Zasep Rinpoche Bagshaa's visit to Toronto in April/May
Hello everyone
We are delighted to present the schedule for Zasep Rinpoche Bagshaa's visit to Toronto this coming April/May. In the schedule, the lower suggested donation is for members of Gaden Choling, the higher for non-members. If you are a member, and have not yet contacted us with your vital membership statistics, please do so ASAP; if you are not a member, please consider becoming one.
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Click on "Read More" to get the full schedule.
The schedule:
Wednesday, April 23, 7pm. Teaching on Tonglen (Giving and Taking). At the Institute of Traditional Medicine, 553 Queen St. W., 2nd Floor. Please RSVP by calling 416-537-0928. Suggested donation $20.
Tonglen is a core practice of the Kadam Lojong ('thought transformation') tradition,
and is a very special method for eliminating self-cherishing attitudes and developing the
mind that cherishes others. In this practice, one trains in taking the suffering and the
causes of suffering of all other beings, and giving all happiness and its causes, in the
form of one's body, virtues and possessions, to all beings. Rinpoche will provide the
context for this practice, as well as commentary on how to properly engage in this very
precious thought transformation system.
Friday, April 25, 7:30pm. Chod Initition ('Opening the Door to the Sky'). At Gaden Choling. Suggested
donation $40/$50.
Chod practice is a very special lineage of practice found in all schools of Tibetan
Buddhism. Chod exercises and deepens one's experience of the entire path, but
especially the bodhisattva activities of giving and meditating on emptiness. Chod thus
'cuts' the foundations of cyclic existence; namely our self-grasping ignorance and self-
cherishing. This meditation is traditionally done to the accompaniment of beautiful
melodies and drumming. Refuge and bodhisattva vows will be given.
Sat. April 26th, 10am-5pm. Chod Teaching. At Gaden Choling. Suggested donation $30/40.
For those who have received the Chod initiation according to the Gaden tradition,
Rinpoche will be giving commentary on the various elements of this profound practice.
Rinpoche will speak about preliminaries and proper orientation to the practice, as well as
commentary on the various stages of meditation contained in the sadhana. We will also
be practicing the sadhana together while Rinpoche gives commentary.
Sun. April 27th, 10am-5pm. Mahamudra Teaching and Lam Rim Lung. At Gaden Choling. Suggested donation is $30/40.
Mahamudra, or the 'Great Seal', is a profound meditation system that seeks to
directly realize the nature of one's own mind. Comprised of preliminaries, Samantha
(single-pointed concentration) Mahamudra and Vipassana (insight) Mahamudra, this
tradition offers the meditator a method to take her or his own mind as the object of
contemplation and analysis. Rinpoche will lead mahamudra meditations and provide
commentary on the proper stages of practice.
In addition, Rinpoche will be continuing his transmission of Lama Tsongkapa's 'Great
Stages of the Path to Enlightenment'. Oral transmissions link the student to the living
tradition of realization of a given text, and offer blessings and inspiration in our study
and practice. As this particular text systematically covers the entire path to
enlightenment, receiving this lung is an excellent basis for our practice of
Buddhadharma.
Wednesday, April 30, 7pm Dorje Namjom lung, teachings and puja. At the Lotus Studio (near Markham). For directions and to RSVP, please email Angela Knapp: angela@lotus-studio.ca. By donation.
The practice of the deity Dorje Namjon is for healing the environment, and also for
consecrating land, stupas, temples and houses. It is used for healing the
environment from pollution and toxins; this in turn heals the inhabitants of these
environments. Rinpoche will be giving some teachings on this practice, bestowing the
lung of Dorje Namjom, and leading the practice of the sadhana.
Thurs. May 1st, 7pm. Teaching on How to Support Those Who are Dying. At Snow Lion, 708 Pape Ave. (across from Pape subway station).
By donation.
Rinpoche will be speaking about different ways we can do Dharma practice for
those who are dying. This includes both those to whom we are near and those who may be
far away. Different methods, which can be adapted if the dying person
is not religious, will be discussed. Several meditations that are invaluable to those
seeking to support people transitioning through death will be introduced.
Fri. May 2nd, 7pm. Amitayus Initiation. At Gaden Choling. Suggested donation is $40/50.
Buddha Amitayus is the Buddha of Long Life, Good Fortune, and Wisdom. He is often
depicted as red in colour, holding a life vase brimming with the nectar of immortality.
Relying upon the practice of Buddha Amitayus helps the practitioner enjoy long life, as
well as aid those whose life is threatened from disease, etc. Ultimately, the practice of
Amitayus develops our accumulations of method and wisdom and leads to the
enlightenment of Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings.
Sat/Sun. May 3rd and 4th @ 10am-5pm. La Gug and Tse Gug Retreat Weekend. At Gaden Choling.
Suggested donation is $25/35 per day of $40/50 for the entire weekend.
The La Gug and Tse Gug practice, introduced by Rinpoche during his last Toronto visit,
involves the retrieval and restoration of one's 'la', or essence. According to the
Tibetan Buddhist tradition, mental health issues and other mental and bodily ailments are often
due to the disruption of one's la and its relationship to the mind and body. Often this
occurs due to trauma, depression or sickness. The La Gug and Tse Gug practice retrieves this
lost or disrupted essence, and properly restores a harmonious balance in our body and
mind. Please join us for these rare and practical teachings.
Tuesday, May 6, 7:30pm. Setrapa Initiation. At Gaden Choling. Suggested donation is $40/50.
The practice of relying upon Dharma Protectors is done in order to clear outer and
inner obstacles to our practice. Setrap Chen is Buddha Amitabha in fierce form; his
function is to pacify obstacles and make conditions conducive for the practice of Dharma,
leading to the permanent happiness of enlightenment for self and others.
Bodhisattva vows are given with this initiation.