Early Spring Classes: February 24 – April 17, 2020

8-week courses by field of study.

Buddhist Studies (DHS)

In the Words of the Buddha (DHS101)
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 26 – April 15)

Take a journey through the essential sutras of the Buddhist tradition. Each week we will engage key passages complemented by silent sitting, guided contemplation, or practices that evoke the presence of the Buddha.

Our intention is to contact these primary sources and to humbly bring them into dialogue with our own lives, approaching the sutras with respect, curiosity, and wonder. Readings will include selections from first, second, and third turning teachings.

Cost: $144. Instructors: Pema Gellek, Hugh Joswick, and Richard Dixey. This class can be joined either in person or online. Please contact us to let us know if you will be joining online.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617558

Compassion in Action – Part 2 (DHS205) Part 2 of Quarter 4 Path of Liberation Course
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 25 — April 14)

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 Part 2 of this quarter, we explore what it means to live a life dedicated to compassion and wisdom, tracing the movement of the Dharma through different times and cultures, looking at biographies of great masters, men and women from India and Tibet. We will also continue to cultivate inner capabilities for compassionate wisdom and deepen the knowledge of cause and effect through studying interdependent arising (pratityasamutpada).

Primary readings: Light of Liberation (Crystal Mirror 8) and Ways of Enlightenment; with readings from Crystal Mirror 10, 6, & 7; The Marvelous Companion: Life Stories of the Buddha; Master of Wisdom; Buddha’s Lions; Ancient Tibet; Keys of Knowledge; World Peace Ceremony

Cost: $164. Instructors: Hugh Joswick and Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: DHS203 or consent of the instructors. Includes one workshop — DHS419 Kamalashila and the Stages of Meditation.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617504

Guide to Chanting Tibetan Prayers (DHS114)
Thursdays, 1:30 – 3:00 PM (February 27 – April 16)

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.

Cost: $144. Instructors: Lama Palzang and Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: sincere interest in the Buddha’s teachings.
Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617569

Meditation (MED)

Advanced Meditation: Practice Advice from the Great Yogis of Tibet (MED307)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 24 – April 13)

Throughout Tibet’s history, there have been extraordinary yogis who sought out remote mountains, valleys and caves to meditate and contemplate upon the dharma, awakening mind in the quietude of the natural world. Across time and culture, the great yogis of Tibet speak directly to us, inviting us to search deeply within mind to find abiding peace, joy and belonging. Lama Palzang will share the heart advice of such great masters as Padmasambhava, Milarepa, Shabkar, Longchenpa, Jigme Lingpa, and Patrul Rinpoche on how to practice and how to live an awakened life for the benefit of all beings.

Cost: $144. Instructor: Lama Palzang. Prerequisite: Three years of meditation experience, or consent of the instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617413

Intermediate Meditation: Shamatha and Vipashyana (MED209)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 24 – April 13)

Two aspects of meditative practice, shamatha (calming) and vipashyana (insight) quiet the wild energies of mind and clarify the confusion created by ignorance. Students practice classic meditations with a minimum of instruction.

Cost: $144. Instructor: Pauline Yu. Prerequisite: two years of meditation experience or consent of instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617500

Beginning Meditation: Bringing Calm and Clarity to Mind (MED103)
Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM (February 26 – April 15)

Meditation can calm the mind, leading to greater mental clarity, and insight. Students learn how to foster both through traditional relaxation techniques including awareness of the movements of mind, breath and body, chanting and visualization.

Cost: $144. Instructor: Santosh Philip. For beginners and those wishing to review basic techniques.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617555

Kum Nye (KNR)

Discovering and Healing Ourselves through Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga (KNR111)
Mondays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (March 9 – April 13) NOTE: this class starts later than other courses this term.

Continuing this term in the yearlong introduction to Kum Nye, we focus on Kum Nye exercises drawn from Tarthang Tulku’s first Kum Nye book, Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga, that activate a positive healing process. We start to nurture ourselves both 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.

