Volumes of the Collected Works of Lochen Dharmashri


Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche's
Teaching Schedule for 2010
Lotus Garden
1991 Pine Grove Rd.
Stanley, VA 22851
USA
1-540-778-2405
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Programs & Retreats

Shedra 2010

Thursday, 15th July - Sunday, 25th July



Lotus Garden is very pleased to announce and invite you to the 2010 Shedra Program.

PROGRAM DETAILS

When: Thu, 15th July — Sun, 25th July
Where: Lotus Garden
Teachers: His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche & Her Eminence Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche
For Whom: Open to new and longtime students
Tuition: $795 (10% discount for members paying $50 per month or more)
Housing: Own tent (no charge); Dorm ($25 per night)

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Secure online registration

The Shedra Program at Lotus Garden is exceedingly fortunate to be guided by two of the most distinguished Tibetan Buddhist masters teaching today, His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche.

A shedra is a philosophical college for higher education in Buddhist studies, a place of learning where dedicated students can gather to hear the many topics of the buddhadharma—the sutras, vinaya, abhidharma, and secret mantra—explained in depth by eminent, qualified teachers.

The courses at the Shedra Program in Lotus Garden include some of the same topics and follow a similar structure as found in a traditional shedra. These courses include teachings given by qualified teachers, as well as discussions & in-depth reviews lead by lopöns (acaryas) and kyorpöns (teaching assistants).

HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche
His Eminence Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

The Shedra Program at Lotus Garden is now entering its fifth year.

At this year’s program, HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche is going to teach on lojong, or mind-training. Lojong refers to the Mahayana system of meditation which was brought to Tibet by the great Indian scholar Atisha Dipamkara, and propagated by the great masters of the Kadampa tradition.

It is said that if one wishes to attain complete unsurpassable enlightenment, there is no way to bring this about other than to rely upon the meditations of relative and absolute bodhicitta. Relative bodhicitta is training the mind in love and compassion. Ultimate bodhicitta is resting evenly in a state free from conceptual elaborations. Lojong is a straightforward and practical system, suitable for beginners, for practitioners to train in and perfect these meditations on bodhicitta.

HE Kongtrul Rinpoche will be teaching from Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye’s exceptional commentary on the Seven Points of Mind Training known as The Great Path of Awakening.

HE Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche
Her Eminence Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche

Also at this year’s Shedra Program, HE Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche will be continuing her series of teachings on The Mahayana-uttaratantra-shastra. This text was first expounded by Maitreya, the regent of Buddha Shakyamuni, and has been brought down to us through the great kindness of Asanga and his heirs, in a continuous stream of study & practice until the present day.

The Mahayana-uttaratantra-shastra explains that buddhanature is intrinsically present within all beings, the seed of enlightenment within each one of us. Even though we find ourselves temporarily obscured by afflictive emotions and our own deluded habits, this buddhanature is perfectly pure and unstained. It is complete with all the virtues of the Buddha, and can be revealed through the skilful methods contained within the Buddhadharma.

This year’s Shedra Program will also continue our courses on the history of Buddhism and Kyudo, the Japanese practice of contemplative archery.

“Buddhist History for Buddhist Practitioners” is a comprehensive course taught by Lopön Rita Gross. Lopön Rita brings to this course her many years of study and experience as a scholar and practitioner, distilling her own comprehensive research into the historical development of the Buddha’s life & teachings into an essential, practical focus for meditators. We are fortunate to have such a distinguished academic scholar of Buddhism teaching at the Shedra Program.

We are also very fortunate to once again have Sensei Ken Rawie guiding students in kyudo, the Way of the Bow, at the Shedra Program. Kyudo is the ancient art of contemplative archery. Sensei Ken Rawie (pdf), is a student of Kanjuro Sensei XX, the bowmaker and archer to the Japanese Imperial Court.

Anyone who might be interested in the Shedra Program, including both new & longtime students, is welcomed to attend.

Register
Secure online registration

If you have any questions regarding the Shedra Program at Lotus Garden, please don’t hesitate to contact us at registration@lotusgardens.org, or by phone at 540.778.2405.

 

Photo Credits: Photos of HE Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche and HE Jetsun Khandro Rinpoche are ©2010 Mindrolling International;
Banner photo; Volumes of the Collected Works of Lochen Dharmashri ©2009-10 Mindrolling International