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Karma Thegsum Choling Minneapolis H.H. 1717th Gyalwa Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism |
Committed and Advanced Students -- Sangha ActivityREGISTRATION & INFORMATION TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Classes:SANGHA SHAMATA MEDITATION Group meditation is a very important part of the primary work of a Buddhist monastery's sangha. It is synergistic in that it's product is an energetic effect much larger than the sum of the meditation effect of the individuals in the room. It ripples out from this center and is unceasingly dedicated to the relief of all suffering for all sentient beings. Twelve weeks of the year, in conjunction with the Tonglen Meditation class, the KTC sangha does Tonglen meditation in place of Shamata meditation on Tuesdays. Cohesive group meditation takes a lot of skill, discipline and consistent attendance on the part of the sangha. It is particularly appropriate for the larger community to offer lamps and other forms of patronage in support of the sangha making this effort. Prerequisite: Member or Contact us if you would like to sit in. Tuesdays, 7-8PM KAGYU LINEAGE CURRICULUM OF GRADUATED READING & DISCUSSION In Tibet candidates for high level teachings and responsibility would practice and also study from an early age for 25 – 35 years before being recognized as ready for the most significant roles performing and guiding spiritual activities. Here in America, the best practitioners are generally beginning a practice and study regimine in adulthood, diluted with a lot of conflicting activities and entertainment in our very busy lay practitioner lives. We usually don’t take the time to focus ourselves exclusively on years of spiritual growth. At KTC Minneapolis we have an excellent curriculum that was drafted, after years of requests for one, in the main by Ven. Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, an eminent, contemporary, English speaking Tibetan Lama who also teaches in English. The curriculum consists of, in stages, traditional beginner, intermediate, and advanced readings. It takes many years to complete. The KTC Sangha is currently reading in the beginner section of the curriculum. Americans Buddhist are quite commonly intellectually addicted and experientially challenged so they love reading and discussing, and often struggle with the self discipline that it takes to accomplish the equally intricate and complex practice and retreat side of the Kagyu Lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The challenge is, Americans tend to read all over the map, usually not in a graduated foundation-building fashion, and almost never within one lineage. The result is mulligan stew. This curriculum is the antidote. The most promising KTC Minneapolis practitioners attend this hour of study and discussion after participating in group sitting meditation every Tuesday evening. Books that have been read and studied are added to our library for those who come after we have already read them to be able to read what has come before, and there are always practitioners ready to answer questions. Prerequisite: Member or Permission Tuesdays, 8-9PM THREE YEAR RETREAT PREPARATION Preparation for the traditional 3-Year Retreat at KTD’s Karme Ling Retreat Center requires first and foremost, the undiluted desire and passion to do this profound and precious retreat. To even hear of it is a great blessing. Beyond that one is expected to complete Ngondro practice, unquestionably has to be able to read Tibetan, should have familiarity with certain pieces of liturgy and skill at making proper torma offerings, and also needs to learn to play Tibetan instruments. Over the next 3 ½ years, or so, KTC Minneapolis will provide the opportunity to prepare for 3-Year Retreat beginning with the TIBETAN ALPHABET & LETTER COMBINATIONS CLASS, which is open to everyone. In general, most of the rest of this series will require membership, sustainable practices including daily personal practice, sangha practice on Tuesday and/or attendance at the Meditator’s Retreat Day once a month, and Karma Yoga practice at KTC Minneapolis. The starting point is the TIBETAN ALPHABET & LETTER COMBINATIONS CLASS if you are interested in this program. PATHWAY TO SADHANA SEMINAR Sadhanas and pujas are the energetic work that is performed daily by the most dedicated practitioners in a Tibetan Buddhist monastery. There is an urgent need for as many of us as are able to do this work as soon as possible. This seminar, which is offered once every three years now, prepares KTC sangha for the in depth study of a sadhana. Upon subsequent completion of the in depth sadhana study, sangha members become part of the group doing traditional Tibetan sadhana practices and pujas at KTC. Restricted to sangha members. Prerequisites: Mind, Thought and Consciousness; and Shamata Meditation. Designed for practitioners able to sustain daily individual practice and regular group practice. Class begins the day after Losar, Tibetan Buddhist New Year, and meets 3 times for 2 hours each time most months for one year. Tuition: $700, or $225 quarterly, plus Materials Fee of $27 per quarter. Bring your calendar to the first meeting. (*Note time change for first meeting.) First meeting 22 Feb 2004 11AM-12:30PM at KTC Registration: Closed. This seminar will start again the Sunday after Losar 2007. WHITE TARA SADHANA STUDY A precious opportunity for in-depth study of the White Tara Sadhana. For practitioners who have completed the PATHWAY TO SADHANA SEMINAR. Those who complete this course will join White Tara Puja performance at KTC Minneapolis with the intention to each bring this practice to fruition for the benefit of all sentient beings. The White Tara Sadhana is practiced to pacify negative karma, prolong life, and improve health. The accomplishment of this practice is considered to be the best method to overcome untimely death, accidents, and illness; and a practitioner who develops greater or high realization through bringing this practice to fruition could affect the long life of others by clearing away obstacle to their health and long life. White Tara has been the main deity practice of many well-known Buddhist scholars and siddhas in both India and Tibet. The practice of Tara is considered to be necessary for one’s own progress on the spiritual path and essential in order to benefit others. It is also considered important to do Tara practice to benefit the dharma, and one of the most important benefits is that through the proper practice of Tara the good health and long life of the greatest teachers of the dharma could be affected so that their extending benefits toward beings could take place in an unobstructed way. The thing that is like possessing a precious jewel to us, the thing that could help us achieve many great things in our lives, is to be able to have a long and healthy life. It would not be wrong to say that a long and healthy life is the most important thing in anyone’s life because whatever we want to achieve – success in the material world or success in the spiritual world in our practice of the dharma - a long and healthy life is important. In the West we have a lot of medicines that prolong life, but among the vast kinds of practice of dharma, Tara practice is geared toward accomplishing the siddhi of long life. One cannot take a pill to become a siddha. Tara practice is completely profound. The very essence of the nature of Tara is primordial wisdom from beginningless time. She is the “Mother of all the Buddhas,” who effects the liberation of beings. Class begins the Sunday after Losar 2005, the Tibetan Buddhist New Year, and meets 3 times for 2 hours plus sitting before each time, most months, for one year. Tuition: $700, or $225 quarterly, plus Materials Fee of $27 per quarter. Bring your calendar to the first meeting. First meeting 13 Feb 2004 3PM-5PM Registration KTC, #WTS05 REGISTRATION & PAYMENT Register with KTC where registration is appropriate. Registration Form (Print, Fill Out & Fax) |