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Spring Semester Tucson Courses 2010
Classes Begin January 9, 2010
Course 203: Natural Liberation Part III
Instructor: Khenpo Drimed Dawa (Dr. Dean Pielstick)
Course description: 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, Part I or instructor permission.
Time & Day: Sundays 1:30-3:30
Required Texts:
Natural Liberation: Padmasambhava's Teachings on the Six Bardos, Gyatrul Rinpoche and B. Alan Wallace (1998).
Mind Beyond Death, The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche (2006)
About the instructor:
Khenpo Dimed Dawa (Dr. Dean Pielstick) is an ordained lay practitioner and was conferred the title of “Khenpo” by Tulku Khenchen Paljea Dorjee Rinpoche on Losar, 2009, and President of Dharmakirti College on Losar, 2007. He has also studied with HE Garchen Rinpoche, Ven. Traga Rinpoche, Ven. Gyalpo Rinpoche, Ven. Ontul Rinpoche, Yogi Lama Gursam and numerous others. He has studied extensively the teachings of HH the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh, along with many other contemporary and historical figures. His primary practice is Dzogchen and he has a particular affinity for the Dzogchen teachings of Longchen Rabjam. Although he makes no claims to having great insights or accomplishments, he has agreed to teach at the request of Tulku Khenchen Paljea Dorjee nevertheless. It is in this spirit that he has agreed to share whatever he knows for the benefit of others.
Dr. Pielstick is also a professor of management for Northern Arizona University in Tucson. He has extensive professional and college administrative experience in addition to classroom instruction.
Course 105: Manjushri (1st eight weeks)
Course description: Manjushri manifests as an ordinary human being, a bodhisattva, a deity, and as an enlightened Buddha. In each of these roles he brings a special kind of awareness called gnosis, jnana in Sanskrit, yeshe in Tibetan. In his most familiar form, he brings a book of Prajnaparamita, Perfection of Wisdom, scriptures, and a flaming sword which cuts through discriminations, obscurations, and confusion among other things. His activity is described in the sutras, tantras, and treatises of dzokchen.
This class will focus on all the roles and contexts in which Manjushri manifests. These, the first eight of a sixteen week Manjushri course, will use Jamgon Mipham’s A Garland of Jewels which, although the book’s subtitle is The Eight Great Bodhisattvas, will give a comprehensive picture of Manjushri in its first 160 pages. Jamgon Mipham was a Manjushri incarnation. The class will spend some time with his particular form of practice called Manjushri the Lion of Speech.
Whether the student is interested in the Kalachakra, Mahamudra, Dzokchen, or a combination of Dharmakirti College’s teaching tracks, this course will be a valuable introduction. Apart from the Mipham text, which is required, the teacher will provide texts he has translated for study and meditative practice.
Time & Day: Saturdays, 1:30PM
Instructor: James Rutke (Lotsawa Palden Phuntsok)
Lotsawa Palden Phuntsok (Dr. James Rutke) has been a Buddhist teacher and translator since the 1970s. He considers the Manjushri incarnation Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo to be the guru who guides him in teaching this course. He has been teaching at Dharmakirti College since 2008. Details of his background can be found on this website in the Faculty Guide. He can be reached at: jrutke@earthlink.net
Course description: In these eight weeks, the class will read the Manjushri Namasamgiti in the translation of Alex Wayman called Chanting the names of Manjushri. This is the precursor text to the study of tantra in most Tibetan Buddhist schools and is particularly important for understanding the Kalachakra Tantra. In addition, several of its verses encapsulate the complete teachings of dzokchen as demonstrated in a commentary by Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo which will be consulted.
Although no knowledge of Sanskrit and Tibetan is required, the teacher will discuss key terms in both languages and show how the Tibetan and English translations can be improved so that the meaning of the original has its full effect.
Whether the student is interested in the Kalachakra, Mahamudra, Dzokchen, or a combination of Dharmakirti college’s teaching tracks, this course will be a valuable introduction. Apart from Wayman text mentioned, which is required, the teacher will provide texts he has translated for study and meditative practice.
Time & Day: Saturdays, 1:30PM
Instructor: James Rutke (Lotsawa Palden Phuntsok)
Lotsawa Palden Phuntsok (Dr. James Rutke) has been a Buddhist teacher and translator since the 1970s. He considers the Manjushri incarnation Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo to be the guru who guides him in teaching this course. He has been teaching at Dharmakirti College since 2008. Details of his background can be found on this website in the Faculty Guide. He can be reached at: jrutke@earthlink.net
Location
Ada Peirce McCormick Building
1401 East First Street at Highland Ave. Underpass
Tucson, AZ
Directions from Speedway and Cherry
Speedway and Cherry
South on Cherry
West on 1st St (one way)
Look for sign Ada Peirce McCormick Building on right side of street. Pull into Parking Lot just before First St. & Highland intersection (marked by Stop Sign).
**Please Note: The Manjushri course will be held in the "Little Chapel" of the Ada Peirce McCormick Building.
