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Coming Events

Community Nyin thun

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Lhabab Düchen

November 1, 2007 celebrates Buddha’s descent from the Tushita Heaven. It is said that after her death, Buddha's mother, Mayadevi, was reborn in Indra's heaven. To repay her kindness and to liberate her and also benefit the gods, Buddha spent three months teaching Abhidharma in the heavenly realm of Tushita.

Pointing Out the Essence: Buddha Nature with Karl Brunnholzl May 18-20

• What is our essential nature?  Is it awake, luminous and free?
• Is this essential nature present right now, or is it a potential?  If it is a potential, is it near or far?
• How does all this relate to our ordinary experience of confusion and fear?

Please join us May 18-20 for a weekend program exploring issues such as these, taught by Karl Brunnholzl.  Karl will present teachings from from "Pointing Out the Essence," a text on Buddha Nature by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje.  This text was written as a supplement to the Karmapa's famous text on the tantras, called "Profound Inner Reality." Together with Maitreya's Uttaratantra, this short but pithy work is one of the main texts on Buddha Nature in the Kagyu tradition.  Karl's engaging style coupled with the universal nature of this material will make this program meaningful for practitioners at all levels.

Karl Brunnholzl

Karl Brunnholzl, M.D., received his systematic training in Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy and practice at the Marpa Institute for Translators, founded by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche.  He is the author of "The Center of the Sunlit Sky: Madhyamaka in the Kagyu Tradition," which is one of the most extensive commentaries on Madhyamaka in the English language.  Trained as a physician, since 1989 Karl has been a translator and interpreter from Tibetan and English.  He is one of the main western teachers for Nitartha Institute and Nalandabodhi, and recently moved from Europe to Seattle to work on translation projects under the direction of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.  Karl's breadth of knowledge, insight and humor enable him to present scholarly teachings in a way that is accessible to our experience and thorougly relevant to our practice.

Program Details

Dates and Times:
Fri., May 18, 7pm: Introductory Talk
Sat. & Sun. May 19-20, 9am-5pm
Meditation, talks and discussion

Location:
Eastern Sun Professional Building
260 Wyse Road, Dartmouth
(see map below)

Cost:  $75
(work-study scholarships available)
Friday night introductory talk:  Free

Pre-Register!
Space for this program is limited, so pre-registration is required. To pre-register, please contact Robert Devet at RDEVET@gov.ns.ca or by phone at 865-7585, letting us know that you are going to attend the program.

Saga Dawa Düchen

May 31, 2007 celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni's Enlightenment and Parinirvana. Buddha became enlightened during a full moon night in the city of Bodhgaya and entered Parinirvana (passed away) in the city of Kushinagar.

Chökhor Düchen

July 18, 2007 celebrates the first turning (first teaching) of the Wheel of Dharma. For the first seven weeks after his enlightenment, Buddha did not teach. Encouraged by Indra and Brahma, he then gave his first teachings in the city of Sarnath on the Four Noble Truths. The Four Noble Truths are: Life is suffering and suffering is unavoidable; suffering is caused by afflicting emotions (attachment, anger and ignorance) and the resulting karmic action ; suffering can end by eliminating these (Nirvana is peace); there is a means to eliminate them and thus put an end to suffering called the Eightfold Path (right view, intention, speech, conduct, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration).

DVD Series: The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, teaching on Emotions

6 Talks from The 15th Annual Treasury of Knowledge Retreat Sept 2006. Were shown every Thursday at 7PM for six weeks, starting January 18, 2007 at the Coburg House, Shrine Room. These teachings present a path for working with emotions that is firmly grounded in the teaching of the Buddhist treatises.  At the same time, the format, practice category names, and practice sequence used by Rinpoche to present this material are complementary to western psychology and are easily understood by western practitioners.  These talks are engaging, delightful, and highly useful in a direct and personal way.

Chotrul Düchen

March 3, 2007 celebrates Buddha Shakyamuni’s display of fifteen days of miracles. It is said that the Buddha displayed a miracle each day to spur devotion and increase the merit of his current and future disciples.