September 2018 Courses

Buddhist Studies

Exploring the Heart of Mahayana (DHS214)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (Sept 3 – Sept 24, 2018)

In this course, we will be working with The Flower Ornament Sutra, translated by Thomas Cleary, starting with the excellent introduction, then reading aloud from Book 26 “The Ten Stages,” and finally delving into portions of Book 39 “Entry Into The Realm Of Reality.”

Mahayana sutras, with their poetic and visionary ways of questioning and expanding reality, can elude our attempts to parse them conceptually and yet speak beautifully and directly to our hearts. Working with English translations of classic Mahayana sutras, we will engage in pure listening and heartfelt discussion regarding the ineffable “what” that these classics of the second-turning of the Dharma point towards.

In this course, you will:
Engage classic Mahayana sutras in direct and heart-opening ways
Be supported in a path of inquiry and pure listening
Open to the unknown as a source of wonder and inspiration
Explore intriguing and rewarding material together

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Bob Byrne.

Majestic Aspirations (DHS209)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Sept 4 – Sept 25, 2018)

We will study and work with the Pranidhanaraja, a text beloved in the Mahayana tradition that expresses the Bodhisattva’s vows and commitments in poetic form.

Samantabhadra’s Pranidhanaraja or “Aspiration to Good Actions,” also known as the king of aspiration prayers, invokes the power of merit – the practice and accumulation of positive actions and the resulting momentum of goodness – that connects us with growing surety to the Enlightened Ones and creates conditions for the realization of our own Buddha nature.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Hugh Joswick and Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: DHS207 or equivalent.

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS113)
Wednesdays, 1:30–3 PM (Sept 5 – Sept 26, 2018)

Many spiritual traditions around the world incorporate some form of prayer or song. In Tibetan Buddhism, chanting is one method that practitioners have used for hundreds of years to turn their minds and hearts toward the Dharma.

This class presents a special opportunity for individuals to learn chanting of traditional prayers without prior knowledge of the Tibetan language. Practice materials will be provided showing the Tibetan text, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation. In addition to providing background teachings, Lama Palzang will guide students in the correct pronunciation, melody, and rhythm of selected traditional Buddhist prayers.

Students will:
Develop an ear for Tibetan-style chanting
Practice pronunciation aloud in class
Receive access to recordings so they can practice at home
Connect to traditional prayers and practices

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Lama Palzang and Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings.

The Four Immeasurables (DHS116)
Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM (Sept 5 – Sept 26, 2018)

“Thus someone who, by taking refuge, has become a site for spiritual growth,
Will cultivate their mind for the welfare of sentient beings,
By letting the flower of compassion blossom in the soil of love,
And tending it with the pure water of equanimity in the cool shade of joy.”
Longchenpa.

Contemplation of the Four Immeasurables has immense benefits for the practitioner. The practice calms and opens out the emotions, leading to profound states of awareness and understanding. It is the transformative cure for disturbing emotional motivations, and a central practice for developing good will toward all beings without exception.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Barr Rosenberg.

Nyingma Meditation Courses

Advanced Meditation: Practices for the Time of Death (MED309)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (Sept 3 – Sept 24, 2018)

This course introduces Tibetan Buddhist practices for the time of death, including specific mantras and prayers that we will practice together. We will draw from sutras and tantras on this topic, especially teachings from Padmasambhava, the founder of the Nyingma tradition.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Lama Palzang.

Intermediate Meditation: Meditation Beyond Meanings (MED220)
Wednesdays 10:00-11:30AM (Sept 5 – Sept 26, 2018)

In this class we will use Tarthang Tulku’s text, Openness Mind, to explore ideas and practices to encourage a deeper experience of mind beyond the limits of conceptualization.  Practices will include relaxing our dependency on the idea of a self, which limits our experience by having a frame of reference; letting go of attachments –  to what we think meditation is, or how it should be: thoughts/no thoughts; letting go of trying to perfect ourselves. Classes will consist of practice and discussion of experience.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd. Prerequisite: Students should have an ongoing meditation practice of at least 30 minutes a day.

Meditation for Healing –  Body, Mind, Emotions (MED105)
Thursdays 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Sept 6  – Sept 27, 2018)

This course will focus on practices that offer the healing benefits of meditation. We will explore ways to strengthen the interconnectedness of body and mind; offer tools to deepen relaxation so that the body can heal itself naturally; cultivate positive energy through expanding awareness of feelings, thoughts and emotions. For beginners, as well as for anyone who would like more support in establishing a regular practice or in going deeper to connect with our inner healing resources.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd.

Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga

Advanced Kum Nye: Generating Happiness from Within (KNR304)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (Sept 4 – Sept 25, 2018)

“Kum Nye offers a way to support health, happiness, and inner peace, the foundation of meaning in life and the gateway to the most sublime meditative experience.” Tarthang Tulku, Joy of Being.

