2009 Events
Thu, Dec 3, 7 PM:
Mind & Emotion in Buddhist Psychology and Epistemology
Lien Hoa Temple
This is one of Geshe's 2009 monthly teachings, postponed from Thanksgiving night.
Understanding of mind/emotion is viewed as the essential meaning and method of the Buddhist teachings. That’s because there are correlations between the understanding of mind/emotions and mental stability; and similarly the lack of understanding and existential suffering. Some of the questions that will be addressed in this talk include:
Are our thoughts/emotions indispensable factors to actualize the state of Nirvana (self-liberation) or quality of our lives?
Is mind just physical or psychological or both?
Does mind or consciousness continue life after life?
What are the methods to recognize nature of mind/mind and to transform them?
Sun Dec 6, 10- 4: Nalanda Annual Planning Retreat
Geshe Jamyang’s house, 1826 79th Ave, Tumwater
Everyone interested in Nalanda activities is invited to attend some or all of the planning retreat.
We make plans for the upcoming year, select board members and review meditation practices
Lunch will be provided, bring a drink or snack item.
If your interest is only coming to meditation and teachings, that's great too. That is our main purpose and your interest in that is tremendously important.
If you can come on Dec 6, we definitely want to hear peoples ideas about our activities and practices.
If you can be a little more active than average, please consider if you would like to help mostly with meditation and teaching activities or with the property (or both). Let us know.
If possible, please consider being a board member: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or at-large. Contact me or any other board member with questions about the retreat or the board.
Link to Google Map to Geshe's house
Planning Retreat Adgenda
Fourth Thursday Teachings: The Way of the Bodhisattva,
A year long series of teachings
by Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim
Thu Oct 22, 7:00 PM: Appearance and Reality, part II
In these 2009 teachings, two sessions are devoted to each topic. The second session generally elaborates further on the topics covered in the first part and provides more time for interaction, questions, and discussion.
Last month, we discussed the basic Buddhist distinctions between how phenomena appear and how they really are when examined closely. We saw how this relates to two modes of perception: an experience based mode and a conceptual based mode -- where experience means direct sense perceptions and conceptual means the "stories" that we attach or layer on top of those direct experiences. Those modes of perception were further related to a core Buddhist concept called the two truths -- usually called ultimate and conventional. Geshe gave us his own preferred translation of the two truths as: absolute and relative. He further went on to explain how ultimate truth basically means "spaciousness". The October session will elaborate further on all of these themes. In particular it will cover how the distinction between appearance and reality relates to two other core Buddhist principles: Refuge and Bodhicitta. This session will also provide instruction on how to apply the appearance/reality distinction and the principles of Refuge, Bodhicitta and the Two Truths in meditation and in daily life. So, it will be a very exciting session with lots of connecting the dots between Buddhist principles and views and practical meditation and daily life. Note, whether you heard earlier talks or not, you can still benefit greatly from hearing this teaching. Geshe Jamyang always works to make each discussion fresh, relevant and accessible. The continuity with previous talks is beneficial, but each session can still be enriching and rewarding in it's own right.
Saturday, Oct 3, 10:00 AM: Green Tara at Lien Hoa Temple, 12th and Wilson
Fans of Saturday morning practice know that most of the month we do the Chenrezig Sadhana. Once a month, on Saturday closest to the full moon we do Green Tara Sadhana. Both practices are led by Lama Lungrik. Both practices are classical Tibetan Buddhist forms of meditation in the Vajrayana (or tantric) tradition. Both are powerful practices that can greatly increase one's progress on the path. The full moon is Sunday, this Saturday will be Green Tara practice. Give it a try. There's chanting, mantras, mudras and meditation.
May, 2 - 3, 2009, Annual Retreat
Registration: Please bring the form and payment to a Thursday or Saturday practice or mail it to us at: The Nalanda Institute, P.O. Box 11361, Olympia, WA 98508. Also, please notify us of your intent to attend just by hitting "reply" to this message and providing your name, phone number and when you expect to turn in the form and payment. Registration Form
When: Sat, May 2: 9 am to 5 pm
Sun, May 3: 9am to 12:30pm.
Purpose: Practitioners deepen their insights and experiences in various meditations and integrated them into day to day life moments.
Topics:
Saturday with Geshe Jamyang:
- Existential experiences: Life and its purposes
- Cultivation of Bodhicitta and personalized lojong (Mind Training) practices
Sunday with Lama Lungrik:
- Training and Practice on Chenrizig and Tara Practice.
What you should know: Everyone is welcome, these teachings will be suitable for all levels of Dharma practitioners and for those with no background but but want to learn more. This one day Saturday event will be a very good and easy way to connect more strongly with Geshe Jamyang. The half day Sunday event will be a very good way to connect more strongly with Lama Lungrik.
The Saturday topics will definitely help you gain more understanding of Buddhism and learn some effective ways to utilize those insights in your own life. The Sunday topics meditations will improve your abilities to effectively engage in the Vajrayana practices.
Directions to the Retreat Site
The address is 2415 Heritage Ct. SW Olympia 98502 It is the new 4-story bldg across from the ARCO station that is right off the Hwy 101 Auto Mall exit. The actual entrances are via driveways from the first cul-de-sac to the east (towards the Courthouse). Exit freeway towards auto mall, then take first right at the ARCO station.
Cost: For both days, including lunch on Saturday:
$75.00 for non-members
$60.00 for members
April, 26 - 2009, 4nd Teaching, Thursday –7:00pm to 8:45pm
Dharma Talk: The Way of the Bodhisattva
Suggested Donation: $15.00, no one will be turned away.
