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Guhyasamaja Empowerment
Highest Yoga Tantra empowerment. Empowerment is for advanced students, but it is possible for all interested students to attend the first night (March 5) as a blessing (i.e. with no committments or prior tantric experience).

Event is three days: March 5th (7pm), 6th (3pm), and 7th (3pm) - expect each session to last at least three hours. One must attend all three days to receive it as an empowerment.

Guhyasamaja – King of Tantras – is one of the oldest of the tantric teachings of the Buddha. This tantra was given by Shakyamuni Buddha to King Indrabhuti who asked, “By what means can people like myself, who are not yet detached from the world of the senses, attain liberation?” In response Shakyamuni Buddha manifested as Guhyasamaja and taught this profound tantra. It is called King of Tantras because this tantra and its commentaries provides the key for all tantra.

Prerequisites and commitments
To enter tantra one should have a firm foundation in study of the lam rim, the graduated path to enlightenment, particularly renunciation, bodhicitta and the correct view of emptiness - what is called the three principal paths.

General commitments for the empowerment include taking Bodhisattva Vows and Tantric vows and agreeing to recite Six Session Guru Yoga six times a day for life. Rinpoche requires reciting of the mantra daily (number of recitations per day decided by the student at empowerment). There may be suggestions or encouraged practices beyond this, but these are the required commitments as far as we have been informed.

SAVE!  You save money and get RESERVED SEATING AT ALL EVENTS and we know how many people to plan for. 

Advance Blessing night (March 5)     $30 per night

Door Blessing night  (March 5)           $40 per night

Advance Full Empowerment               $90 all 3 days

Door Full Empowerment                      $120 all 3 days

 Volunteer opportunities available - contact office@tsechenling.org

Become a Sponsor of Choden Rinpoche’s Teachings - as a sponsor you will receive admission to allevents, reserved seating, a special thank you gift and our undying gratitude – we ask for a donation of $250 or more to become a sponsor of this event

Ordained Monastics of all traditions welcome to attend all events free of charge.  You must pre-register by contacting office@tsechenling.org.  Those monks and nuns who do not register in advance cannot be guaranteed seating or materials at events.

Due to the indepth nature of this material, it is strongly recommended that one attends the entire workshop.  If you cannot do so and would like to attend part of the weekend, please contact office@tsechenling.org.

Join renowned scholar and author, Guy Newland, as he teaches on emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, as explained in the Buddhist tradition. Mr. Newland is known for his ability to simplify what seems a difficult subject and this is a weekend not to be missed!

Not understanding emptiness creates great suffering and understanding emptiness can lead us to greater happiness and ultimately enlightenment. Mr. Newland will bring his many years of teaching experience to this weekend workshop. His recently published book Introduction to Emptiness discusses these ideas in simple language, using the Insight chapter of Lama Tsong Khapa’s Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment as the foundation for his commentary and this workshop.

Guy Newland is Professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and religion at Central Michigan University, where he has taught since 1988. He is a translator and co-editor of the three-volume translation Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, and is the author of several books on Tibetan Buddhism, including Appearance and Reality.

Class fee: $125 for weekend including lunches/member discount applies

ALL LEVELS (geared towards Beginner/Intermediate)

Surviving the Dragon opens a window to events from inside Tibetan-Chinese history during the final half of the twentieth century, a conflict that continues today between China and its ethnic minorities. Arjia Rinpoche is on a book tour to discuss his newly published autobiography. He will present the book by talking about his facinating life and the events in Tibet that took place during his life there. In addition, copies of the book will be available for sale and he will sign copies for those interested.

Arjia Rinpoche was the Abbot of Kumbum Monastery in Tibet. He left Tibet in 1998 because of the repression of Tibetan culture and religion and now lives in Indiana. In the U.S. Rinoche established The Tibetan Center for Compassion and Wisdom (TCCW) to preserve and celebrate Tibetan language, arts, and to advance understanding of Tibetan Buddhism in the West.
Rinpoche is the only Tibetan high lama of Mongolian descent. As a young boy he was recognized as the reincarnation of the father of Tsong Khapa. Arjia Rinpoche's wise and generous spirit is visible to everyone who encounters him. His unique mix of traditional lama and modern citizen of the world makes him humorous and accessible as well.  This is his 2nd visit to Tse Chen Ling.

Suggested Donation: $15

Learn what we mean by cyclic existence or “samsara ” and how to work with and eliminate the suffering of cyclic existence. If "samsara" is a condition of our mind, how do we escape the cycle and achieve “nirvana” or liberation? How do we practically work with this understanding while out in the world - working, going to school and living our ordinary lives? Empower yourself with practical tools and meditations to understand, deal with and eliminate disturbing emotions forever. We'll go through all the main delusions: anger, attachment, jealousy, pride and so on, and learn how to work with them in meditation and off the cushion.

Suggested Donation: $99 per term/member discount applies

ALL LEVELS

In this interactive workshop you’ll learn how to set up an altar and offer water bowls, learn about prostrations, mandala offerings and basic temple (gompa) etiquette. You’ll also learn the special meaning behind all these Buddhist rituals and have fun while doing it! There are no prerequisites for this class.

What to bring? A notebook, mala if you have one, your lunch if you’d like to stay and eat afterward and any questions you have.

Suggested donation: $20; 50% discount for those doing Establishing a Daily Practice class!

BEGINNER/INTERMEDIATE

This module will explore bodhicitta, the big heart dedicated to helping others by attaining complete enlightenment. We will explore cultivating this attitude through teachings, learning about the bodhisattva vows and primarily by understanding and meditating on the methods for gaining these realizations.

Please click on Basic Buddhist Studies Program for more information on current and upcoming courses. Buddhism from A-Z is being offered three terms per year (each term running about 3 months). We've broken up the more lengthy curriculum of the extended Basic Studies course into manageable modules – similar to a university type format. For information on the teacher, click on Emily Hsu, FPMT Masters Program graduate.

Is this course right for you? Anyone who has taken some Discovering Buddhism classes or has some background in the Lam-rim is welcome to join the class. New, qualified students are welcome as your schedule permits - please join us!

These courses are part of FPMT's Basic Buddhist Studies Program, designed by Lama Zopa Rinpoche, as an in depth study of the entire Buddhist path to enlightenment (lam-rim). Teachings are based on Lama Tsongkhapa's middle-length commentary on the subject and are geared towards those interested in deeper understandings of the teachings.

Suggested donation:$50/month or $15/class. (Work study available - no one turned away for lack of funds).

INTERMEDIATE

Join anytime! An open and on-going Eleventh Step Workshop. This Conscious Contact workshop focuses on developing and maintaining basic skills in meditation and prayer as practiced in the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. Themes will include refuge, mantra recitation and purification practices as well as insight and calm abiding meditation as they relate to recovery. Sessions will consist of instruction, discussion and practice. Guest speakers with experience in recovery and meditation will be asked to share with us on occasion.

Check website for any updates or changes to the schedule.

By Donation. No one turned away for lack of funds.

ALL LEVELS