Born in 1933 in eastern Tibet, Choden Rinpoche was recognized at age three as the reincarnation of the previous Choden Rinpoche, who had been a candidate for the Twelfth Dalai Lama. At eight he entered Rabten Monastery, and at fifteen he went to Sera Je Monastery. Choden Rinpoche was one of the two Sera Je lamas selected to debate with the Dalai Lama during His Holiness's geshe exams. Following the Communist Chinese takeover of Tibet in 1959, Choden Rinpoche stayed on in Tibet, going into solitary retreat for nineteen years. He never left his tiny, dark room in Lhasa from 1965 to 1985, pretending to be an invalid and thereby avoiding the ravages of the Cultural Revolution. All the while, without texts, ritual implements, or an altar, he meditated, profoundly deepening his realizations of Buddhism's core insights. In 1985 he was allowed to leave Tibet for India, where he has since taught thousands of students at Sera Je Monastery in South India. Regarded as one of the foremost experts on the Vinaya (the monastic discipline), Rinpoche has inspired many Tibetans and Westerners to ordain. Choden Rinpoche has visited the United States previously to give teachings and lead retreats. He last visited Kurukulla Center in November 2004.
Events at Kurukulla Center
11 / 19 – 20 : Tsongkhapa’s Lines of Experience
11 / 30 : Oral Transmissions of Two Dharma Treatises
12 / 1 : Oral Transmissions of Two Puja Texts
12 / 2 : Tsongkhapa’s Three Principal Aspects of the Path
12 / 3 : Vajrayogini Empowerment (with prerequisites)
12 / 4 : Amitabha Empowerment
Events at Milarepa Center in Vermont
11 / 23 – 24 : The Heart Sutra
11 / 25 – 26 : Lama Tsongkhapa Guruyoga
11 / 27 : White Tara Empowerment
Call (802) 633-4136 or email milarepa@milarepacenter.org
to find out more about events at Milarepa Center.
Dharma Talks
Lines of Experience
Saturday & Sunday, November 19 & 20 • 2–4:30 p.m.
The incomparable Lama Tsongkhapa authored numerous commentaries on the Buddha's teachings. Lines of Experience is one of his most personal. In 25 prose stanzas, he speaks of the practices he did and the view he cultivated that brought him closer to liberation. He then advises us to do just as he did – "I, the yogi, have practiced just that. You who also seek liberation, please cultivate yourself in the same way." Venerable Choden Rinpoche leads us through this abbreviated path to enlightenment text. Requested donation for each session: nonmembers $20; members $14
The Three Principal Aspects of the Path
Friday, December 2 • 7–9:30 p.m.
Lama Tsongkhapa, one of the greatest commentators in Buddhist history, was a prolific writer contributing profound and insightful clarifications on most of the topics in Buddhism. Among the eighteen volumes of his collected works, one of his best loved creations is The Three Principal Aspects of the Path. Although only fourteen verses in length, all the major points of the path to enlightenment are presented in a lucid style that is easy to understand. Tonight the Venerable Choden Rinpoche will teach on this treasured text. Requested donation: nonmembers $20; members $14
Oral Transmissions
The Ornament of Clear Realizations and Seventy Topics
Wednesday, November 30 • 7–9:30 p.m.
One of the most precious features of Tibetan Buddhist teachings is their unbroken transmission from the Buddha himself. In other words, Guru Shakyamuni Buddha gave oral teachings to his disciples, they passed those teachings on verbally to their own students and so on, and this lineage remains intact to the present day, having been passed down from a line of great Indian and Tibetan masters, and is considered to carry with it enormous blessings. Choden Rinpoche is a lineage holder and we are fortunate to be able to receive from this great guru the blessings of the lineage of these two texts, which Geshe Tsulga has been teaching most of this year. Rinpoche will give an explanatory talk before imparting the oral transmissions.
Requested donation: $20; members $14
Oral Transmissions of The Guru Puja & Medicine Buddha Puja
Thursday, December 1 • 7–9:30 p.m.
These two pujas are performed regularly at Kurukulla Center. Students' practice of them will be greatly enhanced by these transmissions, which will be prefaced by an explanatory talk. Requested donation: nonmembers $20; members $14
Empowerments
Vajrayogini Empowerment
Saturday, December 3 • 2–5:00 p.m.
Vajrayogini is the ultimate flowering of our female energy, a fully enlightened buddha, the essence of totality. The yoga method of Vajrayogini trains us to identify with her qualities and leads us on the quickest path to enlightenment. "The Vajrayogini yoga method is extremely powerful. It is just what we need in these degenerate times, with our delusions running rampant and our minds grasping at concretized sense pleasures. Therefore, a method such as this, which has the wisdom to transform delusions, is of the utmost need."—Lama Thubten Yeshe
Requested donation: nonmembers $30; members $20 Prerequisite and commitments: Those taking this empowerment must have already received empowerment in the practice of Chakrasamvara, Yamantaka, or Kalachakra. Other highest yoga tantra empowerments will need to be confirmed with Rinpoche. Practitioners will be re-taking refuge, bodhisattva, and tantric vows as part of the ritual. One needs to be prepared to recite the Six-Session Guruyoga daily for life and to perform a tsok offering twice monthly. Rinpoche may also specify a further commitment.
Amitabha Empowerment Sunday, December 4 • 2–4:00 p.m.
Amitabha Buddha is the head of the lotus family of buddhas. Taking this empowerment helps create the cause for a long life and rebirth in his pure land, Sukhavati, the Land of Bliss. By donation. May be received as a blessing.
* Seating in the Kurukulla temple (gompa) is limited, but if necessary, we will make arrangements for alternative seating in other parts of the Center.
* Please consider parking along Washington Street (the street behind Kurukulla Center). If parking on Magoun Avenue or other streets nearby, please be extremely considerate of our neighbors. Take care to not park too close to any driveways and to be quiet when leaving the center in the evening.
* We have attempted to keep the requested donation as low as possible, although there are significant costs associated with bringing Rinpoche to the area. No one will be turned away. All are welcome.
