Spend two days with visiting teacher Jon Landaw investigating the heart of Buddhism. Amidst this many-hued religion are core tenets and practices that are highly pragmatic and aim to bring happiness and solace in this very life. With Jon you will explore Buddhism's basic ideas about the human condition, the causes of dissatisfaction and unhappiness and how you can begin to gain mastery over your own life. This series is suitable for both newcomers and senior students. Although students are encouraged to attend all three sessions, it is possible to attend individual sessions as your schedule allows. During Jon's visit to Kurukulla Center, he would like to address issues of particular significance to our community. If you have specific questions or topics you want him to cover, please email program@kurukulla.org so we can put you in touch with him before his arrival. Jon Landaw, co-author of Buddhism for Dummies was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1944. He received his A.B. degree in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1965 and spent three years teaching English as a Second Language with the Peace Corps in Iran (1966-69). He worked as English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (1972-77) producing numerous texts under the guidance of Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. As a student of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche since the mid-1970's, he has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including Wisdom Energy and Introduction to Tantra. He is also the author of Prince Siddhartha, a biography of Buddha for children, and Images of Enlightenment, published by Snow Lion in 1993. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. He currently lives in Capitola, California with his wife and three children.
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Mar 27, 2010 Listen or Download Mar 27, 2010 Listen or Download Mar 26, 2010 Listen or Download
We are delighted to host visiting teacher Geshe Sherab to our center for a one-night talk. Suitable for both newcomers and experienced students, we encourage you to take advantage of this special opportunity. Geshe Thubten Sherab was born in the Manang region of western Nepal and entered Kopan Monastery outside Kathmandu at the age of 9. When he was 22, Geshe-la moved to Sera Je Monastery in south India for further study and the completion of his Geshe (Ph.D.) degree. He studied an additional year at Gyumé Tantric College and in 2001, accepted the assignment of teaching in Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. Now in his early forties, Geshe-la just completed a 4-year position as headmaster at Kopan Monastery and oversaw the entire education program there.
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Mar 1, 2010 Listen or Download
An Introduction to Tantra Tantra is a powerful practice but surrounded by many misconceptions. This is your chance to get a straightforward presentation of what tantra is, why we practice it and what it shares in common with the sutra or shared teachings. You will also learn the importance of foundational practices for success on this path. You are encouraged to attend both sessions of each series, but it is not required. Ven. Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Ven. Choden Rinpoche, and has been teaching extensively since 1992. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living. Presently, Amy is the director and resident teacher of Milarepa Center, a beautiful retreat center in northern Vermont.
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Feb 20, 2010 Listen or Download Feb 19, 2010 Listen or Download
The Fundamentals & Practice that Moves the Mind to the Positive Assemble the tools for a successful meditation practice. You will learn basic meditation techniques, the purpose of different kinds of meditation, and how to recognize and deal with obstacles. You are encouraged to attend both sessions of each series, but it is not required. Ven. Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Ven. Choden Rinpoche, and has been teaching extensively since 1992. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living. Presently, Amy is the director and resident teacher of Milarepa Center, a beautiful retreat center in northern Vermont.
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Feb 18, 2010 Listen or Download Feb 16, 2010 Listen or Download
How to Engage with Reality Accurately Engaging with reality accurately is more than an abstract philosophical notion. In Buddhism, the pursuit of truth is the path to freedom from suffering. This truth is found by walking the line between two extreme views -- nothing exists at all or things exist exactly as you perceive them. In this series, you will be introduced to the radical view of emptiness that underpins all of Buddhist thought. You are encouraged to attend both sessions of each series, but it is not required. Ven. Amy was ordained as a Buddhist nun in June 2000 by the great Tibetan master, Ven. Choden Rinpoche, and has been teaching extensively since 1992. Her teaching style emphasizes a practical approach to integrating Buddhist philosophy into everyday life. She is happy to help people connect with meditation and mindfulness in an effort to gain a refreshing perspective on normally stressful living. Presently, Amy is the director and resident teacher of Milarepa Center, a beautiful retreat center in northern Vermont.
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Feb 12, 2010 Listen or Download
Kurukulla Center has been very fortunate to have these visiting teachers during the following dates:
Buddhist Fundamentals - February 8, 2004
Tenets Overview - February 11, 2004
Foundations of All Good Qualities - September 19, 2004
Foundations of All Good Qualities - January 9, 2005
On Being Disciples of the Buddha - February 15, 2004
Healing and Rejuvenation - August 1, 2004
Relationship With Dharma - April 8, 2005
Relationship With Dharma - April 11, 2005
Tranquility Amid Grief and Loss - April 3, 2006
Offering Meditation to H.H. the Dalai Lama w/ Ven. Roger Munro and Ven. Paula Chichester - June 30, 2005
Opening the Heart, Sharpening the Mind
May 13, 2005
May 14, 2005
May 15, 2005Common Myths About Buddhism - January 18, 2006
Karma & Emptiness for Dummies, Part 1 - January 19, 2006
Karma & Emptiness for Dummies, Part 2- January 20, 2006
The Science of Stilling the Mind
The Buddha, along with all the great masters of India and
Tibet, was very clear about the need to develop attention in order to
successfully tread the path to enlightenment. Without a basic level of
mental stability, we cannot let go of attachment, we cannot do tantric
visualizations, and any insights we have will be fleeting and ineffective.
Thus, if we want our practice to bear fruit, we must learn to still the
mind. In Buddhism, this practice is called shamata, and there are very
clear instructions for how to cultivate it and how to evaluate progress.
