Gaden Choling Mahayana Buddhist Meditation Centre

 
About the Course

At the request of Zasep Rinpoche, this special course is being led by Chuck Damov during his visit to Toronto in August and October 2008.

This course is primarily about how to develop meditative concentration, drawing on material from the mahamudra lineage. Certificates for proficiency in the material or participation in the course will be available, but drop-in students are welcome.

8 Classes: Aug. 5, 11, 19, 26 and Oct. 7, 14, 21 and 28. From 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Gaden Choling centre.
 

Study Materials

Mahamudra: The Great Seal. The root text for the Precious Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra.

Root text by the First Panchen Lama, Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyeltsen. (to be added, but a good version is available here)

Map of Shamata Development: The development of single-pointed concentration and calm-abiding.

A diagram showing the 5 faults, 8 antidotes, 9 stages, 6 powers, and 4 mental activities associated with shamata.

Stages of Meditation

A succinct review of the 9 stages of developing shamata is given in this article from the March 2003 issue of Shambhala Sun, Nine Stages of Training the Mind, by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

Also, here is a version of the classic diagram illustrating the 9 stages using the metaphors of an elephant, monkey, and rabbit for various aspects of the mind that must be tamed.

Test: 10 Questions on Shamata Mahamudra.

A self-administered test for proficiency in the material presented during this course.
Also, a copy with the answers filled in.

Book: "The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra," by HH Dalai Lama and Alexander Berzin. (Snow Lion. 1997). ISBN 1559390727.

Three books in one, this text starts with Berzin's summary of Mahamudra, then provides the Dalai Lama's commentary on the 1st Panchen Lama's root text, and finally a long commentary by the Dalai Lama on the 1st Panchen Lama's own commentary. These present introductory, intermediate, and advanced discussions of Mahamudra, respectively. A very extensive examination of sutra mahamudra, and highly recommended for serious students. Available from Amazon.ca or (in a slightly different version) online at Alex Berzin's website, both as Web pages and as a complete free PDF book.

Book: "The Attention Revolution: Unlocking the Power of the Focused Mind," by B. Alan Wallace. (Wisdom Publications, 2006) ISBN: 0861712765.

A fresh introduction to and review of the development of Shamata. Written by a Westerner who has studied and practiced Shamata extensively in the Gelug Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the book also incorporates insights from Dzogchen, the Theravadan tradition, and other sources. Available from Amazon.ca and other sources.

Book: "Stages of Meditation," by the Dalai Lama (Snow Lion, 2003). ISBN 1559391979.

A very clear introduction to developing Shamata, written as a review of and commentary on the traditional book of the same name by the ninth-century Indian Buddhist scholar Kamalashila. Available from Amazon.ca and other sources.

Books: "Clarifying the Natural State: A Principal Guidance Manual for Mahamudra," by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal, (North Atlantic Books, 2004), ISBN 9627341452, from Amazon.ca or Snow Lion. Also, "Crystal Clear: Practical Advice for Mahamudra Meditators," by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, (North Atlantic Books, 2004), ISBN 9627341517.

These books are a traditional guide to of Mahamudra meditation and a recent explanatory commentary on the traditional text, respectively. They are based on the Kagyu tradition. If you read only one, "Crystal Clear" (the commentary) will probably be most useful. Somewhat advanced material. Available from Amazon.ca or Snow Lion.