Friday evening dharma classes starting from 11 March 2016
Time: 8:00pm to 9:30pm
Venue: Maha Tare Buddhist Centre
Language: Geshela will be speaking in Tibetan with live English translation
Topic: Lorig (Buddhist psychology or study of mind)
Teachings will be based on Kachen Yeshe Gyaltsen’s Sems dang sems ’byung gi tshul gsal bar ston pa blo gsal mgul rgyan (Pron. Sem-dang sem-jung gi tshul sal-war-tön-pa lo-sal gul-gyan, Lit. Necklace for the Wise: A Clear Explanation on Minds and Mental Factors).
Lorig presents the basic concepts of Buddhist epistemology and the study of mind. It seeks to explain the different states of mind, by distinguishing their nature, function, and variations, all classified in a traditional form of classification. Structured in an eristic style, the course will explain the Buddhist classification of mind into 6 primary minds (sems) and 51 secondary minds or mental factors (sems ’byung). This helps one recognize and attend to the constant growth of understanding and wisdom and influx of emotions, feelings, and attitudes in both secular and spiritual lives.
Topic: Drubtha (Presentation of Buddhist Tenets)
Teachings will be based on Konchog Jigme Wangpo’s Grub-mtha’ rin-chen ’phreng-ba (Pron. Drubtha Rinchen Trhengwa, Lit. Precious Garland: Presentation of Buddhist Tenets).
The text provides a brief presentation of the tenets and the philosophical views established by the four major Buddhist schools, viz. Vaibhashika, Sautantrika, Cittamatrin, and Madhyamaka. It also presents briefly the philosophical views and the stands of Indic non-Buddhist schools and other Buddhist sub-schools. The text is an attempt towards presenting the basis, the path and the goals of Buddhist practice as asserted by these major and minor schools. Studied as one of the most concise texts on Buddhist doxography in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, it explains the diverse views within the many Buddhist schools and traditions, while at the same time reminding us of what unifies these diverse views on nature of phenomena in general. It briefly explains the philosophical basis, spiritual paths, and intended goals set forth according to the major Buddhist schools.