Kurukulla Buddhist Centre - Study of Buddhism
Kurukulla Buddhist Centre - Study of Buddhism
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Kurukulla Buddhist Centre - Study of Buddhism

Kurukulla Buddhist Centre - Study of Buddhism
Kurukulla Buddhist Centre - Study of Buddhism

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April 11, 2006: New Podcasts of Current Teachings!
Install iTunes: Download iTunes
Then, click here to Subscribe To Current Podcast

August 3, 2004 Note: We are using a new "VCR-like" MP3 recording system to speed up the posting of the recordings to this page. The unfortunate drawback is that if class starts a few minutes late, there will be a few minutes of silence at the beginning of the file. You can use your media player to skip this silent passage manually. (If class starts really late - sometimes 20 minutes! - there will be that much silence.)

Live Broadcast From Kurukulla Center

Please be patient as the live connection will take about 20 seconds to start with the sound.

Regularly scheduled classes are held at the following times:

  • Sundays 10AM-12Noon, EST (-5 GMT)
  • Wednesdays 7-9PM, EST (-5 GMT)
    For information on these classes, and other scheduled classes, please view our Calendar.

    If you need to get the Free RealPlayer, you may download and install it from this link. Available for Windows, Macintosh, Linux.

    Library of Recorded Teachings

    We are delighted to offer audio files of selected talks by our resident lama Geshe Tsulga and visiting and senior teachers. As our community grows, more and more members participate from a distance and are not easily able to attend teachings. With this new service, a much wider audience can now benefit from the easy availability of these Dharma recordings.

    All audio recordings are available in MP3 format, unless otherwise listed. Most MP3 average 20MB. If you have a 56K Modem, it will take 2 hours to download each file. Broadband users will have a much shorter download time.

    His Holiness The Dalai Lama Visits Kurukulla Center

    On September 12, 2003, Kurukulla Center hosted a very special visit from His Holiness The XIV Dalai Lama. His Holiness addressed the students and the visitors in the back garden.

    Audio Recording (Time: 42:36)

    • Play using RealOne Player
    • Play using QuickTime Player
    • Play using Windows Media Player
    • Play using any MP3 Player

    Video Recording: 1.5 hours, 324MB, 320x240 [Requires iTunes 6 or QuickTime 7 & High-Speed Internet Connection; iPod compatible MPEG 4 Video File]

  • DVD Video of His Holiness's Visit To Kurukulla Center

    • Lama Zopa Rinpoche - Summer 2007 Visit

    Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche gave a teaching followed by the oral transmission of the Golden Light Sutra

    Khensur Rinpoche - Special Visit Spring 2004

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga's root guru, Khensur Riponche, visited Kurukulla Center in May 2004 to give a teaching and a long life initiation.

    Choden Rinpoche - Special Visit Fall 2004

    Kurukulla Center is honored to welcome Venerable Choden Rinpoche for a series of teachings in November 2004. Rinpoche will teach on Atisha's A Lamp for the Path and give a Yamantaka and Kurukulla Empowerment.

    Choden Rinpoche - Special Visit Fall 2005

    Lines of Experience
    The Lines of Experience, a Lamrim prayer written in 25 verses by Lama Tsongkhapa, one of the most eminent scholar and practitioners in Buddhist history, is introduced and discussed by Ven. Choden Rinpoche, himself an eminent scholar-practitioner. This very personal prayer speaks of the practices Je Tsongkhapa followed and the view he cultivated to become closer to liberation. This is an excellent introduction to the path to enlightenment texts for newer students and an excellent opportunity for more experienced students to review the points of the path.

    Oral Transmission of Two Dharma Treatises: The Ornament of Clear Realizations and Seventy Topics
    Tonight Venerable Choden Rinpoche continues the respected Buddhist tradition of formally passing on the teachings from teacher to disciple. Rinpoche recites the texts in Tibetan and in so doing secures the survival of the lineage from the time of Shakyamuni Buddha up to the present. For much of this year, Geshe Tsulga has been teaching these texts so we are very fortunate to receive the blessing of the lineage from this great guru and lineage holder. Prior to imparting the oral transmission, Rinpoche will give an explanatory talk.

    Oral Transmission of Two Puja Texts: The Guru Puja & Medicine Buddha Puja
    We regularly perform these two pujas at Kurukulla Center. By receiving these transmissions, our practice of them will be great enhanced. The oral transmissions will be prefaced by an explanatory talk.

    Choden Rinpoche - Special Visit Spring 2007

    Seven Point Mind Training
    Kadampa Geshe Chekawa's Seven-Point Mind Training is the main Tibetan source for the genre of teachings generally known as "mind training." Although all the Buddha's teachings were meant for training the mind, the connotation of mind training is the development of bodhicitta, the determination to reach enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.

