Online Classes Fall Semester 2010

Aug 29 – Oct 17; Oct 24 – Dec 12

REGISTRATION

101/102 – Survey of Tibetan Buddhism I/II

Time: Sundays, 1:30-3:30

This course is designed to provide newcomers a survey of the entire path of Tibetan Buddhism. The course includes daily meditation practice, the different lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, and the practices of the complete path that are usually done in a three-year retreat, including Five-Path Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. This course is a prerequisite for many of the other courses at Dharmakirti College. Prerequisites: None.
Texts:
Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Revised Edition) by John Powers [required]
A Beginner's Guide to Tibetan Buddhism by Bruce Newman [highly recommended]
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying (Revised Edition) by Sogyal Rinpoche [highly recommended]

Cost: $60

Complete practices for householders

A very complete cycle of teachings from preliminary practices through Highest Yoga Tantra and Dzogchen Trekcho and Togal based on the root text of Padmasambhava on the six bardos of (1) this life, (2) dreams, (3) meditation, (4) dying, (5) Dharmata, and (6) becoming. This series of courses prepares practitioners with a solid background in practice to advance to the highest levels of practice in this lifetime. No other practices are needed. Prerequisites: 101/102, 103 and 104, or instructor permission.
Texts:
Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava's Teachings on the Six Bardos by Padmasambhava; commentary by Gyatrul Rinpoche [required]
Mind Beyond Death by the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche [required]

Cost: $60

These are the incomparable foundational or preliminary practices upon which all others are based. Essential to establishing our attitude and motivation are the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind. Our mental obscurations, afflictive emotions and other mental fixations are systematically addressed through refuge, bodhicitta, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offerings, and guru yoga. In addition, these practices provide a solid understanding for advanced Vajrayana practices. Prerequisites: 201/202/203/204 or instructor permission.
Texts:
The Words of My Perfect Teacher by Patrul Rinpoche [required]
A Guide to the Words of My Perfect Teacher by Khenpo Ngawang Pelzang [optional]

Cost: $60

Khorde Rushen is the separation of samsara (delusion) from nirvana (non-delusion). These are a series of practices designed to help the yogi realize and directly experience the difference between samsara and nirvana by transforming the mind, i.e., our way of seeing the world. Khorde Rushen is sometimes referred to as the Dzogchen preliminary practices. Prerequisite: 403/404D - Introduction to Dzogchen.
The book for Part 1 is a "restricted" text: Great Perfection: Volume II - Separation and Breakthrough (available through Snow Lion). The book for Part 2 is The Supreme Source.

Cost: $60