2011 Events & Activities

First Thursday Public Talks

with

Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim

On the first Thursday of each month--exceptions will be noticed here--Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim gives a dharma talk that is open to the public on a variety of buddhist topics. The talks begin at 7:00 PM.

Please, Note: All Nalanda Institute teachings and meditation practices will be held at our new Meditation Hall, 1620 Fourth Ave E., Olympia, WA - not at the Vietnamese Temple.    NeedDirections?

First Thursday, October 6

Teaching Postponed

This monthly teaching is postponed. Regular Thursday meditation will be held. It will remain at Lien Hoa Vietnamese Temple, not at new center. Monthly teachings to start in November at our new center.

Winter Teaching Topics: Classical and Modern Meditation Practice and Theory, at our new Dharma Center

___________________

First Thursday, September 1

Teaching Canceled

The usual First Thursday of the Month teaching is canceled. August was a very busy month for Geshe Jamyang and all the active Nalanda members. We hosted H.H. Sakya Trizin on Aug 12, we scrambled hard to get our new meditation center ready for him to consecrate (which he did), and Geshe Jamyang and his wife had a baby on Aug 25. We will have our regular Thursday meditation practice on Thursday, September 1.

___________________

First Thursday, August 4

How to Receive Buddhist Teachings

presented by

Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim

and

Lama Lungrik Gyatso

As you know, on Aug 12 H. H. Sakya Trizin will be teaching in Olympia. In the overall organization of Tibetan Buddhism he is one step below the level of the Dalai Lama. He is also a highly realized and accomplished teacher. On both counts he is due great respect. To get the most benefit from attendance at this teaching, it’s helpful for students to understand two aspects of being in the presence of a high Lama: 1) the best frame of mind or attitude for a student and 2) the protocols for the event. On Aug 4, Geshe Jamyang and Lama Lungrik will explain both of these elements. Topics include:

• Relationship between teacher and student
• Differences between an initiation and a teaching
• Any preparation or vows associated with the initiation
• Motivation and mind-set for receiving the initiation
• Motivation and mind-set for receiving the teaching
• Protocols for events or ceremonies with a high lama, such as
  • Dress
  • Handling texts
  • Making offerings
  • etc

______________________

First Thursday, July 7

Consciousness and Life After Death

Is there a stream of consciousness or a life after our deaths? This is an important topic in the general spiritual realm and particularly in Buddhist traditions. If there is no continuing life or rebirth, what happens to the concept of law of causality, i.e., the concept of cause and result? Would the world become a realm of spiritual anarchy? Would that be acceptable for us?

This talk will focus on the idea of a "stream of consciousness" that has some kind of continuity over many rebirths. It will also emphasize the methods to guide ourselves into a continuing path of full individual transformation. ______________________

First Thursday, June 2

Buddhist Philosophy
and
Western Physics Views of Reality

by

Sonam Dorje

This month's First Thursday features a guest speaker, Sonam Dorje. Sonam is known in the Tibetan community as SciencePala (Father of Science). He was the first Tibetan to ever receive a PhD in Physics. The title also recognizes however that he is very well studied in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy as well. He completed several years of monk's studies in Buddhist philosophy at Sakya College, India. Due to his proficiency in science however, he was encouraged to pursue that path and went on to complete bachelors, masters and PhD level studies in Physics at Punjab University, India. In the United States he worked for over 15 years for Amgen (Seattle biotech company) so he also knows a lot about the amazingly complex field of genetics and biochemistry.

In this talk he will share his personal understandings of the differences and similarities between Western physics and Buddhist philosophy. Sonam speaks excellent English and is obviously extremely accomplished on both ends of this spectrum. Its not just academics though. As a Tibetan, a deep Buddhist practitioner, and a highly educated person, Sonam has given a lot of thought to this question of Eastern philosophy and Western science. We are honored and fortunate to have someone with his background in our community. Don't miss what promises to be a highly engaging and informative talk. ______________________

First Thursday, May 5:

End of Life Dharma Practices - Part II

Geshe Jamyang will continue the discussions on understanding and preparing for the end of life from a Buddhist perspective. The presentation will cover different elements but will touch on the same general list of topics as the April talk. ______________________

First Thursday, April 7:

