Schedule

  • February 27-March 23,2012

    Intensive Classical Tibetan Language course

    Prof. Kurt Schwalbe

    This is the fifth Prof. Schwalbe is offering this wonderful course at Deer Park. Students from the last two years have given very positive feedback. In particular, this intensive and enjoyable course has high success rates with people who had previously started to study Tibetan and given up in frustration. Two levels are offered: introductory and intermediate. English is the language of instruction. Below is the approximate outline of the language course as a week by week plan. * INTRODUCTORY COURSE:* First week: Learn the writing system and pronunciation Second week: Start learning the grammar, the way thelanguage is put together. Illustrate by reading phrases together. Third week: Continue learning grammar. Illustrate by reading simple sentences. Fourth week: Read more advanced sentences. Read a folk tale and the Heart Sutra.  more »

  • March 2-4, 2012

    DVD Dharma teaching study

    Based on Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche’s 2011 teaching

    This is a DVD Dharma Teaching Study Group of one of the most important text in Tibetan Buddhism - The Way of the Bodhisattva. It is a text written by Shantideva, an 8th-century Indian Buddhist master, who hailed from Kathiawada in Gujarat. He was a renowned scholar and adept at Nalanda University and an adherent of Prasangika Madhyamaka philosophy. His classic text Bodhicaryavatara (The Way of the Bodhisattva) has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India and later in Tibet. It explains the Mahayana view and the methods to realize it. H.H. Dalai Lama has said, 'If I have any understanding of compassion and the practice of the Bodhisattva path, it is entirely on the basis of this text that I possess it.'This study group will go through the 3rd year of teachings on Bodhicaryavatara by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche at Deer Park. The English translation used for these teachings will be The Way of the Bodhisattva by the Padmakara Translation Group, published by Shambhala  more »

  • March 7-11, 2012

    Four Noble Truths

    Teaching on the Four Noble Truths based on the Pali Canon

    Ven. Bhikkhuni Dhammananda

       The Four Noble Truths (Cattāri ariyasaccāni in Pali) -the truth of suffering, the truth of origin of suffering, the truth of cessation of suffering, and the truth of the path leading to cessation- formed part of the first sermon Buddha gave after he attained enlightenment.  Buddha expounded this teaching in Deer Park, at Sarnath near Varanasi, and this teaching has been kept alive ever since. In this 5-day program, Venerable Dhammananda will give commentary based on the Pali text on the Four Noble Truths Teaching. There will be morning and evening daily guided meditation. In addition, a small booklet will be available for participants to further their study and understanding.  more »

  • March 12, 2012

    Dialogue between Buddhism and Jainism

    While India has cradled many spiritual traditions, it has also been known to encourage a practice of dialogue in an atmosphere of utmost respect to the other . Historical evidence suggest that important traditions of Buddhism and Jainism took birth in this land. Gautama Buddha and Vardhamana Mahavira preached  religious  philosophy  in  almost the same geographical territory. Their ideas and doctrines had differences but that did not come in the way for the faithful ones to make their own choices and decisions . Over centuries the practice of dialogue has continued.    more »

  • March 13-17,2012

    Introduction to Jainism

    Samani Aagam Pragjna and Samani Rohit Pragya

    Jainsim prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. It is one of the oldest Indian religions and has one of the richest heritages of learning and culture, together with a tradition of tolerance and synthesis. Jains have significantly influenced and contributed to ethical, political and economic spheres in India. As Jains have an ancient tradition of scholarship, they currently have the highest degree of literacy for a religious community in India and their libraries are the oldest in the country.   Introduction to Jainism is presented by faculty members of Jain Vishva Bharati University in Ladnun, Rajasthan. The course will include the following lectures:  more »

  • March 23-25,2012

    Travel writing with meaning

    Travel Writing with Meaning

    Janet Thomas

    Wherever we go, we takes ourselves with us. Travel writing is about the inner journey, the outer landscape, the politics of place and people, and the ways in which we navigate through the mundane, the sublime and the terrifying. It is also an opportunity to wake up to the "other" in ways that can help heal the world. How do we write and travel at the same time? What's the difference between a travel blog and a travel book? How do we transform our personal journey into a universal experience? "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness." (Mark Twain) Good travel writing is too.  more »

  • March 31-April 1,2012

    Three Treasures : Body, Speech and Mind in the Art

    Andrew Schelling and Rebecca Eland

    A workshop celebrating what’s known in Zen as beginner’s mind, allowing art to be shaped and informed by the immediate environment and the quality of open awareness. Participants will work with movement, dance, and poetry, cultivating avant-garde practices that have roots in traditions of yoga and Buddhist discipline. What sort of movement &what sort of  poetry discipline will reveal the profound interconnection of landscape, event, and one’s own mind? There will be two sessions a day, with sample time for reflection and writing.  more »

  • April 6-8, 2012

    37 Practices of a Bodhisattva  

    Gyalse Lalen  

    Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

    This classic text, written in the 14th century by Gyalse Thogme Zangpo, is a training manual for would-be Bodhisattvas - those dedicated to attaining Enlightenment out of compassion for the world.  These verses elucidate how to overcome our egoistic self-concerns and embark on the altruistic Mahayana path of compassion and wisdom  more »

  • April 18-22,2012

    Occupy your Memoir

    Write, Reflect, Retreat

    Janet Thomas

    Explore your life for meaning and memoir and get a grip on the momentum that keeps the writer writing. The hardest part of writing about your life is sitting down to write. These five days are about diving into the depths of your life and diving into the writing chair and staying there. It takes a certain quality of attention to write deeply, meaningfully and consistently. It is a meditative attention, an attention than can be difficult to attain in these sound-byte disposable times. This workshop is about writing from the heart of your life, honoring the human experience, celebrating the story, and wrestling with the discipline it takes to keep on writing.  more »

  • May 5-6,2012

    Words of My Perfect Teacher

    Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

    We are very honored to host three talks by Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche on, "Words of My Perfect Teacher", one of the favourite works of practioners of Tibetan Buddhisim and recommended by many senior Buddhist masters. This practical guide to inner transformation introduces the fundamental spiritual practices common to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Patrul Rinpoche, the author of this book, makes the technicalities of his subject accessible through a wealth of stories and references to everyday life. It is a wonderful opportunity to go through this text with Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche.  more »

  • April 13-15,2012

    Introduction to the Middle Way

    Series of Teachings on Chandrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara

    Khenpo Choying Dorjee

    *1st series: April 13-15 2nd series: May 11-13 3rd series: June 15-17 (tentative)*  more »

  • May 11-13,2012

    Introduction to the Middle Way

    Series of Teachings on Chandrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara

    Khenpo Choying Dorjee

    *1st series: April 13-15 2nd series: May 11-13 3rd series: June 15-17 (tentative)*  more »

  • June 15-17,2012

    Introduction to the Middle Way

    Series of Teachings on Chandrakirti’s Madhyamakavatara

    Khenpo Choying Dorjee

    *1st series: April 13-15 2nd series: May 11-13 3rd series: June 15-17 (tentative)*  more »

  • Postponed to 2012 fall

    Facing Death - Embracing Life

    Judy Arpana

    *Special Notice:*  more »