Ornament of Clear Realizations
Tathagata Essence (Buddha Nature)
Seventy Topics
Tenets: Views of Reality
The
Path To Enlightenment
Wheel of Sharp Weapons
The Practice of the Perfections
Path To Bliss
Meditating on the Lamrim
Praises to the 21 Taras Commentary
Foundation
of All Good Qualities
The Way of the Bodhisattva
Special Vows of Bodhisattva Discussion
Oral Transmission of "The Perfection
of Wisdom Sutra in 8000 Lines"
The Three Principal Aspects of the
Path
Debate Class & Practice
Ornament of Clear Realizations
The spiritual realizations a bodhisattva gains along the path
to enlightenment are the subject of The Ornament of Clear Realizations.
This text was written by Maitreya to illuminate the spiritual levels
of insight that are presented in a hidden manner in the Perfection of
Wisdom sutras. Our study will focus on the realizations described in
Chapter 4.
December 21, 2005
March 29, 2006
April 5, 2006
April 12, 2006
April 19, 2006
April 26, 2006
May 3, 2006
May 10, 2006
May 17, 2006
May 24, 2006
May 31, 2006
June 14, 2006
June 21, 2006
June 28, 2006
July 5, 2006
October 4, 2006
October 11, 2006
October 18, 2006
October 25, 2006
November 1, 2006
November 8, 2006
November 15, 2006
November 29, 2006
December 6, 2006
December 13, 2006
March 28, 2007
April 4, 2007
April 11, 2007
April 25, 2007
May 16, 2007
May 23, 2007
May 30, 2007
June 20, 2007
June 27, 2007
August 29, 2007
September 5, 2007
September 12, 2007
September 19, 2007
September 26, 2007
October 3, 2007
October 31, 2007
November 7, 2007
November 14, 2007
November 28, 2007
December 5, 2007
December 12, 2007
December 19, 2007
January 2, 2008
January 9, 2008
January 16, 2008
January 23, 2008
Tathagata Essence (Buddha Nature)
This class will focus on Chapter One of the Tathagata Essence
or Uttaratantra text by Maitreya. This highly influential text explains
why high states of understanding and even enlightenment are possible
for every sentient being. It serves as a bridge between the sutrayana
or shared teachings and the more esoteric and restricted vajrayana teachings.
This topic is of great consequence for all Buddhist practitioners regardless
of our background. When we understand that all of us without exception
possess buddha-nature, the inherent purity of the mind free from defiled
mental states, we gain the confidence that with effort we can evolve
to a state of enlightenment. This insight prevents us from either the
arrogance that we are superior to others or the self-loathing that doubts
our own abilities. The text also explains in great detail the meaning
of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, an understanding
that is foundational for all Buddhists. An electronic version of the
text will be distributed by email to all those attending the class.
January 30, 2008
February 6, 2008
March 19, 2008
March 26, 2008
April 2, 2008
April 30, 2008
May 7, 2008
May 21, 2008
May 28, 2008
June 4, 2008
June 11, 2008
June 25, 2008
July 2, 2008
July 30, 2008
August 6, 2008
August 13, 2008
September 3, 2008
September 10, 2008
September 17, 2008
September 24, 2008
October 1, 2008
October 8, 2008
October 15, 2008
October 22, 2008
Seventy Topics
Geshe Tsulga teaches the "Seventy Topics",
an outline of the entire sutra path to enlightenment as presented in
Maitreya's highly respected Ornament of Clear Realizations. This is a
challenging subject but considered well worth our time and effort as
it brings many benefits in the long-term. We are fortunate to have a
patient and well-qualified teacher like Geshe-la to guide us through
this text.
March 30, 2005
April 6, 2005
April 13, 2005
April 20, 2005
April 27, 2005
May 4, 2005
May 11, 2005
May 18, 2005
May 25, 2005
June 1, 2005
June 8, 2005
June 15, 2005
Visiting Guest Teacher: Geshe Ngawang
June 15, 2005 [Geshe Ngawang]
June 29, 2005 [Geshe Ngawang]
July 13, 2005 [Geshe Ngawang]July 20, 2005
July 27, 2005
August 3, 2005
August 17, 2005
August 24, 2005
August 31, 2005
September 7, 2005
September 14, 2005
September 21, 2005
September 28, 2005
October 5, 2005
October 12, 2005
October 19, 2005
November 9, 2005
December 7, 2005
December 14, 2005
Tenets: Views of Reality
Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gave a course of teachings
on tenets, or the philosophical views of the four main schools of Buddhism.
Here are some of the classes from the fall schedule.
