Current Class
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness
beginning Friday, May 29, 2009
In this teaching, the Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche presents the main schools of Buddhist philosophy with their progressively more subtle and refined views of reality. However, it is not just a teaching on the view, but a presentation providing the student the means to realize it through meditation practice.
The idea of a series of meditation practices on a particular aspect of the Buddha's teachings is that by beginning with one's first rather coarse commonsense understanding, one progresses through increasingly subtle and more refined stages until one arrives at complete and perfect understanding. Each stage in the process prepares the mind for the next insofar as each step is fully integrated into one's understanding through the meditation process.
We will watch the teaching on DVD, then discuss, with relevant books available for reference.
Based on the text by the great modern-day yogi Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. Click icon to order from Amazon.com, or order from Snow Lion or Namse Bangdzo.
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Our Study Plan
Buddhism teaches the three ways in which wisdom is acquired: the "three wheels" of hearing, contemplation, and meditation. As described in the Introduction to Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche:
Three Stages in the Process of Understanding
Meditation should be understood as the third stage in the development of one's understanding. The first stage is to listen to or study the teachings with an open and receptive mind that does not distort what is being heard or studied. The second stage is carefully to reflect on what has been received in order to clarify its true significance. The third stage is to integrate the newly acquired knowledge or understanding into one's being or character. In a sense this is like putting it into practice. When one talks about meditation practice one does noit mean one is practicing meditation so that one day one will have perfected it and will be able to give a perfect performance. Rather, it is a practice in the sense of actually doing or being it as opposed to just thinking about it.
Accordingly, we will study this series according to the three wheels. Here's the plan:
• ONE: VIDEO – The first Friday night, we watch the teaching on video and discuss.
• REVIEW NIGHT - The following Monday night we have a make-up opportunity for anyone who missed it Friday night, or for anyone who simply wants to review. Email or call me if you want to come so I know what to expect... 463-2374. This is an hour of watching the video only, no discussion, so we can all fit it into our busy schedules.
• TWO: BOOK/REVIEW/MEDITATE – The next Friday night, we will add supplementary material from the book, review what we've learned, and then work on the actual meditation for the stage of emptiness we're studying.
• No video review following the second week.
• DISCUSS – Each week, I will post notes from our Friday night session to the Luminous Mind blog and fellow students may discuss using the comment function. This gives a way of sharing insights that arise over the week as we take the inquiry to the cushion and to the street.
• REPEAT – We will repeat this one-two approach throughout the series. It is indicated as such on the calendar. You can go there to see whether it's a video week or a book/review/meditation week. The Monday night reviews are posted there as well.
In this way, we will be working with the authentic teachings on emptiness according to the ancient way of acquiring wisdom. After all, we're not just going to Sunday School. We're trying to wake up!