Essentially, the practice is one of learning to let go and calm the inner
commentary, so that the mind can naturally settle into a place of stillness
and equanimity.
Perfecting this skill requires fulltime effort in seclusion for many months, and the result is effortless attention for hours on end, accompanied by unimaginable bliss. But even small improvements in our faculty of attention can lead to great enhancement in both our Dharma and worldly pursuits. In this five-week workshop, we will experiment to see how far we can go amid busy lives. Participants will be expected to meditate at home between classes. Together, we will look at ways to create conditions conducive to the practice, and support one another in gradually increasing our powers of attention.
January 15, 2006
January 22, 2006
January 29, 2006
February 5, 2006
The Attention Revolution: Rediscovering the Art of Shamatha Meditation - May 29, 2006
August 13, 2007: Mind and Its Potential, Part 1
August 15, 2007: Mind and Its Potential, Part 2
August 17, 2007: Transforming Problems, Part 1
August 18, 2007: Transforming Problems, Part 2
August 19, 2007: Transforming Problems, Part 3
August 26, 2007: Making Friends with Death: Preparing Now for Life's Ultimate Transition
Winter 2008 Visit
Venerable Rene Feusi was born in Switzerland and first encountered
Buddhism in 1979 at the age of 20, when he attended the annual November
course at Kopan Monastery in Nepal. When he has 26 he took getsul (novice)
ordination and full (getsul) ordination one year later. In 1988 Ven Rene
entered Nalanda Monastery in France and studied with Geshe Tegchok for
four years during which time he also completed the traditional 900,000
preliminary practices. Between 1993 and 1995 he completed a 2 1/2 year
solitary retreat at Osel Ling in Spain which focused on Calm Abiding
practice. Since then Ven Rene has continued to study, retreat, teach
and guide students in meditation and retreats worldwide. He is currently
the resident teacher at Vajrapani Institute in CA.
Ven. Rene kindly gave two weeks of teachings during the Winter 2008.
Introduction to Meditation - February 22, 2008
Power of the Focused Mind - February 23, 2008
Power of the Focused Mind - February 24, 2008
Who Knows Where The Times Goes - February 25, 2008
Experential Lam Ram - February 27, 2008
Introduction to Mahamudra: Mind Investigating Mind - February 28, 2008
Developing Love and Compassion - February 29, 2008
Developing Love and Compassion - March 1, 2008
Developing Love and Compassion - March 2, 2008
Light My Fire: Strategies for Bringing Zeal to Our Daily Practice - March 3, 2008
Spring 2004 Visit
The Venerable Rita Riniker gave a week-long series of teachings
during her Spring 2004 visit to Kurukulla Center.
April 25, 2004 - Staying Calm in a Troubled World
April 26, 2004 - Buddhism in a Nutshell (Part 1)
May 3, 2004 - Buddhism in a Nutshell (Part 2)
April 28, 2004 - Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies (Part 1)
May 5, 2004 - Healthy Minds, Healthy Bodies (Part 2)
Weekend Retreat at Milerepa Center, Vermont, April 30 - May 2, 2004
8 Verses, Introduction
8 Verses, Part 1
8 Verses, Part 2
8 Verses, Part 3
8 Verses, Part 4
8 Verses, Part 5
8 Verses, Part 6
Awareness, Part 1
Awareness, Part 2
Winter 2004 Visit
The Venerable Robina Courtin gave a week-long series of teachings
during her Winter 2004 visit to Kurukulla Center.
January 7, 2004 (Part 1) - Prayer and Mantra Recitation
January 7, 2004 (Part 2) - Prayer and Mantra Recitation
January 8, 2004 (Part 1) - Opening Your Heart in Hard Times
January 8, 2004 (Part 2) - Opening Your Heart in Hard Times
January 10, 2004 - Forgiving Ourselves, Forgiving Others
January 11, 2004 - Introduction to Tantra
Winter 2005 Visit
The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings
during her Winter 2005 visit to Kurukulla Center.
February 20, 2005 - Finding Freedom
February 21, 2005 - Practical Dharma
February 24, 2005 - 8 Worldly Dharmas
February 25, 2005 - Path To Enlightenment, Pt 1
February 26, 2005 - Path To Enlightenment, Pt 2
February 27, 2005 - Path To Enlightenment, Pt 3
February 28, 2005 - The Art of Anger Management
March 2, 2005 - Beyond Self-Doubt
March 4, 2005 - Compassion Buddha
March 5, 2005 - Compassion Buddha
March 6, 2005 - Compassion Buddha
Winter 2006 Visit
The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings
during her Winter 2006 visit to Kurukulla Center.
February 21, 2006 - Impermanence and Death: Living and Dying without Regret
February 22, 2006 - Karma: What Goes Around Comes Around
February 24, 2006 - How to Develop Bodhicitta
February 25, 2006 - How to Develop Bodhicitta
February 26, 2006 - How to Develop Bodhicitta
February 27, 2006 - Developing the Wisdom Mind
March 1, 2006 - Helping Others Wisely
March 2, 2006 - Introduction to Tantra
March 3, 2006 - Transforming Problems
March 4, 2006 - Transforming Problems
March 5, 2006 - Transforming Problems
Winter 2007 Visit
The Venerable Robina Courtin gives a two-week series of teachings
during her Winter 2007 visit to Kurukulla Center.
March 9, 2007 - The Wanting Mind
March 11, 2007 - Why Meditate?
March 12, 2007 - The Trap of Delusions
March 15, 2007 - Self-Acceptance and Buddha Nature
March 16, 2007 - Path to Enlightenment - Part I
March 17, 2007 - Path to Enlightenment - Part II
