|
|
Teaching Notes
 |
Geshe Dakpa Togyal: Introduction to Saka Dawa
Charleston - May 24, 2007
May 24, 2007 - Lord Buddha Shakyamuni, commonly known as Sidhartha or Guatama, was born in Lumbini, India
2,600 years ago. He was born into a highly respected Royal Hindu Family of the Shakya clan.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Togyal: Taking Refuge
Columbia - August 10, 2002
August 10, 2002 - In order to take refuge, it is important to have a good understanding of what is meant by refuge,
to whom you take refuge, and why you are taking refuge. It is important to understand what you think will change in your life.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: 6 Perfections Continued &
Refuge Review
Columbia - August 9, 2002
Six Perfections Continued: Ethics and Patience & Basic understanding necessary for refuge.
We finished the First Perfection, the perfection of giving, generosity, charity; this includes tonglen, the practice of giving and taking.
Today, we will deal with the second of the Six Perfections, ethics.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Mahakaruna, Bodhicitta and Tonglen
Columbia - July 26, 2002
The purpose of great compassion, mahakaruna, is to generate bodhicitta,
the gateway to Mahayana. The purpose of compassion and bodhicitta is to
embark on a spiritual journey or spiritual path to reach enlightenment
or Buddhahood. From this one could say that compassion and bodhicitta
are the basis of the Mahayana path.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Ngawang Phuntsok's Introductory Teachings in Buddhism
Columbia - July 3, 2002
July 3, 2002
The meaning of dharma is "transform the mind." Ordinarily, we may have love; we may have honesty. Sometimes, we have an honest mind. We see a beggar, and we give him fifty cents. This is very simple compassion.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Ngawang Phuntsok's Introductory Teachings in Buddhism
Columbia
Your body is here. I don't know about your mind. Where is your mind?
We say in logic that your mind is hidden phenomena. The opposite of hidden phenomena is manifest. Your mind is hidden phenomena for me, manifest for you.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Ngawang Phuntsok's Introductory Teaching
Columbia
Today, I will tell first the story of India, where I came from.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: The Four Noble Truths
Columbia - December 7, 2001
When we carefully study the Fourth Noble Truths, we can see the entire
spiritual approach of Buddhism, which includes the paths and the bhumis,
the antidote to delusions and karmic obscurations and the four types of
dualities.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal's Complete Instruction on Meditation Practice
Columbia
Geshe-la presents his entire meditation guide. There are also questions and answers
on meditation at the beginning of the class.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Lam Rim Teaching on the Five Paths
Columbia: November 9, 2001
November 9, 2001
Geshe-la's presentation of the Five Paths portion of the Lam Rim, including the 10 Bhumis.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Meditation and the Objects of Meditation
Columbia: October 13, 2001
October 13, 2001
In Buddhism, the very purpose of mediation in the first place is to improve the quality of mind or quality of wareness. Through improvement, you make the mind capable of being exposed to reality, rather than imposed on by reality.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Public Teaching on Karma
Columbia: October 12, 2001
October 12, 2001
Karma is a familiar term today, common even in the West. Karma is a universal law, very important for our well-being and for the happiness
of others.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: The Four Noble Truths (continued)
Columbia: September 14, 2001
September 14, 2001
You could say the ultimate goal of the Buddhist spiritual quest is to reach or attain the third of the Four Noble truths, which is cessation of suffering or nirvana.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Buddhist Meditation
Columbia Sept. 1, 2001
September 1, 2001
According to Tibetan Buddhism, meditation, rather than emptying the mind, purifies the mind. It is a mental technique to purify the stains of the mind.
Also, Q & A on using a mala.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: The Four Noble Truths (continued)
Columbia: August 31, 2001
August 31, 2001
The Four Noble Truths teach us different ways and methods to live a meaningful life.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Beginner Q & A and Shamata Meditation
Columbia: August 18, 2001
August 18, 2001
Question: Can you describe the "resting place" we should reach in meditation?
Answer: You don’t see forms or shapes, but there is no blackness. There is what we call vacuity.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: The Four Noble Truths (review)
Columbia: August 17, 2001
August 17, 2001
I will repeat a little bit.