July 16, 2003
July 23, 2003
July 30, 2003
August 6, 2003
August 13, 2003
August 20, 2003
August 27, 2003
September 3, 2003
September 24, 2003
October 1, 2003
October 8, 2003
October 15, 2003
October 22, 2003
October 29, 2003
November 5, 2003
December 10, 2003
December 17, 2003
The Path To Enlightenment
For the past two years, Geshe Tsulga has blessed our center
by giving us teachings on one of the Lamrim or path to enlightenment
texts by the great Tsongkhapa. Lamrim texts are treasured because they
summarize the key points of the Buddha's teachings in a concise and progressive
manner; it is like having a blueprint to an enlightened state of mind.
Geshe-la will teach on the first five-bodhisattva perfections - generosity, ethical conduct, patience, enthusiastic effort and concentration.
January 18, 2004
January 25, 2004
February 1, 2004
February 22, 2004
February 29, 2004
March 7, 2004
March 14, 2004
March 21, 2004
March 28, 2004
April 4, 2004
April 11, 2004
March 27, 2005
April 3, 2005
April 10, 2005
April 24, 2005
May 1, 2005
May 8, 2005
May 22, 2005
June 5, 2005
June 12, 2005
July 17, 2005
July 31, 2005
August 28, 2005
September 11, 2005
October 2, 2005
October 16, 2005
November 6, 2005
December 11, 2005
December 18, 2005
February 19, 2006
March 26, 2006
April 2, 2006
April 9, 2006
April 23, 2006
April 30, 2006
May 7, 2006
May 14, 2006
May 21, 2006
May 28, 2006
June 4, 2006
June 11, 2006
June 25, 2006
July 2, 2006
July 9, 2006
October 15, 2006
November 5, 2006
Wheel of Sharp Weapons
Dharmarakshita wrote this text centuries ago, yet its message
remains valid and profoundÐ all of our misfortunes originate from
not understanding that true happiness comes from giving up the self-cherishing
mind. Powerful images are used to inspire us to make good use of our
precious human life and break through our limited view of what we can
attain.
March 10, 2004
March 17, 2004
March 24, 2004
March 31, 2004
April 7, 2004
April 21, 2004
May 2, 2004
May 12, 2004
May 19, 2004
June 2, 2004
June 23, 2004
June 30, 2004
July 7, 2004
July 15, 2004
July 21, 2004
July 28, 2004
August 4, 2004
The Practice of the Perfections
Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the topic The
Practice of the Perfections .
Path To Bliss
Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga continues with the text
called The Path to Bliss Leading to Omniscience, a lam.rim (steps
on the path) text, composed by the First Panchen Lama, which he began
two weeks ago. The text covers all of the essential points of the Buddhist
spiritual tradition.Thisis a great class suitable for new and continuing
students alike. A copy of the root text and a commentary on it by the
Dalai Lama are available in the Kurukulla bookstore. The tradition of
lam.rim is core and foundational to all our other practices. One needs
to hear, study, contemplate and meditate on these teachings over and
over again. Studying this text is a wonderful opportunity and Geshela
is an living embodiment of them.
November 12, 2006
November 19, 2006
November 26, 2006
December 3, 2006
December 10, 2006
February 18, 2007
March 25, 2007
April 1, 2007
April 8, 2007
May 6, 2007
May 13, 2007
May 20, 2007
May 27, 2007
June 17, 2007
August 2, 2007
September 2, 2007
September 9, 2007
September 23, 2007
September 30, 2007
October 21, 2007
October 28, 2007
November 4, 2007
November 11, 2007
November 18, 2007
November 25, 2007
December 2, 2007
January 20, 2008
January 27, 2008
February 3, 2008
February 10, 2008
March 16, 2008
March 23, 2008
March 30, 2008
April 6, 2008
April 20, 2008
Meditating on the Lamrim
Resident teacher Geshe Tsulga introduces us to a short text by the great Tibetan
meditation master Pabongkha Rinpoche How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path
to Enlightenment (Lam Rim). Previously Geshe-la has given us a solid philosophical
foundation in the stages of the path teachings and most recently guidelines on
meditating on the lamrim. This new class will focus on increasing our experiential
understanding of these topics. Learning to contemplate and meditate on the Lam
Rim has very direct and practical applications in our daily life -- learning
to respond in balanced and realistic way to whatever life brings our way.
