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2007-08 Practice and Study Guidelines

Rinpoche has suggested that students work with the following texts and practices during the coming year. These are the guidelines offered for the section(s) of the Annual Retreat you attended. If you have any questions or concerns, please talk with your area coordinator or one of the lopöns who can give you guidance.

Entering the Mahayana

Study

  • Rinpoche’s commentary on The Perfect Vase (based on CDs available in local study groups)
  • Read various texts on 4 Noble Truths, 8-fold Path and 12 nidanas
  • Read Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend transcript with Rinpoche’s commentary

Practice

  • Supreme Sage

Entering the Vajrayana

Study

  • Rinpoche’s Commentary on Lochen Dharmashri’s collection of Sutra teachings on the first three yanas (based on CDs available in local study groups)
  • Study first volume of Kindly Bent to Ease Us by Longchenpa
  • Study Precious Treasury of Dharmadhatu by Longchenpa

    Note: This volume is published under the title The Precious Treasury of the Basic Space of Phenomena (source verses) - otherwise known as the Chöying Dzöd. A companion text, A Treasure Trove of Scriptural Transmission, includes Longchenpa's own commentary on those verses. Both texts are available from Padma Publishing.

  • Work with Buddha’s teachings of the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma

Practice

  • Ngöndro
  • For those who took lay vows: maintain vows and stay in contact with the others.

Supplementary study

  • Read other sources of teachings on the 9 yanas including Trungpa Rinpoche’s 1973 transcript on the 9 Yanas.

Dzogchen

Study

  • Yeshe Lama transcript
  • Khandro Nyingthig transcript
  • Utpatti and Sampanakrama transcripts

Practice

  • Pema Garwang
  • Continue Ngöndro

Retreat

  • Thogal with Pema Garwang

Supplementary study

  • Kindly Bent to Ease Us, Vols. 1-3


Last update: 13 September 2007