We are fortunate to have our teacher Khenpo Samdup Rinpoche offer
these teachings and participate in the discussion when available. When
Khenpo is unable to attend a senior student will facilitate and lead
the discussions. Each week the class consists of two parts: Basic
Concepts and Meditation. In the first half of each class we hold a
casual and informal discussion of the concepts that form the core of
the Buddhist path. These basic concepts are the first steps for all
Buddhist practitioners, and include topics such as: Refuge To take
refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, the basis of Buddhism. Four
Noble Truths contain the essence of the Buddha’s teachings. It was
these four principles that the Buddha came to understand during his
meditation under the Bodhi tree. Four thoughts that turn the mind. 1)
Precious Human Life 2) Death and Impermanence 3) Karma (Cause and
Effect) 4) Suffering (Unsatisfactory Nature of Samsara). The Two
Truths. This doctrine tells us that existence can be understood as
both ultimate and conventional (or, absolute and relative).
Conventional truth is how we usually see the world, a place full of
diverse and distinctive things and beings. Ultimate truth is that
there are no distinctive things or beings. To say there are no
distinctive things or beings is not to say that nothing exists; it is
saying that there are no distinctions. Six Paramitas. The six
perfections (paramitas) are: generosity, ethics, patience,
enthusiastic perseverance, concentration and wisdom. For each
perfection we will be looking at its meaning, the method of following
it, its divisions and what should be done in the practice of that
perfection. Karma Cause and Effect. The fundamental law of karma,
cause and effect, is that the result of a virtuous deed is always
happiness, and the result of a non-virtuous deed is always suffering.
Bodhichitta. In Sanskrit, bodhi means “awakened” and chitta means
“mind” or “heart.” Bodhichitta — “awakened heart-mind”
— is the compassionate wish to realize enlightenment for all beings,
not just oneself. Through Bodhichitta, the desire to attain
enlightenment transcends the narrow interests of the individual self.
Three Roots and the Dharma Protectors. The three roots are the Guru,
Yidam and Dakini. The Guru is the root of blessings, the Yidam of
accomplishment, and the Dakini of activity. A Dharma Protector is an
emanation of a Buddha or a Bodhisattva whose main functions are to
avert the inner and outer obstacles that prevent practitioners from
gaining spiritual realizations, and to arrange all the necessary
conditions for their practice. Seven Branches which involves seven
different ways of accumulating merit, each of which serves a specific
purpose. The offerings are: prostration, offering, confession,
rejoicing, requesting the turning of the wheel of the dharma, asking
Buddha not to pass into parinirvana, and dedication of merit. Three
Vehicles. The three vehicles or paths of Buddhism which are: Hinayana,
Mahayana and Vajrayana. Vajrayana Empowerments. This is the process by
which a lama with experience in the particular practice confers on
others the description, explanation, visualization and order of the
practice, along with appropriate offerings and specific mantras. Six
Bardo. In Tibetan Buddhism, a bardo is an in-between state. The word
is often used to mean a state between death and rebirth. Each week the
beginning concept class consists of a teaching one of the above topics
along with open discussion time for questions and answers. It is
important to have a solid foundation to fully understand the
continuing path of Buddhism and this is the perfect, open atmosphere
in which to begin. In the second half of the class each week
meditation is taught: Shamatha, or Calm Abiding, meditation helps to
free the mind from disturbing emotions and conceptual thinking
processes. It brings the mind under control, under discipline, with
some degree of single pointed focus, with full alertness of mind. By
doing this meditation, the individual is able to suppress disturbing
emotions and gain inner peace, harmony and balance. The basics of how
to practice are discussed each week. The study of concepts and the
practice of meditation are core components of the Buddhist path.
Combining the two greatly facilitates the practitioner’s progress.
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13/08/2020 Last update