Advanced Kum Nye practices attune body, mind, and spiritual path–awakening inner resources that generate sustainable joy and satisfaction. This course moves toward these goals with practices that enliven the senses.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Santosh Philip. Based on Tarthang Tulku’s Joy of Being. Prerequisite: two years of Kum Nye practice or instructors’ consent.

Introduction to The Joy of Being:  Supporting Wholeness and Developing Joy (KNR206)
Thursdays, 7–8:30 PM (Sept 6  – Sept 27, 2018)

Kum Nye can balance, integrate, and energize the whole of our being, opening clearer channels of communication between senses, body, and mind and inviting a sense of wholeness and calm that is deeply refreshing.   Joy of Being, xvii.

Perhaps you feel that something is missing in your life, that you are restless in spite of yoga, meditation and self-help apps. Joy of Being explores a vision of embodiment as a “personal treasure house, a source of beautiful feelings and profound satisfaction.” This four-week introduction to Tarthang Tulku’s third Kum Nye book sets out practices that develop friendship and harmony between body and mind. Centering on “exercises for the mind,” The Joy of Being develops our sensory capacities and intends to bring light and joy to lives dulled with boredom and poisoned by negativity. We can encourage a more flexible way of being that carries into daily activities and opens us up to joy.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Abbe Blum. Prerequisites: This course is intended for those with some experience of Kum Nye through Sunday Kum Nye programs, or beginning Kum Nye courses. Or consent of instructor.

Kum Nye Self-Massage (KNR106)
Fridays, 7 —8:30 PM (September 7 – Sept 28, 2018)

A four-week ‘hands-on’ class in Kum Nye self-massage. You will be led through slow massage routines that promote relaxation and deepen your sense of physical presence.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Santosh Philip

Beginning Kum Nye: Un-stressing Ourselves: Discovering the Power of Feeling, Relaxing, and Tuning In (KNR171)
Fridays, 10:00 -11:30 AM (September 7 – Sept 28, 2018)

Each of these four classes offers simple movement, breathing, and awareness practices that help to discover how we might live our lives more fully, clearly and joyfully through deeper acquaintance with our own feeling resources.

Cost: $72. Instructor: Anita McNulty. This gentle introduction to Kum Nye is suitable for the beginning student, but will also help the more advanced student deepen experiential understanding of body and mind.

Nyingma Psychology

Working with Dimensions of Mind (NPS108)
Thursdays, 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Sept 6 – Sept 27, 2018)

Even the most seasoned Dharma student gets caught up in the realm of what is already known and established. Facing these limitations of mind may be profoundly frustrating. In Tarthang Tulku’s Dimensions of Mind, we call upon the full scope of our faculties to exercise the mind in new ways that help us penetrate our projections. Seeing how the samsaric mind is thoroughly structured by language, concepts, and identity, we can begin a process of questioning our mental projections to unfold a widening understanding. Through discussion and exercises, we get clear on how to start with joy and let mind be in the center of experience.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick.

Caring for Ourselves (NPS112) 
Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Sept 5 – Sept 26, 2018)

“Studying the science of mind, we also perfect the art of living.”  Tarthang Tulku, founder of the Nyingma Institute.

Our attitudes, emotions, and concepts shape who we are and determine what we do more surely than any outside influence. Recognizing their power and discovering their inherent changeability are keys to truly caring for ourselves. Insights from Tarthang Tulku’s recent writings help us navigate our inner landscape, providing essential practices for well-being.

The course includes analytic meditation practices that help initiate each student’s process of insight. Discussion will center on how we can learn to change painful inner states of mind into points of caring and balance.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Hugh Joswick and Abbe Blum. Prerequisite: At least one year of meditation experience or consent of instructors.

Time, Space, and Knowledge

Time, Space, and Knowledge: Right from the Start (TSK104)
Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:45 PM  (Sept 4 – Sept 25, 2018)

Welcome to Time, Space, and Knowledge (TSK), Tarthang Tulku’s vision of reality. The intention of this course is to initiate inquiry into our nature, into our being. We will pick up some tools. We will engage each other in word, mind, and being. If a path opens for you, take heart for TSK is a complete path. Our primary text will be  Tarthang Tulku’s Time, Space, and Knowledge. It can be found in the Nyingma Institute’s bookstore. Readings given are for the following week. Expect to do at least forty minutes of reading, practice, mulling over daily.

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Ken McKeon and assistants.

Tibetan Language Courses

Beginning Tibetan IV (TIB104)
Tuesdays, 1:30–3 PM (Sept 4 – Sept 25, 2018)

Working from an unpublished Tibetan language guide created by Dharma Publishing, this class introduces students to basic Tibetan for reading and translating classical Tibetan. Please note that this is not a modern spoken Tibetan language course, rather our focus is on learning the language in order to engage with Buddhist prayers and texts.