End of Life Dharma Practices

The April First Thursday talk by Geshe Jamyang will be about understanding and preparing for the end of life - either for yourself or for others.  Geshe will provide a Buddhist perspective for practitioners but will also discuss how to effectively assist others who are not Buddhist and don't have that view of the end of life.  As time permits, topics will include the following:

• Relationship between meditation and final stages of life
• Helpful practices for preparing for ones own death
• Buddhist view of the stages of dying
• Helping others prepare for their death
• Dealing with grief

Note that this years annual meditation retreat has the same general topic so what is not covered on April 6 will be addressed at the retreat or at the May first Thursday teaching. ______________________

February 10 and March 3, First Thursdays:

The Heart Sutra

Geshe will teach on the context, content and meaning of this fundamental Mahayana Buddhist sutra. In addition to showing how to understand the unusual text, Geshe will teach on how to use the heart sutra as a practice through reflection, intention, and recitation. More detail on the topics for each month will be forthcoming.

Geshe suggests reading one or both of the following texts as preparation for this important subject. They can be found at Snow Lion, Wisdom, Amazon or other book stores or websites.

• Essence of the Heart Sutra -
  Dalai Lama's Heart of Wisdom Teachings
  His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Author; Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Editor
• The Heart of the Universe - Exploring the Heart Sutra
  by Mu Soeng

______________________

First Thursday, Jan 6:

Mental Equanimity

Development and maintaining the state of mental equanimity is the heart of the Buddhist teaching and practice, especially at the initial and intermediate stages of spiritual practices. From this perspective, human mental and emotional instability (spiritual mood swings) are due to a lack of insight and experience in dealing with eight conventional experiences, which are: extremes of happiness and unhappiness; loss and gain, fame and loss of fame; and admiration and belittling. Shanti Deva (a well-known scholar) views these eight human mental states or emotions as the sources of anger and dissatisfaction of our daily lives.

This monthly teaching will explore the the effect of these 8 worldly states of mind and ways to achieve a peaceful mind for 2011.

Description

The Nature of Mind/Consciousness Program is designed for the individual to experience a range of awakening minds and transform afflictive mental states.  It encompasses the essential Buddhist teachings and contemplative practices to help us achieve that end. These methods are also integrated with the development of altruistic attention (Bodhicitta) and actions (six paramitas) in order to inspire us to recognize the very nature of mind: the state of clarity and spaciousness.

In addition to the Buddhist classical approaches, we will watch DVD’s from The Mind & Life Institute describing the latest research on contemplative neuroscience.  This is a field that combines the direct results of recent decades of collaborative research and dialogue among Western scientists, Buddhist scholars and adept meditators.

Duration and commitments

This study and practice program is designed to be one year long. However, you may join at any time.  It follows the Tibetan calendar ending in Feb. 2012.   The program is aligned with TNI's annual retreat May 21, 2011 and special teaching events in August 2011 by His Holiness Sakya Trizin.

Participants need to commit to engaging in assigned continuing practices, readings, and attending monthly meetings.

Students are encouraged to enroll as paid members of TNI in order to support TNI’s mission and vision.  Nevertheless, any interested person is welcome regardless of ability to contribute to TNI financially.

Meeting schedule

3-hour monthly meetings occur on the second Sunday of the each month, 10am to 1pm.  Meeting dates are: April 10, May 8, June 12, July 10, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 4, 2011 and Jan.8, 2012.

The Nature of Mind/Consciousness Program consists of three stages:

1. Foundational level practice (April, May and June)
2. Actualization level practice (July, Aug. Sept. and Oct.)
3. Integration of practices into daily life (Nov. Dec. and Jan. 2012)

Foundational level practice (April, May and June)

All participants can select one of following meditation practices:

• Mindfulness practice as decribed in Minfulness in Plain English: Updated and Expanded Edition by Bhante Henepola Gunaratana
• Shamata practice (concentration with mindfulness and awareness) as described in The Attention Revolution by B. Allan Wallace

Program teacher and Coordinator

Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim will lead this program

For location and details about this study group call (360) 786-1309, or email gracemo@ywave.com

Chairs will be provided. Please bring your meditation cushion if you prefer, and some layered warm clothes.

• Annual Retreat
• His Holiness Sakya Trizin
• Grand Opening

• 2010 Teachings and Programs
• 2009 Teachings and Programs
• 2008 Teachings and Programs
• 2007 Teachings and Programs
• 2006 Teachings and Programs