COURSE OVERVIEW: TAKING REFUGE & THE LAW OF CAUSE AND EFFECT
Tuesdays, 7:00 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.,
November 3rd to December 15th, 2020 (seven weeks)
Teacher
https://www.gsl-ab.ca/spiritual-director/Kushok Lobsang Dhamchoe, Spiritual Director of Gaden Samten Ling Tibetan Buddhist Meditation Society. Please visit https://www.gsl-ab.ca/spiritual-director/ to learn more about our Spiritual Director.
Series Description — Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand:
A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand is a transcript of an oral discourse on the Lam Rim (the stages of the path to enlightenment) given by Pabongka Rinpoche, one of the most influential Gelug lamas of the 20th century. In his 24-day discourse, Pabongka condenses both Atisha’s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment and Tsong Khapa’s masterwork The Great Stages of the Path to Enlightenment. He brilliantly illuminates these core teachings that trace back to Shakyamuni Buddha from an unbroken lineage. For that reason, this text is considered one of the 18 great Jangchub Lam Rim texts of the Gelugpa lineage. Our Society follows the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism.
Course Description:
Taking Refuge Conclusion & Developing Faith in the Law of Cause and Effect
Tsong Khapa lays out in his Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path that there are two means to achieving happiness in the next life: going for refuge in the Three Jewels, and develping faith in the law of cause and effect. Using Pabongka’s commentary, Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand, Kushok Lobsang Dhamchoe will conclude his teachings on the topic of Taking Refuge and then move into Developing Faith in the Law of Cause and Effect—The Root of all Health and Happiness.
Once we understand the law of cause and effect, karma, and how it relates to the Four Noble Truths, this knowledge can be used to our benefit. By modifying one’s behaviour, we can protect ourselves from unfortunate rebirths and ensure we generate enough merit to progress along the path to enlightenment and true happiness. Kushok will provide instruction on how to avoid non-virtue and how to purify negative karma previously created. This topic is extensive and will likely need more than seven weeks to cover. It is however, Kushok’s intention to continue teaching from this text on an ongoing basis.
Course Material
A syllabus will be provided outlining the proposed weekly topics and readings. Students are asked to prepare for each class by completing assigned readings, and to bring their texts and questions on the material to class. Please note that the syllabus may be subject to change, as the Teacher will always accommodate the needs of the students at the time.
Course Text
Liberation in the Palm of your Hand — A Concise Discourse on the Path to Enlightenment, Pabongka Rinpoche, edited by Trijang Rinpoche, new revised edition 2006. Copies of the book can be purchased from our Society’s bookstore. The text can also be purchased online through the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) and Amazon. All other reading/practice materials will be provided.
Course Prerequisites
While it would be optimal for registrants of this course to have taken the five previous courses in the series, it is not a requirement.
Target Audience
Anyone with an interest in studying the Lam Rim (stages of the path to enlightenment), or Tibetan Buddhist practices and philosophies, is welcome.
Location
Currently the course will only be offered virtually until such time as we are able to safely open the centre for regular classes. It is our intention, even once we are able to open the centre, to continue offering zoom classes as an option to those who are unable to attend in person.
Course Dates
Tuesdays, November 3rd to December 15th, 2020
Registration Deadline
To ensure you receive the Zoom link prior to the first class, please register by October 27, 2020. The retreat link will be emailed prior to the class.
Course Fees
We are offering this seven-week course by donation. Donations can be made at the Gaden Samten Ling Tibetan Buddhist Mediation Society’s Canada Helps page using the link below.
Donations can be made under the “General Programming & Operations” heading. Please note the name of the course (Taking Refuge 2020) in the “Include a message for this charity” box.
As a not-for-profit society, we greatly appreciate your donation. It will be used to sustain our society and support our Spiritual Director, so that we may continue to offer quality programming. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Please contact the office at [email protected] if you require assistance.