Students will:
Learn to read and pronounce Tibetan script
Study basic Tibetan grammar
Develop a working vocabulary

Cost: $72. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisites: Beginning Tibetan Level III, or consent of the instructor.

Intermediate Tibetan, Level IV (TIB204)
Fridays, 7–8:30 PM (September 7 – Sept 28, 2018)

In this course, students prepare translations of alternating passages and present their assigned sections to the class. This is a small, supportive group, ideal for engaging sacred texts and the Tibetan language in an approachable and hands-on way. It also includes some review of basic grammar.

Cost: $72. Instructor: Mollie Hughes. Prerequisite: Intermediate Tibetan Level I, or consent of the instructor. You should have enough knowledge of Tibetan to look up words and also understand the basics of grammar. Referencing English translations for help is expected.

Tibetan Tutorial: Advanced Study (TIB301)
Fridays, 4:30 – 5:45 PM  (September 7 – Sept 28, 2018)

This advanced Tibetan course consists of continuing reading and translation in the classical Tibetan language. It is for those who already have a good grasp of grammar, vocabulary, and working with Tibetan texts.

Cost: $72. Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor.

Summer 2018 Courses

Buddhist Studies

Exploring the Heart of Mahayana (DHS214)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (June 11 – Aug 13, 2018)

Intrigued by the mystery of form and emptiness, the interdependence of existence, and the fullness of non-existence?

Mahayana sutras, with their poetic and visionary ways of questioning and expanding reality, can elude our attempts to parse them conceptually and yet speak beautifully and directly to our hearts. Working with English translations of classic Mahayana sutras, we will engage in pure listening and heartfelt discussion regarding the ineffable “what” that these classics of the second-turning of the Dharma point towards.

In this course, you will:

• Engage classic Mahayana sutras in direct and heart-opening ways
• Be supported in a path of inquiry and pure listening
• Open to the unknown as a source of wonder and inspiration
• Explore intriguing and rewarding material together

Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Bob Byrne.

Gateway to Knowledge: Quarter 6 of the Path of Liberation Program (DHS207)
Tuesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM (June 12 – August 14, 2018)

19th century master Lama Mipham is considered a manifestation of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom. We will study one of his works together in this course, which is part of a 2-year program, Path of Liberation.*

We deepen our search for awakened mind through an in-depth study of topics from Gateway to Knowledge (Tib. mKhas-’jug and its commentary) by the great Tibetan teacher Lama Mipham. With penetrating analysis, we look again at inner and outer phenomena and the sense fields. We explore teachings on ‘what is possible and what is impossible’ along with teachings on time and the arising of the system of suffering.

Students will gain:

• A deeper understanding of traditional systems, as detailed by the great master Lama Mipham, that are used to analyze the mind
• An opportunity to engage with the categories of knowledge considered important for entering the path
• A supportive environment for exploring, reflecting upon, discussing, and applying the relevance of these methodologies for transformation to their own lives

Prerequisites: DHS206 or equivalent, or permission of instructors.

There are two workshops included with this course: The Wheel of Life (DHS408) and Cutting off Negative Emotions (DHS415). Please note that the class on July 10 will be broadcast. Cost: $220. Instructor(s): Hugh Joswick & Mark Henderson.

*The Path of Liberation Program is a training in Buddhist study and practice that is structured by the teachings of kaya, vacca, citta, guna and karma. Students are introduced to the basic cognitive and experiential teachings of the Buddha, with texts drawn primarily from the Mahayana tradition.

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS113)
Wednesdays, 1:30–3 PM (June 13 – 27 and August 1 – 15, 2018. No classes in July.)

Many spiritual traditions around the world incorporate some form of prayer or song. In Tibetan Buddhism, chanting is one method that practitioners have used for hundreds of years to turn their minds and hearts toward the Dharma.

This class presents a special opportunity for individuals to learn chanting of traditional prayers without prior knowledge of the Tibetan language. Practice materials will be provided showing the Tibetan text, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation. In addition to providing background teachings, Lama Palzang will guide students in the correct pronunciation, melody, and rhythm of selected traditional Buddhist prayers.

Students will:

• Develop an ear for Tibetan-style chanting
• Practice pronunciation aloud in class
• Receive access to recordings so they can practice at home
• Connect to traditional prayers and practices

Cost: $108. Please note that this course is on break in July; it meets on June 13, 20, 27 and August 1, 8, 15. Instructor(s): Lama Palzang and Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings.

Nyingma Meditation Courses

Advanced Meditation: Mipham’s Calm and Clear (MED308)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (June 11 – Aug 13, 2018)

Clinging to nothing, but aspiring to compassion,
Like a bird in the sky of simplicity,
Gliding through life without fear,
The Buddha-son reaches the highest plane.
–Lama Mipham, The Wheel of Analytic Meditation.

