IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
Steve McCurry, New York City, NY, USA, 2005
Welcome to November!
This is a tense time in the USA, and I had the good fortune to go to the first Wisdom Seat Retreat in October for 8 days of sitting meditation at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra (KTD) monastery in Woodstock, NY. There were about 20 of us practicing together, learning about each other, and enjoying making a connection with such an important place in our lineage.
I especially enjoyed their library, which had most every Buddhist book I have heard of, and some wonderful small pamphlets such as An Introduction to Mahamudra Meditation by Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche which has this perfect quote:
"...it often seems as though our mind and thoughts are two entirely different things. But if we look at them directly, we'll see that they have exactly the same nature. As long as we regard them as different and want our mind to be at a state of stillness, free from thoughts, the thoughts will actually obstruct the practice of meditation. But once we recognize that thoughts and mind have the same nature, we see that this is no longer the case."
The president of KTD, Lama Lodro Lhamo, talked with me about her path from becoming interested in Buddhism in college, to spending a decade in retreat, to being selected by the Karmapa to serve as president of KTD.
Recently, our own Stephanie Tade joined our monthly A Mindful Gathering call to talk about publishing, becoming a literary agent, and working now with the Dalai Lama.
This month there will a 1 day in-person program in Wallingford, PA which is "An introduction to the Practice of Mahamudra with Laura Kaufman." and All are welcome to this in-person program. An established shamatha meditation practice will provide the foundation for connecting with these precious teachings."
We will be having our monthly A Mindful Gathering on Tuesday, November 12th - with a topic & guest to be announced. (I'm still working on it!)
take care,
Bill Moriarty
We would like to remind you to take some time and visit our Instagram page, @wisdomseat_stevemccurry. Here, you will find an array of enlightening teachings and breathtaking images that are bound to inspire and awaken your mind and spirit. We have curated these posts with utmost care and diligence to provide you with a source of inspiration and learning.
We are thrilled about our collaboration with Steve McCurry Studios, a partnership we believe will bridge our communities. Through the combined power of beauty and wisdom, we aim to create deep and meaningful connections among us all. We look forward to your continued support and engagement with our content.
An Introduction to the Practice of Mahamudra
With Laura Kaufman
Saturday, November 9th 9:45am-4:45pm EST
In-Person
Please join us for this introduction to Mahamudra, the cherished living meditation lineage of the Karma Kagyu tradition. Though Mahamudra practice is simplicity itself, preparation is essential. We will explore the warm heart and open mind of the Mahamudra practitioner and the essential points of practice.
All are welcome to this in-person program. An established shamatha meditation practice will provide the foundation for connecting with these precious teachings. You are asked to support the container by arriving on time and bringing a bag lunch for our silent midday meal.
Laura Kaufman has been studying and practicing Buddhist meditation for over 50 years and studied Mahamudra with Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. After completing the traditional three-year retreat at Sopa Choling, Gampo Abbey in 2010 and with the guidance and encouragement of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Laura has been instructing practitioners in Mahamudra meditative disciplines since 2000.
Wednesday Meditation
Ongoing offering: Online meditation every Wednesday evening 6:15 to 7:30 PM EST
Worldwide Wednesday evening online sitting meditation practice.
We, at The Wisdom Seat, invite you to meet on Wednesday evenings from 6:15 – 7:30 PM Eastern Time to practice the sitting meditation discipline as taught in the Buddhist & Shambhala tradition of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Nyinthun: Everyone is welcome!
Ongoing offering: Nyinthun (in-person and online)
The first Sunday of every month.
All day sitting interspersed with walking meditation. The word nyinthun*, is Tibetan for “day session.”
In understanding dharma, Trungpa Rinpoche placed a strong emphasis on mindfulness/awareness meditation practice. This community practice of Nyinthun - all day sitting interspersed with walking meditation - gives us the opportunity to experience the full spectrum of our mind, make friends with our immediate experience and rediscover our natural sanity.
Please take a look, and sign up to join us for some nyinthun retreat days. It is ok to join for as much of the day as you can.
Collaborative practice undertaking with The Wisdom Seat & The Profound Treasury Retreat
The Wisdom Seat encourages as many opportunities for practitioners to engage in the discipline of mindfulness/awareness (shamatha/vipashyana) as one can engage in. We are happy to invite the Profound Treasury Retreat (PTR) with their offering of Sunday sitting.
PTR community is hosting a 2-hour sitting session from 9:30am to 11:30 am EST
There will be meditation instruction every third Sunday of the month, given by a qualified meditation instructor.
Dates: Nov 10th, 17th, & 24th
Here is the Zoom link for this session: Sunday Sitting Zoom Link
All are welcome to attend.
VAJRA REGENT OSEL TENDZIN LIBRARY
Vajrayogini Teachings by Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin
Class will meet once/month
November 17th, December 15th
Online
The course is based on the Vajrayogini teachings of Vajra Regent Ösel Tendzin from the new book, The Indestructible Path: The Sadhana of the Coemergent Mother. At each class we will listen to and discuss the audio recordings of the talks from the two Vajrayogini ATS programs taught by the Vajra Regent with the Dorje Loppön in 1984 and 1985.