May 11, 2008
May 18, 2008
May 25, 2008
June 8, 2008 In anticipation of Sakadawa on Wed, June 18 which commemorates Lord Buddha's birth, enlightenment and parinirvana, resident teacher Geshe Tsula relates stories of the major events from Shakyamuni Buddha's life.June 15, 2008
June 22, 2008
June 29, 2008
July 6, 2008
August 3, 2008
August 10, 2008
September 7, 2008
September 14, 2008
October 5, 2008
October 12, 2008
Praises to the 21 Taras Commentary
Tara is a beloved female Buddha, the enlightened activity of all
the Buddhas. Reciting her Praises is a practice done daily by thousands and
for millennia. Geshe Tsulga kindly gives a commentary on these Praises, for
the first time since he has been in the West. For a copy of the Praises please
click here
Also, we recommend this book as a reference for Geshe-las teachings on the Twenty-one Taras It contains the verses themselves, and also the First Dalai Lama's commentary that Geshe-la is using, his praise to Tara, "Leg-tri-ma," that Geshe-la mentioned, and much more material as well.
December 9, 2007
December 16, 2007
December 30, 2007
January 6, 2008
January 13, 2008
Foundation of All Good Qualities
Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the text Foundation
of All Good Qualities by Lama Tsong Khapa.
The Way of the Bodhisattva
Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the text A
Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Shantideva, one of the
great texts of Mahayana Buddhism. From September, 2003 Geshela began Chapter
VI the section on Patience.
September 7, 2003
October 5, 2003 (Part 1) October 5, 2003 (Part 2)
October 19, 2003
October 26, 2003
November 2, 2003
December 14, 2003
December 21, 2003
January 14, 2004
January 21, 2004
January 28, 2004
February 18, 2004
February 25, 2004
March 3, 2004
April 18, 2004
May 16, 2004
May 23, 2004
June 13, 2004
June 20, 2004
June 27, 2004
July 11, 2004
July 18, 2004
July 25, 2004
August 8, 2004
August 11, 2004
August 18, 2004
August 22, 2004
August 25, 2004
August 29, 2004
September 1, 2004
September 8, 2004
September 12, 2004
September 15, 2004
September 22, 2004
September 26, 2004
September 29, 2004
October 3, 2004
October 6, 2004
October 13, 2004
October 17, 2004
October 20, 2004
Special Vows of Bodhisattva Discussion
Oral Transmission of "The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra
in 8000 Lines"
The 8000 Lines is one of the Buddha's principal works in the Perfection
of Wisdom literature and was taught to show us the ultimate nature of reality
and how we evolve into bodhisattvas and buddhas. In these five sessions, Geshe
Tsulga will recite the entire sutra in Tibetan, thereby giving listeners the
oral transmission (Tib: lung), which he received from his teacher. This unbroken
lineage can be traced back to the Buddha himself. This rare and precious opportunity
to receive the imprints and blessings of the perfection of wisdom will be presented
in the traditional manner. You may attend any part of the transmission, but
to receive the entire transmission, you should be on time and not miss any
sessions. White flowers are appropriate for the altar. If you have Edward Conze's
English translation, The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines and Its
Verse Summary, please bring it with you. The sponsors hope to have copies available
for everyone, but this text is not easily available. These sessions are fully
sponsored. After the final session there will be opportunity to make an offering
to Geshe-la.
October 23, 2005
October 26, 2005
October 30, 2005
November 2, 2005
November 6, 2005
November 13, 2005
November 16, 2005
The Three Principal Aspects of the Path
The Three Principal Aspects of the Path by Lama Tsongkhapa is a
concise summary of the essential points of Mahayana Buddhism. It covers the
entire scope of Buddhist teachings which are divided into three main categoriesrenunciation,
bodhicitta and the wisdom realizing emptiness. Renunciation is turning away
from that which does not lead to ultimate happiness, bodhicitta is the determination
to lead all sentient beings without exception to enlightenment, and wisdom
is the correct view of reality. The great Tibetan scholar and practitioner
Lama Tsongkhapa masterfully summarized these vast teachings into a fourteen
verse poem, which resident teacher Geshe Tsulga will use as the basis for his
explanation on how to develop these fundamental insights.
Debate Class & Practice
Debate is a vital technique used by Tibetan Buddhist scholars to
sharpen their understanding of the ideas presented in Buddhist texts. The form
it takes in Tibetan monasteries is quite different from what most of us Westerners
are familiar with. This is an on-going series geared to Western students new
to debate. Although no specific background is necessary, a commitment to study
and do homework assignments is required. An enthusiasm to learn the subject
and willingness to participate fully is also recommended.
March 14, 2008
March 21, 2008
March 28, 2008
May 9, 2008
June 6, 2008
June 20, 2008
June 27, 2008
August 1, 2008
August 8, 2008
September 12, 2008
September 19, 2008
September 26, 2008
October 3, 2008
October 10, 2008
October 17, 2008
October 24, 2008