Traditional methods to ease the mind into “the sky of simplicity” will be presented including meditations for calming the mind (shamatha) and meditations to expand insight (vipasyana). This course draws on Lama Mipham’s The Wheel of Analytic Meditation, i.e. Calm and Clear.

Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Santosh Philip.

Intermediate Meditation:  Discovering Dimensions of Mind (MED204)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (June 13 – August 15, 2018)

When we begin to recognize mind’s versatility, how it can create confusion and suffering as well as clarity and beauty, what we discover may allow us to go beyond superficial problems and attune ourselves to mind as a source of inspiration and guidance.  This class invites us to explore mediation as a way to encounter and discover fundamental dimensions of mind.

Readings for the class will come from Gesture of Balance, Making Mind the Matter, and Dimensions of Mind. Cost: $144. No class on July 4 or July 18. Instructor: Hugh Joswick. Prerequisite: 1 year of meditation experience.

Beginning Meditation: Self-Observation (MED104) 
Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (July 26 – August 17, 2018)

The focus of this course is on observing the mind, emotions, and feelings. Students will learn how to stay mindful in a relaxed, but concentrated manner. Basic meditation practices will also be presented in a manner that helps make wholesome self-discovery a way of life.

Cost: $72. Please note that this course starts late in the semester and only has 4 sessions: July 26, Aug 2, 9, 16. Instructor: Pauline Yu.

Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga

Beginning Kum Nye: Body of Knowledge (KNR110)
Thursdays, 7–8:30 PM (June 14 – June 28) 

“As [deeper and more expansive] feelings are channeled through our senses, all of our sensations and feelings become vibrant and alive, much richer than before. Our whole body grows saturated with this quality of joyful vitality and becomes profoundly wholesome: a body of knowledge.”  Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga 294

This fourth semester of introduction explores how Kum Nye opens us to a body of knowledge—what Tarthang Tulku calls our embodiment of values and responsiveness. During these three sessions we will practice exercises from Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga that stimulate energies and transform feelings. We can enjoy deeper, richer experience, opening to the treasures of our senses and human embodiment every day.  Prior Kum Nye courses or experience is recommended but not required.

Cost: $54. Please note that this is for a special 3-session course. Instructor(s): Abbe Blum.

Advanced Kum Nye:  Surrendering to Calmness (KNR304)
Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (June 12 – Aug. 14, 2018)

“Kum Nye exercises teach us how to smooth the jagged energies of body and mind. . . . we can awaken blissful feelings within body and senses that can open our energy centers (cakras) and relieve the pressure of conflicting meanings and interpretations.”

This course works with material from Joy of Being, particularly the more subtle practices that entail almost no movement on the outer level.

The Kum Nye experience can be cultivated and deepened into an internal understanding that unfolds and expands far beyond our conceptual frame of reference.

This course is a un-course, in the sense that it is a space of exploration best entered without expectations.

Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Santosh Philip. Prerequisites: two years of Kum Nye practice.

Skillful Means

Being ‘We’: Healing ‘You and I’ (SKM107)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (June 13 – August 15, 2018)

This 10-week class is designed to transform how you relate to yourself as well as others, through exploration and inquiry into how we relate to and define ourselves in relation to our mental processes. By loosening up and ‘seeing through’ our mental constructs, we can heal our relationship with ourselves as well as others. You will participate in awareness practices both individually and in pairs, all in a supportive environment. What does it mean to be ‘We,’ as opposed to ‘You and I?’ How can we begin to heal divisiveness, starting with our own relationships?

Together, we can be ‘We’, sharing mutual trust and unconditional support. These days, we humans most often taste this mutual warmth with a beloved pet. Humans find this warmth mutually when we fall in love, as well as  in the love between parent and infant and in the closeness of long-lasting friendship. Still, most of the time our human relationships involve a form of distancing between ‘you’ and ‘I’, in which we cooperate while upholding our own sides.

We usually experience ‘we’ when we are ‘We against They’, as in the teamwork of a close-knit competitive team or when coming together with shared views on one  side of a division in today’s divisive world. ‘We against They’ has the same taste as ‘You and I’. Fortunately, we can put this behind us. We have ready access to higher forms of ‘We’: In the course, we activate ‘We’ together through exercises, and explore a path of progressive deepening that can lead to ‘We sharing love’ and culminate in the simplicity of ‘We for All’. This path brings peace and joy—which we experience during the course—and can ultimately lead to freedom.

Cost: $200. Includes the “Communicating Well” workshop on July 28. Instructor(s): Barr Rosenberg.

Time, Space, and Knowledge

Time, Space, and Knowledge: Right from the Start (TSK104)
Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:45 PM  (June 12 – Aug. 14, 2018)

Welcome to Time, Space, and Knowledge (TSK), Tarthang Tulku’s vision of reality. The intention of this course is to initiate inquiry into our nature, into our being. We will pick up some tools. We will engage each other in word, mind, and being. If a path opens for you, take heart for TSK is a complete path. Our primary text will be  Tarthang Tulku’s Time, Space, and Knowledge. It can be found in the Nyingma Institute’s bookstore. Readings given are for the following week. Expect to do at least forty minutes of reading, practice, mulling over daily.

Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Ken McKeon and assistants.

Tibetan Language Courses

Beginning Tibetan III (TIB103)
Tuesdays, 1:30–3 PM (June 12 – Aug. 14, 2018. No classes in July.)

Working from an unpublished Tibetan language guide created by Dharma Publishing, this class introduces students to basic Tibetan for reading and translating classical Tibetan. Please note that this is not a modern spoken Tibetan language course, rather our focus is on learning the language in order to engage with Buddhist prayers and texts.

Students will:

• Learn to read and pronounce Tibetan script
• Study basic Tibetan grammar
• Develop a working vocabulary

Cost: $90. Please note that this course is on break in July. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisites: Beginning Tibetan Level II, or consent of the instructor.

Intermediate Tibetan, Level IV (TIB204)
Fridays, 7–8:30 PM (June 15 – Aug. 17, 2018)

The text we are currently working with is the classic third turning treatise that Maitreya is said to have transmitted to Asanga — Buddha Nature, i.e. the Mahayana Uttaratanta Shastra. Once we complete Buddha Nature, we will begin translating The Path of Prayer to the Land of Bliss by Karma Chags-med, a prayer composed in the seventeenth century which connects practitioners to Amitabha’s Sukhavati realm.

Students prepare alternating passages for each session and present their assigned sections to the class. This is a small, supportive group, ideal for engaging sacred texts and the Tibetan language in an approachable and hands-on way.

Cost: $180. Instructor: Mollie Hughes. Prerequisite: Intermediate Tibetan Level I, or consent of the instructor. You should have enough knowledge of Tibetan to look up words and also understand the basics of grammar. Referencing English translations for help is expected.

Tibetan Tutorial: Advanced Study (TIB303)
Fridays, 4:30 – 5:45 PM  (June 15 – Aug. 17, 2018)

This advanced Tibetan course consists of continuing reading and translation in the classical Tibetan language. It is for those who already have a good grasp of grammar, vocabulary, and working with Tibetan texts.

Cost: $180. Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor.

Buddhist Studies

Exploring the Heart of Mahayana Sutras (DHS214)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 26 – May 28, 2018)
The Mahayana sutras, with their cosmo-poetic and visionary way of questioning and expanding reality, can seem perplexing and difficult to understand, yet they also speak beautifully and directly to the heart. In this 10-week course, we will explore the Sutra “Manjushri’s attainment of Buddhahood,” along with the introduction to the Avatamsaka Sutra. We will engage in both pure listening and heartfelt discussions regarding what they are pointing toward.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Bob Byrne.

Invoking the Enlightened Ones of the Tibetan Tradition (DHS115)
Tuesdays, 1:30–3 PM (March 27 – May 29, 2018)
Tibetan Buddhism encompasses a rich pantheon of Buddhas, Deities, and Bodhisattvas. In this 10-week course, you will learn to invoke Padmasambhava, Avalokitesvara, Tara, Manjushri, Vajrasattva, and Samantabhadra through beloved practices including prayer, mantra, and visualization.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Lama Palzang and Pema Gellek

The Resolve for Ultimate Goodness : Quarter 5 of the Path of Liberation Program (DHS206)
Tuesdays, 7–8:30 PM (March 27 – May 29, 2018)
All living beings have the nature of a Buddha, yet this nature is obscured by veils of obscurations. We live in ignorance of this great treasure, like a poor, blind man, unaware that a jewel of infinite value lies buried under his hearth. Traditional teachings and practices can help us develop confidence in our ability to discover the Buddha nature within. We will study teachings on Bodhicitta (the ‘seed of enlightenment’) and continue to work on mind training practices that overcome the destructive forces of anger, attachment, and ignorance in our lives.
Cost: $220. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson and Hugh Joswick. Includes “Making Mind the Matter” workshop on April 7 and “Filled with Devotion” workshop on May 5. Prerequisite: DHS205 or equivalent.

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS113)
Wednesdays, 1:30–3 PM (March 28 – May 30, 2018)
This class presents a special opportunity for individuals to learn chanting of traditional prayers without prior knowledge of the Tibetan language. Practice materials will be provided showing the Tibetan text, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation. In addition to providing background teachings, Lama Palzang will methodically guide students in the correct pronunciation, melody, and rhythm of selected traditional Buddhist prayers, including Lama Mipham’s profound and beautiful Practice of Shakyamuni and the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings.

Nyingma Meditation Courses

The Diamond Lineage of Tarthang Rinpoche (MED307)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 26 – May 28 2018)
This advanced meditation course focuses on Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche’s extraordinary teachers, who are like the stars in the sky, each shining with the light of the Dharma, yet vividly distinct from each other in their individual manifestations.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Lama Palzang.

