Late Spring Term (8 weeks)

April 19, 2021 – June 12, 2021

Buddhist Studies (DHS)

Reading the Sutras: Following the Words of the Buddha (DHS101)
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 21 – June 9)
Reading the Sutras is an ongoing course that examines in detail essential sutras in the Buddhist tradition. We read the sutras not as historical texts but as a practical encounter with the teachings of the Buddha. Our goal is to develop a respect for the sutra tradition and to foster an internal examination of how these texts can speak to our twenty-first century experience.
This term we study one of the most influential texts in Mahayana Buddhism: the Samdhinirmocana Sutra. It has recently been translated by the 84000 translation group as Unravelling the Intent and previously published by Dharma Publishing as Wisdom of Buddha. In this sutra, through a series of questions and answers the Buddha discusses relative and ultimate truth, the nature of consciousness, and meditative methods and practices that lead to complete and perfect enlightenment. The text is challenging and continues our ongoing exploration of fundamental Mahayana texts.
Instructors: Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick. Cost: $144. Prerequisites: Sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings. 

Register: https://register.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1884381  

Transmitting Insight; Penetrating Illusion (DHS202)
Part Two of the Path of Liberation Program
Tuesdays, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM, PST (April 20 – June 8)
Through studying the Abhidharma and Mind Training (Lojong) texts, we become aware of how the senses operate and interpret experience in each arising moment. This awareness creates the possibility for new knowledge and personal transformation. Although this class is the second part of a two-year Path of Liberation program, new students with a strong interest in Buddhist study are welcome. Class includes the Saturday workshops, “Turning the Mind to the Dharma” and “Training for Freedom.”
Instructors: Mark Henderson and Hugh Joswick. Cost: $164, includes two workshops. Open to all.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884388 

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS114)
Wednesdays, 9:30 – 11:00 AM, PST (April 21 – June 9)
Learn how to chant traditional prayers in the Tibetan language. Practice materials will be provided showing the Tibetan text, phonetic pronunciation, and English translation. In addition to providing background teachings, students will be guided in the pronunciation, melody, and rhythm of selected traditional Buddhist prayers.
Instructors: Lama Palzang and Mark Henderson. Cost: $144. Prerequisites: Sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884390 

Meditation (MED)

Advanced Meditation: Shakyamuni Buddha and the Noble Eightfold Path (MED318)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 19 – June 7)
We can learn from and follow in the footsteps of the Buddha, who woke up to inescapable and essential truths about how the world works, leaving behind a legacy of practices and methods that have been tested and passed down over thousands of years. The guidelines he gave his students can be described as the Noble Eightfold Path; wise ways of conducting one’s body, speech, and mind that are grounded in the principle of non-harm to self and others.
In this course, we will work with Tibetan master Lama Mipham’s prayer to Shakyamuni Buddha, which is a practice that evokes the presence, wisdom, and compassion of the Buddha.
Saga Dawa takes place from May 12 – June 10, 2021. During this holy month, Tibetan Buddhists celebrate the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and passing away into parinirvana. We also believe that the effects of any positive actions are amplified during this time, so it’s an especially auspicious time to practice, study, and generate merit.
Instructor: Lama Palzang. Cost: $144. Prerequisites: Sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings and consent of instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884392 

Intermediate Meditation: Opening the Heart (MED203)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (April 20 – June 8)
This course explores meditation practices that develop awareness of the heart. When attention goes to the heart, feelings flow more easily, and we can begin to cultivate the warmth and balance necessary to care for ourselves and others.
Instructor: Pauline Yu. Cost: $144. 

Register: https://register.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1884398 

Beginning Meditation: Cultivating Awareness (MED104)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 19 – June 7)
This course welcomes all beginning students of meditation as well as those with lapsed practices. It will include guided mindfulness of breathing, traditional sitting practices, reflections and gentle Kum Nye Tibetan yoga. Each class focuses on a different aspect of meditative awareness through talks, discussion and practices that serve to deepen and enhance our home meditation practice. As we work with self-observations and cultivate awareness of mind, body, emotions and feelings, we begin to access the wisdom and knowledge ordinarily obscured by the surface layers of mental agitation. Mind naturally becomes calmer, clearer and happier.
The syllabus sets out weekly topics, suggested readings and quotations for reflection. Reading assignments focus primarily on two books, Gesture of Balance and Hidden Mind of Freedom with supplemental short scanned readings as needed.
Instructor: Suellen Ehnebuske. Cost: $144. Open to all.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884400 

Kum Nye (KNR)

Anatomy of a Kum Nye Exercise: #54 Loosening the Self Image and #62 Increasing Endurance (KNR130)
Wednesdays, 8:30 – 9:30 AM, PST (April 21 – June 9)
In this 8-week class we will work intimately with body, breath, senses, and awareness as we explore two Kum Nye practices in depth and detail. #54 Loosening Up the Self Image ‘stimulates the skin and activates new mental and muscular patterns’. #62 Increasing Endurance ‘balances body energy, and develops the ability to stay balanced during critical points of emotional or psychological change’. Commitment to daily practice between classes is required to get the full benefit of this course. This morning class meets weekly for 1 hour.
Instructor: Donna Morton. Cost: $96. Prerequisites: completion of at least one Kum Nye course or workshop, or with permission of the instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884402 

