Sundays, 6:00 – 7:00 PM / Dharma Talk or Gathering
September 8: Erika Rosenberg “Tonglen: a Journey in Transformation and Ease” Tonglen is a profound meditation practice that works with intention, feeling, imagery, and breath, to help transform suffering into ease, and to build a commitment to being of help to oneself and others. It is a simple and profound practice that some people find intimidating. In this talk, Nyingma instructor and psychological scientist Erika Rosenberg, Ph.D., will deconstruct this practice and offer insights on how to work with it in daily life. Her talk is shaped through perspectives of Nyingma psychology, Buddhist meditation, and current scientific thinking. Online and In Person at the Nyingma Institute
September 15: Iris Maitland “Healing Breath” Learning to bring awareness to the breath as a healing tool that is always available to you, can support bringing balance into all aspects of your experience. Tarthang Tulku writes in Kum Nye Tibetan Yoga:With awareness of the breath, your whole life becomes balanced. Even when you find yourself in situations that arouse great anger, frustration, or pain, you can dissolve the disturbance by just being aware of your breathing, slightly paying attention and making the breath calm, slow and rhythmical. Iris Maitland, who has been teaching Kum Nye at the Nyingma Institute for several decades, will lead healing practices using awareness and breath to help release emotional and physical pain, tension and energy blockage. Online Only
September 22: No Talk Scheduled Due to Event
September 29: Women’s Meditation
October 6 Elon Goldstein “Learning from the Life and Teachings of the
‘Tibetan Sky-Dancer’, Sera Kandro – an inspiring 20th C female Buddhist Master”
This talk will introduce the captivating life-story and some brilliant written passages of Sera Kandro (1892-1940), widely considered one of the greatest female masters in Tibetan Buddhism from the last century. Sera Kandro encountered many challenges during her life on her path to becoming a deeply realized Buddhist adept. Her intimately written autobiography is enchanting, illuminating, and instructive for us today on many levels. Sera Kandro was a discloser of spiritual revelations (a terton), and she had a deeply moving, long-term relationship with Drime Ozer, a master who was her rare spiritual equal. Sera Kandro was one of the main teachers of the supreme practitioner Chatral Rinpoche, who in turn was a key teacher of Nyingma Institute’s Deans, Pema Gellek and Lama Palzang. That makes Sera Kandro is our great-grandteacher! Come and join in for stories of realization, Buddhist insights, spiritual romance, and beautiful quotes from this amazing woman. This will be presented by Elon Goldstein, Lecturer at Harvard Divinity School and Brandeis University; Instructor at Dharma College. Online Only
October 13 Olivia Hurd “Who am I, and How do I want Myself and Others to See Me?” In this Dharma talk, we will consider how we experience ourselves through the lens of the mechanism of mind that is especially active when we assert our sense of self. We will consider how self-image operates and limits our experience when we feel our identity is challenged, needs to protect or project an image of who we are, or want to be. Through uncovering and understanding these mechanisms, we can discover more balance and self-confidence, more freedom of mind. As Tarthang Tulku writes in the ‘Understanding Self and Mind Series’, the point is to … be free of the basic causes of unhappiness and suffering. … Could we develop an understanding that did not rely on those structures, … “I”, “me” or “mine”? Nyingma Psychology instructor Olivia Hurd will present teachings and practices that allow us to let go of this limited construction of self, opening to a greater, deeper sense of being.
