Time: 11am to 12noon
Date: March 16 - December 31, 2009
Courses:
Thirty-Seven Factors Concordant with Enlightenment
(March 16 – April 15)
Text: Maitreya’s Ornament for Clear Realization (Abhisamayalamkara, mNgon rtogs rgyan)
These thirty-seven factors or practices which map out the path to enlightenment are common to both the Theravada and Mahayana traditions, and are also found in sutra and tantra. Ven. Geshe Sonam Rinchen will present them in accordance with Maitreya’s Ornament for Clear Realization, one of the pre-eminent classical Buddhist texts of India. All insights from those belonging to the path of accumulation to those of the enlightened state can be included within these thirty-seven practices. They are divided into seven groups: the four kinds of close mindfulness; the four kinds of thorough elimination; the four supports for miraculous manifestation; the five powers; the five forces; the seven branches of enlightenment; the eight-fold path of the Exalted. Although these seven groups may be practiced at any time, according to the Mahayana presentation their practice marks different stages of our evolution towards enlightenment and it is very interesting to note how each set of practices leads naturally to the next.
Text: Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (BodhisattvacharyŒvatŒra, Byang chub sems dpa’i spyod pa la ‘jug pa)
This text is beloved by all practitioners of the Mahayana tradition, particularly by those belonging to all four traditions of Buddhism in Tibet, as one of the principal works about the spirit of enlightenment (bodhichitta) and the conduct and practices of Bodhisattvas. It is a rare opportunity to be able to study this great work in depth.
Chapters 1 - 3
(April 16 – June 30)
The first three chapters explain how to initially develop the spirit of enlightenment.
Chapter 1 is known as “the chapter on the benefits.” It begins by describing the physical and mental basis necessary for the development of the spirit of enlightenment. The author then outlines the general advantages of developing it and the specific benefits derived from the aspiring spirit of enlightenment (smon sems) and the engaged spirit of enlightenment (‘jug sems). He does so to inspire us and encourage us to develop this supreme form of kind-heartedness.
Chapter 2 is known as “the confession chapter.” This chapter describes the practices of making offerings, paying homage, taking refuge and confessing wrong-doing.
Chapter 3 is known as “the chapter on holding the spirit of enlightenment.” It first describes the preliminary practices which act as essential conditions for developing the spirit of enlightenment through the creation of merit. These consist of rejoicing, requesting the wheel of the teachings to be turned, begging the enlightened ones not to leave this world and dedicating the merit we create for the good of others. Next, the author describes what we need to do to develop the spirit of enlightenment. This is followed by instruction on the commitment to hold the spirit of enlightenment. Finally, the author encourages us to cultivate joy with regard to our own and others’ positive actions.
Chapters 4 - 6
(July 1 – September 30)
The fourth, fifth and sixth chapters explain how to prevent the spirit of enlightenment from declining once it has arisen.
Chapter 4 is about conscientiousness. The author describes how to cultivate this quality taking into account the precepts which we are trying to observe and how to do it considering the preciousness of our privileged human rebirth in which we enjoy both freedom and good fortune.
Chapter 5 is about mental alertness or vigilance. The author explains that in order to safeguard the precepts we have undertaken to observe we must safeguard our minds. The tools that allow us to do this are mindfulness and vigilance. He then describes how to train our minds once we are using these tools.
Chapter 6 is about patience. This chapter describes how to get rid of anger; how to cultivate patience which is the ability to remain calm and not get upset; and how to show respect for all living beings. Geshe Sonam Rinchen will also incorporate the chapter on patience from the Indian master Chandrakirti’s Supplement to the Middle Way (MadhyamakŒvatŒra, dBu ma la ‘jug pa).
Chapters 7 - 10
(October 1 – December 31)
The seventh, eighth and ninth chapters explain how to increase and strengthen the spirit of enlightenment, while the tenth chapter shows us how to dedicate the merit that has been created for the happiness and freedom from suffering of all living beings.
Chapter 7 explains what is meant by enthusiastic effort and why it is important to persevere in this way. It describes the attitudes that prevent us from developing the ability to engage in positive actions with enthusiasm. These are the tendency to delay, attachment to trivial activities and discouragement. The factors that help us develop enthusiastic effort are a belief in the value of what we are doing, inner stability, joy and temporarily leaving aside the activity in which we are engaged when we are tired in order to restore our energy.
Chapter 8 is about the practice of concentration. It explains how to overcome the factors that prevent the development of concentration and the way to stop physical and mental busyness. In this chapter Shantideva describes how to arouse the spirit of enlightenment through the practice of equalizing and exchanging self and others. Geshe Sonam Rinchen will explain this, combining it with the other traditional method known as the seven cause and effect instructions. The resulting method of meditation involves contemplating eleven important points.
Chapter 9: Ven. Geshe Sonam Rinchen will teach the following topics from this chapter: the reasons, in brief, why it is essential to develop the understanding of emptiness; a concise presentation of the two truths with emphasis on the way they are divided and on their identity; the need for even those who wish only to gain liberation from cyclic existence to understand emptiness; the reasoning that establishes selflessness of persons; the reasoning that establishes the selflessness of other phenomena, drawing on close placement of mindfulness on the body, feelings, the mind and other phenomena.
Chapter 10: In this chapter Shantideva dedicates the virtue created to act as a cause for the well-being of others, for his own future well-being in order to benefit others and for the teachings of the Buddha, which are an unparalleled source of happiness for living beings, to remain and spread in the world. He takes to mind those born in the bad states of existence, those born as humans who are sick or destitute or whose situation is in some way perilous and prays for their safety and the relief of their suffering. He also prays for the success and happiness of all.
Teacher:
Geshe Sonam Rinchen
Geshe Sonam Rinchen was born in the Tehor region of Kham in Eastern Tibet. He began his religious studies at the age of twelve at Dhargye Monastery, the largest local monastery in his area of Kham. He pursued his studies there for the next seven years and completed the basic studies in logic. At nineteen, he made a two and a half-month journey on foot to Central Tibet to enter the Monastic University of Sera. He continued his studies there until he was forced to flee Tibet in 1959. In India he completed his studies for the degree of Geshe Lharampa, which he received in 1980. He also holds an Acharya degree from the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies in Sarnath, Varanasi. He has taught classes at the LTWA since 1978. Geshe-la has also taught in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland and Switzerland. Ten books of his teachings have been published.
Translator:
Ruth Sonam holds an M.A. degree from Oxford University and has lived in Dharamsala since 1976. She has an extensive knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and practice and has been active as an interpreter and translator since 1981. She has translated and edited ten books of Geshe Sonam Rinchen’s teachings on Buddhist philosophy and practice.holds an M.A. degree from Oxford University and has lived in Dharamsala since 1976. She has an extensive knowledge of Buddhist philosophy and practice and has been active as an interpreter and translator since 1981. She has translated and edited ten books of Geshe Sonam Rinchen's teachings on Buddhist philosophy and practice.
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