Intermediate Meditation: Meditations to Open the Heart (MED203)
Wednesdays 10-11:30AM (March 28 – May 30, 2018)
This class will focus meditation practices on the heart energy center to integrate mind with heart, and actions with intuitions. We can encourage positive feelings and find genuine meaning in our lives as we learn to become more self-nourishing, self-motivating, and self-confident. As Tarthang Tulku writes, It is in the heart center that our inner nature grows to fullness. For meditators with some experience and for those who wish support in establishing a more regular practice.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd.

Meditation and Seeing: Activating Vision Through a Camera (MED219)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 28 – May 30, 2018)
As your practice continues, you may find that seeing merges with meditation: seeing becomes meditation, and meditation becomes seeing. This meditative seeing connects with objects in a different way. Tarthang Tulku, Joy of Being, 84-85.

This class will explore Tarthang Tulku’s discussion of “just seeing” as a way to connect with objects in a different way. Students will be asked to take and share photographs that illustrate and respond to readings in Joy of Being, Gesture of Balance, and other writings of Tarthang Rinpoche. This is not a photography class, but a way to play with the openness of simply seeing by using the lenses available to us. Anyone interested in meditation and exploring experiential exercises with a camera, cell phone, or other image-making device is welcome.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Hugh Joswick.

Beginning Meditation: Bringing Calm and Clarity to Mind (MED103)
Thursdays, 7-8:30 PM (March 29 – May 31, 2018)
How can we enhance our experience of life’s wonder and power? What would life be like if we could experience it through a less agitated and clearer lens? It is possible to transform mind through expanding our capacity for calmness and clarity. This class will include traditional relaxation techniques to cut through the jumble of thoughts, worries and pressures that keep us from enjoying life to the fullest. For beginners and for those wishing support in maintaining a regular meditation practice.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd.

Nyingma Psychology and Practices

Nyingma psychology and practices offer unique insight into the human situation and innovative ways to ease emotional discomfort and increase well-being.

Challenging Journey, Creative Journey (NPS205)
Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 29 – May 31, 2018)
Tarthang Tulku’s new book, Challenging Journey, Creative Journey, asks us to reflect upon three key things: our lives until now, what is happening in our life at this time, and where we are headed. Using Challenging Journey, Creative Journey as our guide, this class will contemplate the insights of the book together and discuss central themes of Rinpoche’s recent writings, challenging the basic patterns of suffering that hold us in place and exploring ways to open to a knowing that can transform the heart. This class continues the explorations developed in the Dimensions of Mind classes and is open to all students who have sincere interest in the works of Tarthang Tulku.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick.

Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)

The gentle movement, massage, and breathing practices of Kum Nye promote physical and emotional health as they bridge the gap between the material and the spiritual.

Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga: Advanced Practice (KNR303)
Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 27 – May 29, 2018)
Breathing and movement exercises stimulate and direct the energy of body and mind; visualization practices awaken and sustain inner vitality; and meditation practices foster serenity. These practices are simple and yet profound, gentle and yet deeply transformative.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Santosh Philips. Prerequisites: two years of Kum Nye practice.

Deepening Relaxation and Opening the Senses through Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga (KNR113)
Thursdays, 7–8:30 PM (March 29 – May 31, 2018)
This third semester of introduction to Kum Nye focuses on exercises and writing from Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga  that activate and deepen a positive healing process—relaxing holding and gaining access to the senses, opening space, and expanding feeling. Prior Kum Nye courses or experience is recommended but not required.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Abbe Blum.

Touching the Heart with Breath (KNR112)
Fridays, 10 – 11:30 AM (March 30 – June 1, 2018)
“Body and breath are the foundation of our being, the basis for relaxation and meditation. Together, they serve as our meditation cushion, the support for our practice and also for our lives.” – Tarthang Tulku. We will explore the vitalizing, joyful, spacious qualities of breath touching the heart. This Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga course is suitable for all levels and accepts drop-ins.
Cost: $180. Drop-in: $18/class. Instructor(s): Peggy Kincaid.

Skillful Means

Productive Thought: Remedy for Illusion (SKM106)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (March 28 – May 30, 2018)
A classic remedy for illusion is to look for the self and discover that it cannot be found. Another valuable remedy, which can serve as a preliminary, is to learn to think more productively, since strengthening thinking and seeing through illusion are closely related. In this pragmatic course, we focus on intuitively clear steps towards more effective thought, and explore the clear connections to dispelling illusion. Includes the workshop Passing Thought through the Senses on Saturday, May 5th.
Cost: $200. Instructor(s): Barr Rosenberg, Santosh Philip.

