirit of enlightenment and practise the six perfections.
(October 1 - November 15)
HOW TO MEDITATE ON PERSONAL SELFLESSNESS AND UNDERSTANDING THE TWELVE LINKS OF DEPENDENT ARISING
Text: The eighteenth and twenty-sixth chapters of Nagrajuna's Treatise on the Middle Way ( Mulamadhyamaka , rTsa ba shes rab )
Understanding our own selflessness – the lack of an inherently existent self-identity – is of vital importance because our misconception of the self perpetuates the cycle of involuntary birth and death and prevents us from gaining freedom from suffering. In this chapter of The Treatise Nagarjuna explains very succinctly how to meditate on selflessness. In the twenty-sixth chapter he explains the twelve links of dependent arising which describe the process by which we keep taking birth in cyclic existence. Understanding and contemplating this repeatedly gives us the impetus to free ourselves.
(November 16 - December 31)
THE WHEEL OF SHARP WEAPONS MIND TRAINING
Text: Dharmarakshita's Wheel of Sharp Weapons Mind Training ( Blo sbyong mtshon cha ‘khor lo)
This text for training our minds clearly indicates to us that our current situation is the result of our misconceptions and self-centredness. By showing us in some detail that our present troubles and misfortunes are the results of our past actions, it makes us aware of how we create our own suffering and how by changing our attitudes we can find happiness and bring happiness and wellbeing to others.
Teacher:
Geshe Sonam Rinchen was born in the Tehor region of Kham in Eastern Tibet. He began his religious studies at the age of twelve at Dhargye Monastery, the largest local monastery in his area of Kham. He pursued his studies there for the next seven years and completed the basic studies in logic. At nineteen, he made a two and a half-month journey on foot to Central Tibet to enter the Monastic University of Sera. He continued his studies there until he was forced to flee Tibet in 1959. In India he completed his studies for the degree of Geshe Lharampa, which he received in 1980. He also holds an Acharya degree (equivalent to Master's Degree) from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi . He has taught classes at LTWA since 1978. Geshe-la has also taught in Japan , Australia , New Zealand , Great Britain , Ireland and Switzerland . Ten books of his teachings have been published.
Translator:
Ruth Sonam holds an M.A. degree from Oxford University and has lived in Dharamsala since 1976. She has an extensive knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and practice and has been active as an interpreter and translator since 1981. She has translated and edited ten books of Geshe Sonam Rinchen's teachings on Buddhist philosophy and practice.
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