    Rinpoche will give commentary on this great mind transformation or "lo.jong" text which can be found here.

    Based on two famous lines from Nagarjuna's Precious Garland, "May the negativity and suffering of others ripen on me and may all my virtue and happiness ripen on them," these teachings give clear practical instruction in overcoming self-cherishing - the main hindrance to enlightenment - and transforming problems into happiness.

    Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche - Special Visit Summer 2005 To Milarepa Center

    Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche was born in the province of Amdo Ð eastern Tibet Ð in 1926, and at age six was recognized as the reincarnation of the former abbot of the Kirti Gompa. At the age of nine, He was ordained as a monk. Rinpoche received teachings from many high Lamas of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.

    Lama Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche is one of the holders of the tantra of Kalachakra lineage, having received that empowerment when he was 14 years old. At the age of 32 and having completed his monastic studies he was appointed as the Abbot of Kirti.

    After escaping from T’bet in 1959, Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche taught Tibetan orphans at the Tibetan Children's Village, Dharamsala, India. At the age of 45 he began a fifteen-year meditation retreat in a small stone hermitage above Dharamsala, "big enough for a bed, prostrations, and a stove". He spent seven years in meditation on Lam Rim, three years on "Seven Point Thought Transformation", and some generation and completion stage tantra. Two years were spent only on generation and completion stages and in the final 3 years, Rinpoche repeated all of the above.

    Rinpoche has given Kalachakra commentary to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and is a teacher of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Lama Zopa Rinpoche has said of Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche, "He is a great Kadampa master who shows real Kadampa Tradition...so completely renounced. There's not one slightest worldly activity, not the slightest eight world dharmas, no self cherishing thought. Even talking, everything is as much as possible pleasing to sentient being's minds."

    Rinpoche has been giving teachings around the world in many countries included: Australia, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.

    Geshe Tsulga - The Practice of the Perfections

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the topic The Practice of the Perfections .

    Geshe Tsulga - Path To Bliss

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga continues with the text called The Path to Bliss Leading to Omniscience, a lam.rim (steps on the path) text, composed by the First Panchen Lama, which he began two weeks ago. The text covers all of the essential points of the Buddhist spiritual tradition.Thisis a great class suitable for new and continuing students alike. A copy of the root text and a commentary on it by the Dalai Lama are available in the Kurukulla bookstore. The tradition of lam.rim is core and foundational to all our other practices. One needs to hear, study, contemplate and meditate on these teachings over and over again. Studying this text is a wonderful opportunity and Geshela is an living embodiment of them.

    Geshe Tsulga - Meditating on the Lamrim

    Resident teacher Geshe Tsulga introduces us to a short text by the great Tibetan meditation master Pabongkha Rinpoche  How to Meditate on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lam Rim). Previously Geshe-la has given us a solid philosophical foundation in the stages of the path teachings and most recently guidelines on meditating on the lamrim. This new class will focus on increasing our experiential understanding of these topics. Learning to contemplate and meditate on the Lam Rim has very direct and practical applications in our daily life -- learning to respond in balanced and realistic way to whatever life brings our way.

    Geshe Tsulga - Praises to the 21 Taras Commentary

    Tara is a beloved female Buddha, the enlightened activity of all the Buddhas. Reciting her Praises is a practice done daily by thousands and for millennia. Geshe Tsulga kindly gives a commentary on these Praises, for the first time since he has been in the West. For a copy of the Praises please click here

    Also, we recommend this book as a reference for Geshe-las teachings on the Twenty-one Taras It contains the verses themselves, and also the First Dalai Lama's commentary that Geshe-la is using, his praise to Tara, "Leg-tri-ma," that Geshe-la mentioned, and much more material as well.

    Geshe Tsulga - Foundation of All Good Qualities

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the text Foundation of All Good Qualities by Lama Tsong Khapa.

    Geshe Tsulga - The Way of the Bodhisattva

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gives teachings on the text A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life by Shantideva, one of the great texts of Mahayana Buddhism. From September, 2003 Geshela began Chapter VI the section on Patience.

    Geshe Tsulga - Oral Transmission of "The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in 8000 Lines"

    The 8000 Lines is one of the Buddha's principal works in the Perfection of Wisdom literature and was taught to show us the ultimate nature of reality and how we evolve into bodhisattvas and buddhas. In these five sessions, Geshe Tsulga will recite the entire sutra in Tibetan, thereby giving listeners the oral transmission (Tib: lung), which he received from his teacher. This unbroken lineage can be traced back to the Buddha himself. This rare and precious opportunity to receive the imprints and blessings of the perfection of wisdom will be presented in the traditional manner. You may attend any part of the transmission, but to receive the entire transmission, you should be on time and not miss any sessions. White flowers are appropriate for the altar. If you have Edward Conze's English translation, The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines and Its Verse Summary, please bring it with you. The sponsors hope to have copies available for everyone, but this text is not easily available. These sessions are fully sponsored. After the final session there will be opportunity to make an offering to Geshe-la.