Geshe Jamyang Tsultirm
Discussion of "Happiness"
This Thursday will be the follow-up session to last month's topic which was "Happiness". Last month Geshe gave us a definition of Happiness and related this contemporary defintion to concepts in classical Buddhism. We also had a very good discussion of what people usually think happiness means. This month session is a follow-up in which the discussion of Happiness will continue and we will delve more deeply into it. It will be part presentation by Geshe Jamyang and part discussion.
If you are reading the root text for these teachings "Clarifying the Sage's Intent", then the chapters for this teaching are:
-- Producing the Aspiration to Engage in Buddha's Teachings, and
-- Generating the Great Enlightenment Thought
Overview: 2009 Teachings
Location: Vietanamese Temple, 12th & Wilson Directions
March, 26 - 2009, 3nd Teaching, Thursday –7:00pm to 8:45pm
Dharma Talk: The Way of the Bodhisattva
Suggested Donation: $15.00, no one will be turned away.
Geshe Jamyang Tsultirm
Developing and Cultivating Spiritual Aspiration
The third talk will cover the topic of developing and cultivating spiritual aspiration.
It's based on the second and third chapters of our text "Clarifying the Sage's Intent"
The two chapter titles are explanatory:
Producing the Aspiration to Engage in Buddha's Teachings, and
Generating the Great Enlightenment Thought
The first two talks addressed the potential we all have for spiritual development. This third talk now progress to the next stage which is how to develop that potential. As the titles suggest, it starts with the thought, or aspiration to develop spiritually. This months teaching will illuminate how to cultivate and nourish that spiritual aspiration and how to then actually generate the key elements for firmly establishing and maintaining it.
Overview: 2009 Teachings
Location: Vietanamese Temple, 12th & Wilson Directions
March, 7 - 2009, Film, Saturday – 2:30pm
Film: Dreaming Lhasa at Olympia Film Society
Ticket prices: $8.00 General (non-OFS members), $5.00 OFS members
A Film Benefit for Nalanda
“Dreaming Lhasa” is a beautiful and moving look into Tibetan exile life that becomes a universal reflection on justice, relationships, and personal responsibilities. Karma, a Tibetan filmmaker from New York, goes to Dharamsala, the Dalai Lama's exile headquarters in India, to make a documentary about former political prisoners who have escaped from Tibet. She wants to connect with her roots but is also escaping a deteriorating relationship back home. One of Karma's interviewees is Dhondup, an enigmatic ex-monk who has just escaped from Tibet. As he confides his real reasons for coming to India, we journey deeper into Tibet's fractured past but also into self-discovery and universal themes.
This sensitive and intriguing film will both delight and inspire.
“Beautifully shot imagery… delicate and graceful exploration of cultural identity -- San Francisco Bay Guardian.
After the film members Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim, Tibetan Buddhist teacher and former monk will answer questions for those interested.
This film is mainly about human rights and the dilemmas of the Tibetan refugees. It’s not about Buddhism. It’s beautifully made and is a treat for anyone that enjoys quality independent films and sensitive investigation into fundamental questions about life and responsibility.
Film Announcement
Location: Capitol Theatre - Olympia Film Society
February, 26 - 2009, 2nd Teaching, Thursday –7:00pm to 8:45pm
Dharma Talk: The Way of the Bodhisattva
Suggested Donation: $15.00, no one will be turned away.
Geshe Jamyang Tsultirm
DISCUSSION of IS PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE?
The topic of the first talk was: Is personal transformation possible? February's second talk will be a discussion of topics covered in first talk. Some of the topics were:
- General views on the idea of transformation
- Buddhist concept of altruistic mind, or Bodicitta
- Buddhist concept of Buddha nature
- Role of aspiration
- The six perfections
- Freedom from samsara and nirvana
- Luminosity of mind
- The role of tantric practice
It's not essential to have heard the first talk. The discussion of these topics will undoubtedly increase your understanding of dharma and of the Buddhist path. For those that did hear the first talk, please bring your own questions and concerns for discussion.
Overview: 2009 Teachings
Location: Vietanamese Temple, 12th & Wilson Directions
February, 17 - 2009, Tuesday – 6:00pm
Tibet, A Modern Pilgrimage - Slide show of the 2007 Tibet trip organized by Geshe Jamyang
Jan Vleck is giving this show, it will include some of the slides he showed at the benefit dinner last winter, but other ones too. We spent three weeks in Tibet, we saw many of the major monasteries and other holy places of Tibetan Budhism. We saw the cities, the, the countryside and the mountains (in two different short treks). For anyone with curiousity about what Tibet really looks like (in the summer at least), this is a great opportunity. Jan's photos are excellent and the narrative is crisp and informative.
This show is part of the City of Olympia's Ethnic Celebration.
Location: The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, 6 PM
January, 22 - 2009, 1st Teaching, Thursday –7:00pm to 8:45pm
Dharma Talk: The Way of the Bodhisattva
Suggested Donation: $15.00, no one will be turned away.
Geshe Jamyang Tsultirm
IS PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION POSSIBLE?
Is the Bodhisattva ideal achievable, is this path something the average person can
follow, is this path an effective way to live in a troubled world, how can a person activate
their inherent potential to live the Bodhisattva Way? Geshe will address these
fundamental questions in the opening talk of the series.
Overview: 2009 Teachings
Location: Vietanamese Temple, 12th & Wilson Directions
2008 Monthly Teaching Programs
2007 Monthly Teaching Programs
2006 Monthly Teaching Programs
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