October 20 Santosh Philip “Incorporating the Practice of Beauty in Daily
Meditation” Tarthang Tulku writes in his text, SEEING THE BEAUTY OF BEING, When we learn to expand attention to include the inner feeling side of the senses, we can develop a deeper sensitivity that goes beyond the senses. This depth leads towards ‘lila’, the playful joyful, aesthetic invitation to experience transparency and wholeness, where the individual petals of seer, seeing, and seen open up into a continuum of beauty and richness. Many times in our lives, beauty presents itself – a sunset, a breeze in the forest, a snippet of music, a wonderful meal. Can we integrate beauty into our practice? Can beauty itself become a practice? Meditation Instructor Santosh Philip will present a talk on the role of beauty in meditation, along with specific practices. Online & In Person at the Nyingma Institute
October 26 (Women’s Meditation)
November 3 Elon Goldstein “Straight Talk from an Old Dog: Fun stories and
powerful Teachings from Patrul Rinpoche (1808-1887); Incomparable
Example of a Buddhist Life” Wanderer sometimes in disguise, compassionate and humble, learned and spiritually realized beyond conception, Patrul Rinpoche today remains one of the most influential figures in all of Tibetan Buddhism from the nineteenth century. Anecdotes from his life bring smiles of amusement, and the words of his advice bring profound transformation. In this talk we will hear some of these anecdotes and teachings while getting a sense for the overall accomplishments of one of the greatest religious figures not only of the 1800s but in all of history. Patrul Rinpoche was a holder of every level of Tibetan Buddhist teachings and was pivotal in the transmission of Tibetan Buddhism into
our time. And we will also find out the story behind why Patrul often signed his brilliant writings, “Ragged Old Dog.” Online Only
November 10 Hugh Joswick “The Silence of the Mind”
To understand who we are and what we are doing, we must understand the meaning of silence. (Tarthang Tulku, in “Taking the Teachings to Heart.”) In this talk, Hugh Joswick, instructor at the Nyingma Institute, will present and explore various dimensions of silence. Through discussion and practice we will investigate silence directly: from the uncomfortableness of awkward silences to the need to find silence in daily life. What can silence teach us about ourselves and about the mind? Online & In Person at the Nyingma Institute
November 17 Emily Provosty “Kum Nye for Regulating the Nervous System” Traumatic experiences, trapped emotions, and conditioned holding patterns can put strain on our nervous systems, making it difficult for us to truly relax, and causing us to be frozen in our sympathetic nervous system, or “fight or flight” response. In order for our bodies to function optimally, we need to be able to move into our “rest and digest” state, but how do we do this? Kum Nye can offer a way to balance and integrate the body and mind through relaxation. We can learn to use the tools that are immediately available to us, such as movement, feeling, and breath, in order to soothe the nervous system and undo habitual knots of tension and stress. In this dharma talk given by Emily Provosty, student and staff member at Nyingma Institute, will discuss the benefits of Kum Nye for the nervous system and do some relevant practices together. Online Only
November 24 (Women’s Meditation)
December 1 Richard Kingsland “The Purpose and Benefits of Ngondro
Practice” The Ngondro, or “Preliminary Practices”, is a foundational series of five practices that present the essence of the Buddha’s teachings, a commitment done over a period of years. It is understood to be a pivotal, essential practice, serving to transform the student toward enlightenment – for oneself and for all beings. Dr. Kingsland, who has been a student of Tarthang Tulku, founder of Nyingma Institute, for over 50 years, will present a talk on how these sequential practices fit together in profound ways to touch the very root of heart wisdom. (For further information on when the class will be offered at the Institute, please email the front desk.) Online Only
December 8 Suellen Ehnebuske “Practicing ‘Right Speech’ to Oneself from the Inside Out” The Buddha taught that when communicating with others, it is important to do so with ‘Right Speech’; that is, to speak truthfully, harmoniously, with kindness and concern, and in ways that are useful and purposeful. But how often do we neglect to reflect these qualities to ourselves? Negative self-talk often becomes habitual, and when unexamined, we accept it as our truth. But at what cost to our well-being? Nyingma Psychology Instructor Suellen Ehnebuske will consider ‘Right Speech’ and ‘Right View’, so that we may care for ourselves with more kindness, skill and compassion. Online Only
December 15 Dave Abercrombie “Kum Nye and Freshness” In his teachings on Kum Nye Relaxation (Tibetan Yoga), Tarthang Tulku Rinpoche often uses the metaphor of freshness. Some examples include “fresh, expansive energy courses through body and mind,” “the fresh joy of experience,” “a fresh way of seeing may present itself,” “invite more of the fresh, open quality of space into your cakras,” and so on. This talk will explore how we can recognize and deepen this natural and always available freshness in our practice and in our daily lives. We will also do a little Kum Nye. David Abercrombie, who has been teaching Kum Nye at the Nyingma Institute for 15 years, will lead this talk. Online Only