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Intermediate Courses - The Gelug Tradition of Mahamudra
October 7 – 13
with Glen Svennson
Mahamudra,
the great seal, refers to systems of meditation on both the
conventional and ultimate natures of the mind. These have been
transmitted through the Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug traditions of Tibetan
Buddhism. In this course we will be investigating the Gelug tradition
of Mahamudra using the First Panchen Lama's text "A Root Text for the
Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra". In this text Panchen
Losang Chogyi Gyeltsen gives instructions on Mahamudra in accordance
with Arya Nagarjuna's view of emptiness and describes methods for
pointing out the nature of mind in accordance with the lineage masters.
In
following this text we will be highlighting the essential preliminary practices
for Mahamudra,
discussing the differences between Sutra Mahamudra and Tantra Mahamudra,
discussing how to meditate on the conventional nature of the mind (shamatha
meditation)
and also discussing how to meditate on the ultimate nature of the mind
(vipashyana meditation).
Pre-requisites for this 7-day
residential course are:
• The previous attendance at an Introduction to Buddhism
course at Tushita, Root Institute, Kopan monastery or similar. Tushita offers
such a course September 11 - 20, 2008.
• Or attendance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s public
teachings (September 27 & 29 and October 1 - 5), especially the teachings
on the Stages of the Path (Lam Rim) in September, AND all review sessions
Glen Svensson, from Australia, has been studying Buddhism for more than 12 years
with teachers such as His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Geshe Jampa Gyatso. After
completing his Bachelor’s Degree in IT at the University of Queensland, Glen
spent eight years working and traveling around the world and says he “bumped”
into Buddhism in Dharamsala, India in 1995. He then attended two of the famous
November Courses at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, followed by seven years
of intensive Buddhist philosophical studies and nine months of meditation
retreat in the FPMT Master’s Program (a teacher-training course) at the Lama
Tzong Khapa Institute in Italy. Since completion of the Master’s Program in
2005, Glen has taught in Australia and Europe with a teaching style emphasizing
clarity and simplicity.
DAY 1
| 1 pm |
Registration (in dinning hall) |
| 4:30 pm |
Introduction Talk to Tushita |
| 6:00 pm |
Dinner |
| 7:30 - 8:15 pm |
Introduction to Mahamudra |
DAY 2 - 6
| 6:45 - 7:30 am |
Guided Meditation |
| 7:30 am |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 10:15 am |
Session 1 |
| 10:15 - 10:45 am |
Tea Break |
| 10:45 - 12:00 pm |
Session 2 |
| 12:00 pm |
Lunch |
| 2:00 - 3:15 pm |
Session 3 |
| 3:15 - 3:45 pm |
Tea Break |
| 3:45 - 5:00 pm |
Session 4 |
| 5:00 - 5:15 pm |
Break |
| 5:15 - 6:00 pm |
Yoga |
| 6:00 pm |
Dinner |
| 7:30 - 8:15 pm |
Guided Meditation |
DAY 7
| 6:45 - 7:30 am |
Guided Meditation |
| 7:30 am |
Breakfast |
| 9:00 - 10:00 am |
Check Out |
Course discipline
To create an atmosphere conducive
for reflection and meditation, participants are required to keep silence (no talking at all!) for the duration of the course (from the evening of the
first day until the morning of the last course day), except during discussion
groups or question and answer periods.
Most likely there will be an
Introduction to Buddhism course running parallel to your course. It is
especially difficult for beginners to keep the silence, so please be aware of
your special responsibility as a role model as a more advanced
practitioner.
Do not leave Tushita property for the entire course. Please settle all travel
arrangements, calls, emails, etc. before you come to Tushita!
Participants must attend all
sessions of the course and come to sessions on time.
Please be gentle in your behaviour
and sensitive to fellow group members.
Please read carefully the
Basic Discipline for Guests at Tushita before signing up for this
course.
More information & registration:
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