Time, Space and Knowledge

Time, Space and Knowledge: Continuing Practice (TSK112)
Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:45 PM (March 27 – May 29, 2018)
This course consists of experiential forms of inquiry into our presence as expressions of time, space, and knowledge.
Cost: $180. Drop-in: $18/class. Instructor(s): Ken McKeon.

Tibetan Language Courses

Knowledge of classical written Tibetan unlocks a treasury of wisdom—the vast sacred literature of Tibet. 

Beginning Tibetan, Level III (TIB103)
Tuesdays, 1:30–3 PM (March 27 – May 29, 2018)
Learn to read and pronounce Tibetan script; study basic Tibetan grammar; and develop a working vocabulary.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisites: Beginning Tibetan Level II, or consent of the instructor.

Tibetan Tutorial (TIB301)
Fridays, 4:30–5:45 PM (March 30 – June 1, 2018)
Reading and translation in the classical Tibetan language.
Cost: $162. Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor.

Intermediate Tibetan, Level II (TIB202)
Fridays, 7–8:30 PM (March 30 – June 1, 2018)
Selected readings in the classical Tibetan language with grammar instruction.
Cost: $162. Instructor: Mollie Hughes. Prerequisite: Intermediate Tibetan Level I, or consent of the instructor.

Buddhist Studies

Buddhist Mahayana Sutras (DHS214)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 8 – March 12, 2018)
We will read and discuss in depth Mahayana Sutras, including an introduction to the Avatamsaka Sutra (The Flower Ornament Sutra), and Sutras on Emptiness from the book “A Treasury of Mahayana Sutras” (Pennsylvania State University Press, 1983).
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Bob Byrne.

Compassion in Action: Quarter 4 of the Path of Liberation Program (DHS205)
Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 9 – March 13, 2018)
The depth and vastness of the Dharma restores the foundation, purpose, and direction of human life, inspiring a way of living oriented toward loving-kindness, compassion, and selflessness. In this quarter, we will explore what it means to live a life dedicated to compassion and wisdom, tracing the movements of the Dharma through different times and cultures. We will look at biographies of great masters, men and women from India and Tibet, and trace the development of the different schools of Buddhist thought. We also continue to cultivate inner capabilities for compassionate wisdom through study and practice as we explore the relevance of this tradition for modern life.
Cost: $200. Includes “Kamalashila and the Stages of Meditation” workshop on February 24. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson and Hugh Joswick. Prerequisites: Previous Path of Liberation course in this series, or consent of the instructors.

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS114)
Wednesdays, 1:30–3 PM (January 10 – March 14, 2018)
This class presents a special opportunity for individuals to learn chanting of traditional prayers without prior knowledge of the Tibetan language. Practice materials will be provided showing the Tibetan text, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation. In addition to providing background teachings, Lama Palzang will methodically guide students in the correct pronunciation, melody, and rhythm of selected traditional Buddhist prayers, including Lama Mipham’s profound and beautiful Practice of Shakyamuni and the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings. Please note that there is no class on January 31.

Nyingma Meditation Courses

Advanced Meditation:  The Noble Eightfold Path (MED306)
Mondays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 8 – March 12, 2018)
These fundamental, foundational practices are key to living and learning in a way that manifests the path towards enlightenment. This class leads us to engage anew with the Noble Eightfold Path and ask ourselves how we can return to them again and again, and to work with them on multiple levels.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Santosh Philips. Prerequisites: Three years of meditation experience, or consent of the instructor.

Intermediate Meditation:  Opening Pathways to Inner Joy (MED213)
Wednesdays 10-11:30AM (January 10 – March 14, 2018)
Anyone with some meditation experience who wants to deepen their practice is welcome.  Our goal is to deeply relax the body and quiet the mind, by focusing awareness on the energy and joy inherent in the present moment –  right now – letting go of past obsessions and future worries.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd. Please note that there is no class on January 31.

Intermediate Meditation:  Overcoming All Obstacles (MED202)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 10 – March 14, 2018)
Tarthang Tulku describes meditation as “a way of opening our lives to the richness of experience.” Yet all too often we feel our way is blocked by restrictive patterns and confusion. Can we learn to embrace whatever we experience as a source of spiritual understanding? Can obstacles be transformed to release their trapped energy? In this course, we examine how to identify and overcome the most common obstacles to meditation in order to appreciate and understand our experience as a path to enlightenment.  Based on readings from Openness Mind and open to students with some practice in meditation.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s):  Hugh Joswick. Prerequisites: Some experience with meditation, or consent of the instructor. Please note that there is no class on January 31.

Beginning Meditation:  Self-Acceptance and Self-Appreciation through Meditation (MED111)
Thursdays, 7-8:30 PM (January 11 – March 15, 2018)
This class is for beginners or for those wishing support in establishing a regular meditation practice at home.  We will work with practices to cultivate inner serenity, which naturally leads to a more harmonious relationship and more compassionate attitude toward ourselves, deepening appreciation for our whole being.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Olivia Hurd. Please note that there is no class on February 1.

