Events
TEACHINGS & INITIATIONS FALL 2010
Ven. Zasep Rinpoche's Fall Zuru Ling Schedule
Weekly classes will be canceled during Rinpoche's visit
Rinpoche will return to Vancouver to teach at Zuru Ling in the Fall - details TBA as soon as possible.
Questions, please contact Matthew at twilightdakini@gmail.com
....
....
CHOD TEACHINGS WITH MIYA SHIMADA
Zuru Ling is very happy to announce that our dear friend and gifted teacher, Miya Shimada, will be teaching again at Zuru Ling, this August. Rinpoche has asked that Miya give a series of teachings on Buddhist Foundation Practices and the Chod tradition, at his temples.
The teachings on Buddhist Foundation Practices are open to all, whereas some of the Chod teachings do require the appropriate initiation into the lineage.
Please contact me if you have any questions: Matthew @ twilightdakini@gmail.com
....
Retreat leader, Miya Shimada:
Miya has been a senior student of Khalkha Jetsun Dampa for 18 years and a long-term student-friend of Zasep Rinpoche. She lived in India for many years and studied Buddhism under many Tibetan teachers in the 70’s and 80’s and has completed a number of personal retreats.
....
Aug. 27 (Fri) Intro to the Foundation Practices with Lam Rim - 7pm-9pm
Aug. 28 (Sat) - 29 (Sun) Foundation Practices - Day Classes - 10am-4pm
Aug. 30 (Mon) Chod practice - Initiation required - 7pm-9pm
Aug. 31 (Tue) VAJRAYOGINI PRACTICE - Initiation [Gelug or Sakya Tradition] required - 7pm-9pm
Sept. 1 (Wed) Chod practice - Initiation required - Initiation required
Sept. 2 (Thu) VAJRAYOGINI PRACTICE - Initiation [Gelug or Sakya Tradition] required - 7pm-9pm
Sept. 3 (Fri) Brief Introduction to Chod Teachings - New Dharma Students Welcome - 7pm-9pm
Sept. 4 (Sat) - 5 (Sun) Chod Tsog in Conjunction with Vajrayogini - Day Classes - 10am-4pm
4 (Sat) Chod Healing Ceremony - Open to all - Evening - 7pm-9pm
....
Suggested Donations: $15. per weekday class & $25. per weekend day class & Chod Healing Ceremony Sat. Night by donation
....
DESCRIPTIONS OF CLASS CONTENT
The Foundation Practice: The Preliminary Practices make up the foundation for any level of Dharma practice. “No realization comes without a solid foundation of the Preliminary practices.” The Buddhist path is like building a pyramid of realizations. The Preliminaries have been emphasized as essential to the preparation of the mind for the next building block within all the Tibetan Buddhist traditions. There are various ways to classify and areas to practice depending on the contexts. For example there are the seven-limb practices, Lam-rim or the common paths in daily practice. There are the accumulations and purification in general, or specific practices like Mahamudra and lastly prerequisites (Ngon-dro) to a great retreat. In this retreat we will explore the practical aspects of specific foundation practices and actually put them into practice by using the Lama Tsongkhapa guru yoga text, Ganden Lhagyama in each session.
Schedule: Introduction (Friday night), Refuge/Bodhicitta (Saturday morning), Vajrasattva/Prostration (Saturday afternoon), Guru Yoga (Sunday morning) & Mandala (Sunday afternoon).
Introduction to Chöd: Chöd Tsog in conjunction with Vajrayogini: This weekend retreat introduces the Chöd Tsog in conjunction with Vajrayogini. Why? As mother tantra initiates, we have a commitment to perform Tsog twice a month. This text has been used especially by those who practice both Chöd and Vajrayogini. This text includes all the elements of the Chöd Tsog text composed by Song Rinpoche. Furthermore many beautiful practices (including invoking Vajrayogini’s special blessings etc.) are added to this text. This is open to all with any Chöd initiation and Mother Tantra (Heruka or Vajrayogini) initiation. The text will be available at the center.
Vajrayogini:This teaching and meditation retreat on Vajrayogini is intended for both those who have recently taken the Vajrayogini initiation from Zasep Rinpoche and those who have been practicing this yidam for some time. This retreat will be mainly based on so-called “practical instruction” or “experiential commentary” (nyam tri) among several traditional ways to introduce teaching.
....
INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHISM
Zuru Ling is offering two new courses on Buddhist Thought and Practice for both beginners and returning students.
Starting June 17th, 2010, Zuru Ling is very pleased to announce that Chuck Damov, one of Zasep Tulku Rinpoche’s most experienced students, will be leading a new weekly Thursday night class for those interested in learning Buddhist meditation and philosophy.
A mix of meditation, teachings and discussion, each class is self-contained and open to all, including drop-ins. Chuck has been a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism since 1981. He has studied extensively with many Tibetan meditation masters.
....
Starting in the Fall, Sept. 14 and running till Dec. 14th with another term running from Jan. to Apr. 2010, Zuru Ling will be offering a new course, "The Path To Enlightenment".
The course will take place Tuesdays from 7-9pm and will present, in an open format that is both easy for beginners and relevant for experienced students, the entire teachings of the Buddhist Path. The text we will use is the famed "Lam Rim Chemo" written by the great Tibetan saint and founder of our Buddhist teaching lineage - Je Tsongkhapa. The format of the class will evenly split between meditation, teaching and open discussion. Topics covered include: How to Meditate, Preciousness of Human Life, Death & Dying, Karma, Buddhist Refuge, Liberation & Nirvana, Love, Compassion & the Awakening Mind and Meditations on Wisdom and Ultimate Truth.
Open to all. The suggested donation is 130.00 per semester or "drop-in" of $15.
For more information or questions about these course, please contact Matthew Richards: twilightdakini@gmail.com / 778-835-7133
...
"TSOG" - BUDDHIST FEAST-OFFERING PRAYER CEREMONY/POT-LUCK DINNER AND OPEN HOUSE
6pm-8pm - Open to all. New members and visitors most welcome.
These "Feast Offering" nights will be announced on our homepage & "updates" section.
They will also be a fundraisers for our Gaden For The West Tantric Temple Project in Nelson B.C.
All donations are voluntary.
...
"TONG LEN"/COMPASSION MEDITATION
"Tonglen" is a bodhicitta (awakening mind) practice for activating loving-kindness and compassion" and it means "giving and taking". We imagine taking on the sufferings of others and send out happiness, healing, good karma, etc. It is is done in conjunction with the breath. We often start with ourselves and then learn to generate compassion for others. It is both a very simple and a very profound practice that can be done anywhere, anytime.
The class will consist of instruction on technique and meditation.
We will start at 11am and go till about noon.
Our next session of Tong Len will be for the people of Yushu and area. Please come to Zuru Ling on Sat May 1st at 11:30 to help support the people from Yushu who have suffered so much and give them healing energy.