Cost: $108. Drop-in: $20/class. Instructor: Abbe Blum. Prior Kum Nye experience would be helpful but is not required. This class can be joined either in person or online. Please contact us to let us know if you will be joining online.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617475

Kum Nye Joy of Being: Deeply Relaxing and Making Mind our Friend (KNR208)
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (March 5 – April 16) NOTE: this class starts later than other courses this term.

“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, pg 144.

We continue with practices and contemplations from Joy of Being that promote 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.

This class provides a foundation for understanding the basis and development of Kum Nye, and the three levels on which its exercises can be experienced: through breath, awareness, and body movement. Self-massage practices which promote deep relaxation will be included.

Cost: $126. Instructor: Abbe Blum. Prerequisite: You are welcome to join this Joy of Being class if you have prior Kum Nye experience and are interested in having Kum Nye take root in your everyday life. This class can be joined either in person or online. Please contact us to let us know if you will be joining online.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617573

Advanced Kum Nye (KNR302)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 25 – April 14)

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

Cost: $144. Instructor: Santosh Philip. Prerequisites: two years of Kum Nye practice.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617531

Nyingma Psychology (NPS)

Aging Wisely (NPS117)
Tuesdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 25 – April 14)

This course explores the opportunities and challenges for mining wisdom as we move into the senior years through practices and discussions. We will draw on teachings and meditations from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition that serve to wake up to precious life right now. How can we age more consciously? Rather than diminishing our experience, slowing down can enrich each moment. For seniors as well as elders’ caregivers, and anyone curious about the mysteries of life as we face loss, sickness and death.

Cost: $144. Instructor: Olivia Hurd.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617548

Skillful Means … Caring (NPS116)
Thursdays, 7:00 – 8:30 PM (February 27 – April 16)

This course presents practical, direct, transformative practices and teachings from Tarthang Rinpoche’s recent book Caring. We will explore how we can experience greater depth of love and caring for ourselves and others, shift from reactivity to responsiveness, and awaken to being fully present for our lives in all situations—with our loved ones, at work, and in difficult circumstances. Through inquiry, contemplation, and meditative practices, we will engage the mysterious experience of knowing, which is deeply connected with caring. Caring invites us to cultivate a fresh attunement and deeper connection with self and others, and points us towards inhabiting pure being. From the tender heart of caring, we can act skillfully and dynamically act in the world, and fully open to the field of potential that is our life.

Cost: $144. Instructors: Pema Gellek and Hugh Joswick.
Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617570

Time, Space, Knowledge (TSK)

Time, Space and Knowledge: Perspectives and Practice (TSK112)
Wednesdays, 6:15-7:45 PM (February 26 – April 15)

This course consists of experiential forms of inquiry into our presence as expressions of time, space, and knowledge. Our focus this quarter will be on knowledge.

Cost: $144. Drop-in: $20/class. Please note that this class is held off site. Instructor: Ken McKeon.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617566

Tibetan Language (TIB)

Beginning Tibetan IV (TIB104)
Thursdays, 6:15-7:45 PM (February 27 – April 16)

In this beginning language class, students continue studying grammar and working with selections from classical Tibetan texts.

Cost: $144. Instructor: Mark Henderson. Prerequisite: Beginning Tibetan, Level III or consent of Instructor. This class can be joined either in person or online. Please contact us to let us know if you will be joining online.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617577

Intermediate Tibetan II (TIB202)
Fridays, 7–8:30 PM (February 28 – April 17)

Reading and translation from Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland: Buddhist Advice for Living and Liberation.

Cost: $144. 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.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617580

Tibetan Tutorial: Advanced Study (TIB301)
Fridays, 4:30 – 5:45 PM (February 28 – April 17)

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: $144. Instructor: Barr Rosenberg. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.

Register: https://nyingmainstitute.asapconnected.com/classdetail.aspx?org=4698&pk=1617585