You may attend any or all classes. There is no charge for participation, but the course is only for sadhakas.
NOTE: If you are unable to attend one of the classes, they will all be recorded and posted on the Timeline.
TO REGISTER
If you have already registered with us as an empowered Vajrayogini practitioner, please let us know if you would like to pursue this course, click jackiesaunders10@gmail.com
If you are a Vajrayogini practitioner but have not registered that classification with us, please email the date of your abhisheka, where, and by whom. We will be happy to add you to the list. That will also enable you to access sadhaka-level teachings on the Timeline, whether or not you can take this course. If you would like to take this course, include that in your email to us.
WESTCHESTER MEDITATION CENTER
The Essence of Buddhism:
The Evolution of View, Meditation and Conduct in the Three Yanas
WMC Intermediate Level Course
Wednesdays 7 – 9 PM
September 11* – December 18, 2024
(except Oct. 30th and Nov. 27th)
Online - Zoom Only
Led by Derek Kolleeny and Colleagues
Suggested Offering $160
This Intermediate-level course will survey the entire range of Buddhism’s development into what are called the three yanas, or "vehicles" of Tibetan Buddhism — Hinayana, Mahayana, and Vajrayana — viewing these as the stages of development that individuals follow along the Buddhist path. The primary tool for achieving this is meditation, and the wonderful book by Traleg Rinpoche, The Essence of Buddhism, serves as a handbook for the various meditative approaches of Buddhist practice.
We will begin by reviewing the fundamentals: the Four Noble Truths, ethical conduct, karma, and meditation. Based upon that foundation, we can then understand and practice the expansive vision of the Mahayana, including fundamental concepts such as the bodhisattva ideal and path, compassion, emptiness, and Buddha-nature. Finally, we approach the indestructible path of the Vajrayana with its transformative vision of Tantra based upon esoteric yogic practices. The final chapters present the transcendent view of Mahamudra which dispenses with all dualistic fixations and directly realizes the natural freedom of the mind itself.
The prerequisite for attending this intermediate course is the completion of the WMC Foundation course Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha, or comparable study and practice, as determined in consultation with the course facilitator. You may email Derek to do so using this link.
The Way of the Buddha:
Waking Up through the Path of Meditation
WMC Foundation Level Course – Semester One
Wednesdays 7 – 8:30 PM
September 11 – December 18, 2024
at the Aligned Center, Irvington
Hybrid Class also on Zoom
Join us as we explore the authentic path of meditation and insight as originally described by the Buddha and skillfully transmitted to the West by one of the great Tibetan masters of our time, Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. We will explore such topics as the life of the Buddha; the birth of confusion and suffering; karma; and the path to sanity, insight and compassion. We’ll focus on the techniques and stages of meditation, as well as bringing meditation into our daily lives. Our study will be presented in talks and group discussion.
Readings have been compiled from a wide variety of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s writings and provided in a sourcebook, available in both printed and digital versions. In-person attendance is encouraged, but the course will be 'hybrid' format, with the option to attend via Zoom.
Taught by Gene Bobker & Tom Pantaleoni
Suggested* offering: $125 (or $15 per class)
KATOG CHOLING GON
Nyingtik Yabzhi
November 8th – 12th
Nyingtik Tsapod
November 14th – 17th
Katog Choling Gön (Katog Rit’hröd) Retreat Center
Parthenon, Arkansas
On the occasion of the consecration of the new temple and representations, Khentrul Lodrö T’hayé Rinpoche offers this special event at the Katog Choling Gön retreat center in Parthenon, Arkansas.
You may attend just the Nyingtik Yabzhi or just the Nyingtik Tsapod or both, but full attendance of either section is mandatory. The Nyingtik Yabzhi will be from the morning of the 8th to the evening of 12th. The 13th serves as a rest and travel day. The Nyingtik Tsapod will be from the morning of the 14th to the evening of the 17th. You must arrive the day before and depart the day after these dates for either both or one of the teachings.
The cost for attending both events is a sliding scale $560-800. The amount is reduced if you are attending only one of the empowerments. Katog-provided accommodations are an extra charge. Full cost and accommodation details are provided during the registration process below.
Link for Registration & Questionnaire: https://katog.org/event/2024-11-8-katogrithrodgon/
“I’m sure many of you are not diligent [practitioners]. I’m sure many of you will drink, and go to casinos, and do all sort of strange things that I can’t even think of, but you can still be Buddhist, and I think that’s so important! I want to see Buddhists on Harley Davidsons, with all the tattoos, with the very tight leather jackets, I like those people... I think it’s so denigrating and sad to always hear ‘oh Buddhist equals being vegetarian, non-violent, monk, cave, retreat,...’ all those ideas are dwindling the population of Buddhism.”
— Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche (1961 -)
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