Nyingma Psychology and Practices

Nyingma psychology and practices offer unique insight into the human situation and innovative ways to ease emotional discomfort and increase well-being.

NPS 114 Practicing with Dimensions of Mind (NPS114)
Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 11 – March 15, 2018)
In Dimensions of Mind, Tarthang Tulku challenges our usual ways of thinking about meditation and the nature of the mind. He asks us to move to a deeper understanding of the nature of mind and to see how we have come to accept and embrace limitations that prevent access to a deeper way of knowing. It is as if we have been asleep and do not acknowledge that mind itself holds a great treasury of knowledge. We think we have lost the real jewel, but the treasure is right here when we know how to look. In this class, we explore exercises from Dimensions of Mind that open the treasures of mind and awaken the knowledge of inner freedom.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick. Please note that there is no class on February 1.

Kum Nye (Tibetan Yoga)

The gentle movement, massage, and breathing practices of Kum Nye promote physical and emotional health as they bridge the gap between the material and the spiritual.

Advanced Kum Nye:  Transforming Breath, Energy, Feeling (KNR301)
Tuesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 9 – March 13, 2018)
Breathing and movement exercises stimulate and direct the energy of body and mind; visualization practices awaken and sustain inner vitality; and meditation practices foster serenity. These practices are simple and yet profound, gentle and yet deeply transformative.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Santosh Philips. Prerequisites: two years of Kum Nye practice.

Beginning Kum Nye:  Discovering and Healing Ourselves through Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga (KNR111)
Thursdays, 7–8:30 PM (January 11 – March 15, 2018)
This second semester of the year long introduction to Kum Nye focuses on Kum Nye exercises that activate a positive healing process that nurtures us mentally and physically, contacting and integrating body and mind. Practices promote deep relaxation, stimulation of body and sensory awareness, and also relieve tension and blockages in physical, subtle energy, and emotional systems. Prior Kum Nye courses or experience is recommended but not required.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Abbe Blum. Please note that there is no class on February 1.

Mixed Level Kum Nye:  Awakening and Healing through the Senses (KNR109)
Fridays, 10 – 11:30 AM (January 12 – March 16, 2018)
As we practice Kum Nye and deeply relax, the physical body and senses coordinate and integrate with mind. We become acquainted with stillness. We discover presence and vitality as the basis of our inner nature. Together we explore the operation of our senses as two-way channels that help integrate and heal the division between our inner and outer environments.
Cost: $162. Drop-in: $18/class. Instructor(s): Peggy Kincaid. Please note that there is no class on February 2.

Skillful Means

Society Within: Structure of Relationship (SKM219)
Wednesdays, 7 – 8:30 PM (January 10 – March 14, 2018)
We explore six aspects of human mind that are the core of Society Within: Emotional motivation and sympathy with others’ feelings are basic factors. Relationship shapes us through interaction and allows us to be ‘We.’ Relationship also balances contentious self-interest for the sake of cooperation, and gives rise to conscious thoughts that occupy our minds. These aspects are valuable for cultural survival, but have harmful side effects that cause personal suffering. We experiment with better ways to deploy underlying human capabilities involved in Society Within.
Cost: $162. Instructor(s): Barr Rosenberg, Santosh Philips. Please note that there is no class on January 31.

Time, Space and Knowledge

Dynamic Realization of Time (TSK109)
Tuesdays, 6:15 – 7:45 PM (January 9 – March 13, 2018)
This course consists of experiential forms of inquiry into our presence as expressions of time, space, and knowledge, with a focus on time.
Cost: $180. Drop-in: $18/class. Instructor(s): Ken McKeon. Prerequisite: Background in meditation and familiarity with the TSK vision, or consent of the instructor.

Tibetan Language Courses

Knowledge of classical written Tibetan unlocks a treasury of wisdom—the vast sacred literature of Tibet. 

Beginning Tibetan, Level II (TIB102)
Tuesdays, 1:30–3 PM (January 9 – March 13, 2018)
Learn to read and pronounce Tibetan script; study basic Tibetan grammar; and develop a working vocabulary.
Cost: $180. Instructor(s): Mark Henderson. Prerequisites: Beginning Tibetan Level I, or consent of the instructor.

Tibetan Tutorial (TIB301)
Fridays, 4:30–5:45 PM (January 12 – March 16, 2018)
Reading and translation in the classical Tibetan language.
Cost: $162. Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Prerequisite: consent of the instructor. Please note that there is no class on February 2.

Intermediate Tibetan, Level II (TIB202)
Fridays, 7–8:30 PM (January 12 – March 16, 2018)
Selected readings in the classical Tibetan language with grammar instruction.
Cost: $162. Instructor: Mollie Hughes. Prerequisite: Intermediate Tibetan Level I, or consent of the instructor. Please note that there is no class on February 2.