The first of the Four Noble Truths is the truth of suffering. Many of our human problems arise from the way we deny the facts of life or reality.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Meditation - Continued Teachings
Columbia: Aug 4, 2001
Aug. 4, 2001. In meditation, what is most difficult is not getting there, but staying there. Once your consciousness becomes deep, still holding the image of a rose flower, you will see yourself in the rose and the rose in yourself. It is not correct to say you become the rose or the rose becomes you, but that you experience a visual consciousness that you don't interfere with.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: The Four Noble Truths
Columbia: Aug 3, 2001
Aug. 3, 2001. If you understand all about the Four Noble Truths and what the Four Noble Truths teach, it's very possible you will have a clear understanding of
what Buddha teaches.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Meditation - A Review of the Steps
Columbia: July 22, 2001
First, sit and relax. Check your sitting position. Are you comfortable? Do you feel any tension? If so, correct it. Don't focus on the physical. Try to emphasize the mind.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Continuance of Taking Refuge, Renuciation, the Four Noble Truths
Columbia: July 20, 2001
Once we have a clear understanding of whom we take refuge with, to what purpose we take refuge and why the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha
are qualified to be the ultimate source of refuge, then it's possible that enlightenment or Buddhahood is achievable.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Review of Karma and Purfication. Introduction to Taking Refuge
Columbia: July 6, 2001
Once we have a basic understanding of the Buddhist concept of karma, of the karmic results of what we think and what we do, it’s possible for
day-to-day life to come under spiritual discipline.
The purification practice is designed to destroy the potential of the
karmic seed, so the karmic seed won’t bear results.
Refuge is important to understand. It differentiates Buddhists from non-Buddhists. Someone who has taken refuge has taken refuge in the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha and has become Buddhist.(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Meditation Basics
Columbia: June 17, 2001
There are seven points to the proper posture when meditating...
Simply sitting in this posture does not mean you are meditating. In meditation, your mind does not do three things.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Further Teachings on Karma
Columbia: June 16, 2001
(A continuation of Karma teachings begun May 11)
Karma can be complete or incomplete. For karma to be complete, all four binding factors must be present. If all four are present at the
execution of an act, karma is complete. If any one is missing at the execution of an act, karma is incomplete.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Karma
Columbia: May 11, 2001
There are two types of karma, positive and negative. Positive karma is
wholesome or virtuous or meritorious karma. Positive karma comes from desirable actions.
Negative karma is unwholesome or nonvirtuous karma. It comes from undesirable actions.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Introduction to Meditation
Columbia: April 28, 2001
As meditation beginners we must learn to stop the mind from thinking.
We must empty the mind of thoughts and images the mind wants to hold. If possible, we want no thoughts at all. If that is not possible, we strive for pure thoughts.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Cosmology and Karma
Columbia: April 27, 2001
A review of Buddhist cosmology and introduction to karma.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Shamata Meditation
Columbia: March 17, 2001
There are two types of Shamata meditation. In one, the meditator focuses on the objects of meditation, maintaining a single-point focus.
In the second, the meditator concentrates on compassion or bodhichitta.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Gross Mind, Subtle Mind and Very Subtle Mind
Columbia: March 16, 2001
If we don’t know the nature of the mind or subtle consciousness, it’s very difficult to understand the possibility of life after death.
The material body ends with death, but the very subtle consciousness continues, from past to present, present to future.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Rebirth
Columbia: March 2, 2001
Rebirth is the process of coming back into a new body and a new life.
Both rebirth and reincarnation are the process of coming back, but the words cannot be used interchangeably.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Beginning Shamata Meditation
Columbia: February 3, 2001
Shamata means "calm, abiding" or "inner silence." In shamata meditation, the mind rests in an inner quietness. "Calm" means no movement, no conceptual thought. "Abiding" means remaining or resting in that quiet
state.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Death and Dying (Part 2)
Columbia: February 2, 2001
In Buddhism there is special emphasis on the process of death.
Meditating on death helps the individual handle death when it comes.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Meditation Fundamentals
Columbia: January 20, 2001
There are two types of meditation: shamata, or single focus, meditation, and vipassana, or analytic, meditation.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Death and Dying (Part 1)
Columbia: January 19, 2001
It’s very important to learn how to die because it’s part of life, the most critical moment of our life. When death comes upon us, no matter how inancially well off we are, all becomes useless and hopeless.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Introduction to Shamata Meditation
Columbia: January 6, 2001
Shamata meditation is mind-training. In meditation the focus is redirected to a single point. In meditation, two distinct qualities of mind are gained: mental clarity and mental stability.
Click here to read more ...
Geshe Dakpa Topgyal: Choosing a Guru
Columbia: January 5, 2001
Reliance on the guru is the root of spiritual realization. When a qualified teacher and a qualified student come together, spiritual realization is inevitable.
(Part of the First Year Lam Rim Series)
Click here to read more ...
|
|