    Venerable Robina Courtin - Winter 2004 Visit

    The Venerable Robina Courtin gave a week-long series of teachings during her Winter 2004 visit to Kurukulla Center.

    Venerable Robina Courtin - Winter 2005 Visit
    The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings during her Winter 2005 visit to Kurukulla Center.

    Venerable Robina Courtin - Winter 2006 Visit
    The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings during her Winter 2006 visit to Kurukulla Center.

    Venerable Robina Courtin - Winter 2007 Visit

    The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings during her Winter 2007 visit to Kurukulla Center.

    Geshe Tsulga - Oral Transmission of Lam Rim Chenmo

    The Lamrim Chenmo or Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment by Lama Tsongkhapa remains one of the most revered spiritual treatises in the world of Tibetan Buddhism. It encompasses the breadth and depth of the Buddha's sutra teachings and organizes them into a threefold division based upon the motivation of the spiritual practitioner, excluding any directed toward material gain in this life.

    During these sessions, Geshe Tsulga recites the entire text in Tibetan, giving listeners the oral transmission (Tib: lung) he received from his teacher. Receiving the transmission is considered to carry enormous benefit for one's understanding.

    The transmission follows a traditional presentation. You may attend any part of the transmission, but to receive it in its entirety, you should be on time and not miss any sessions. If you have the three volumes of the Snow Lion Publication Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, please bring them with you.

    Technical difficulties with new recording system. Corrected files will be posted in a few days

    Geshe Tsulga - Ornament of Clear Realizations

    The spiritual realizations a bodhisattva gains along the path to enlightenment are the subject of The Ornament of Clear Realizations. This text was written by Maitreya to illuminate the spiritual levels of insight that are presented in a hidden manner in the Perfection of Wisdom sutras. Our study will focus on the realizations described in Chapter 4.

    Geshe Tsulga - Tathagata Essence (Buddha Nature)

    This class will focus on Chapter One of the Tathagata Essence or Uttaratantra text by Maitreya. This highly influential text explains why high states of understanding and even enlightenment are possible for every sentient being. It serves as a bridge between the sutrayana or shared teachings and the more esoteric and restricted vajrayana teachings. This topic is of great consequence for all Buddhist practitioners regardless of our background. When we understand that all of us without exception possess buddha-nature, the inherent purity of the mind free from defiled mental states, we gain the confidence that with effort we can evolve to a state of enlightenment. This insight prevents us from either the arrogance that we are superior to others or the self-loathing that doubts our own abilities. The text also explains in great detail the meaning of the Three Jewels: the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, an understanding that is foundational for all Buddhists. An electronic version of the text will be distributed by email to all those attending the class.

    Geshe Tsulga - Seventy Topics

    Geshe Tsulga teaches the "Seventy Topics", an outline of the entire sutra path to enlightenment as presented in Maitreya's highly respected Ornament of Clear Realizations. This is a challenging subject but considered well worth our time and effort as it brings many benefits in the long-term. We are fortunate to have a patient and well-qualified teacher like Geshe-la to guide us through this text.

    Geshe Tsulga - Tenets: Views of Reality

    Our resident teacher Geshe Tsulga gave a course of teachings on tenets, or the philosophical views of the four main schools of Buddhism. Here are some of the classes from the fall schedule.

    Geshe Tsulga - The Path To Enlightenment

    For the past two years, Geshe Tsulga has blessed our center by giving us teachings on one of the Lamrim or path to enlightenment texts by the great Tsongkhapa. Lamrim texts are treasured because they summarize the key points of the Buddha's teachings in a concise and progressive manner; it is like having a blueprint to an enlightened state of mind.

    Geshe-la will teach on the first five-bodhisattva perfections - generosity, ethical conduct, patience, enthusiastic effort and concentration.

    Geshe Tsulga - Wheel of Sharp Weapons

    Dharmarakshita wrote this text centuries ago, yet its message remains valid and profoundÐ all of our misfortunes originate from not understanding that true happiness comes from giving up the self-cherishing mind. Powerful images are used to inspire us to make good use of our precious human life and break through our limited view of what we can attain.

    Venerable Rita Riniker - Spring 2004 Visit

    The Venerable Rita Riniker gave a week-long series of teachings during her Spring 2004 visit to Kurukulla Center.