The Inner Alchemy of Kum Nye, Part One (KNR118)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 19 – June 7) OR Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 AM, PST (April 22 – June 10)
“Once we learn to stimulate our feelings and energies through the practice of Kum Nye, we can expand them more and more each day, cultivating enjoyment and playfulness in every action.” –Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga, p. 295
This last regular semester of the year-long introduction to Kum Nye features its “inner alchemy” (p.294) -engaging in practice that encourages relaxing self-concept and embracing experience. Exercises that integrate feelings as well as activating and circulating energy help us to develop a quality in our Kum Nye practice that is without holding or clinging. Refining concentration and entering experience more fully, we expand feeling and energies more and more, and cultivate enjoyment and playfulness in every action of our lives, even enjoying stressful situations.
Section 1: Monday nights, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST with Abbe Blum. Cost: $144. No Drop-ins. Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884423         
Section 2: Thursday mornings, 7:00 – 8:30 AM, PST with Anita McNulty. Cost: $144. No Drop-ins. Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884424  
Many exercises are drawn from the latter parts of the book. It is recommended that you have at least one prior Kum Nye course – or permission from the instructor. Cannot be taken as a drop-in class.

Intermediate / Mixed Level Kum Nye:  Joy of Being, Easening Practices (KNR210)
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (April 22 – June 10)
“For our health and happiness, it is essential that we learn ways of relaxing and bringing ease to the mind and communicate directly with body and senses.” Joy of Being,144.
This ongoing Joy of Being series features practice that promotes deep relaxation, giving mind space to be, while energizing the senses. This class also develops awareness that lessens the grasping quality that comes with perceiving and narrating experience. We explore redirecting energy that gets diverted into discomfort or negative patterning into positive action that relieves and empowers.
Instructor: Abbe Blum. Cost: $144. Drop-in: $20, Based on Tarthang Tulku’s Joy of Being. Prerequisite: familiarity with Kum Nye through at least one prior class or attending Sunday sessions. 

Register: https://register.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1893697 

Advanced Kum Nye: Ongoing Practice (KNR303)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 20 – June 8)
Advanced Kum Nye movement, breath, and visualization practices from Tarthang Tulku’s Joy of Being form the core of these classes. Exercises will be offered on different levels of engagement to challenge the advanced student. This course is an un-course, in the sense that it is a space of exploration best entered without expectations.
Instructor: Santosh Philiip. Cost: $144. Drop-in: $20/class. 

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884428 

Nyingma Psychology (NPS)

The Way of Caring: Awakening Heart, Level 4 (NPS225)
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM, PST (April 22 – June 10)
In this class, we focus on the last half of Caring by Tarthang Tulku. We will explore ways that opening up to caring can transform our mind, our behavior, and our lives. Through reading, discussion, and meditation practices we begin to awaken the radical potential caring has to unite head and heart and find freedom to live from our innermost being. Open to all students, especially those who have read Caring before and wish to dive deeper into the life-changing power of caring.
Instructors: Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick. Cost: $144.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884431 

Time, Space and Knowledge (TSK)

Time, Space and Knowledge: Perspectives and Practices (TSK108)
Dates and times TBD
A continuing exploration of Tarthang Tulku’s Time, Space and Knowledge vision. We inquire into our presence as expressions of time, space, and knowledge. In a sense, we are activating and realizing our human potential as visionary beings. Our practice can inform our living and our living informs our practice. The primary text is Dynamics of Time and Space, although we will also engage other works by Tarthang Tulku in the TSK series. Anyone with an interest in exploring experience on a fundamental level is welcome.
Instructor: Ken McKeon, Cost: $144. Open to all. 

Register: Please contact us if you’re interested in this course. 

Tibetan Language (TIB)

Beginning Tibetan Level V (TIB105)
Mondays, 6:15 – 7:45 PM, PST (April 19 – June 7)
In this beginning language class, students continue studying grammar and working with selections from classical Tibetan texts.
Instructor: Mark Henderson. Cost: $144. Prerequisite: TIB104 or consent of the instructor. 

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884435 

Intermediate Tibetan V (TIB205)
Thursdays, 6:15 -7:45 PM, PST (April 22 – June 10)
Continued reading and translation of traditional texts and prayers in the classical Tibetan language.
Instructor: Mark Henderson. Cost: $144. Prerequisite: TIB204 or consent of the instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884436 

Advanced Tibetan: Advanced Tutorial (TIB302)
Fridays, 4:30 – 5:45 PM, PST (April 23 – June 11)
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.
Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Cost: $144. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor. 

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/#EventID=1884437