Schedule of Teachings for Lama Lodu Rinpoche
Spring and Summer 2008
To schedule a personal interview with Lama Lodu Rinpoche,
please call him directly at (415) 386-4531.
Visiting Teachers at Kagyu Droden Kunchab, San Francisco
are listed below
To submit a credit card payment for any of these teachings,
visit our secure web page https://kdk.org/ccsub_teachings.html
and fill in your credit card information as well as the title of the event.
| April 4 - 6 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will visit Santa Fe, New Mexico April 4 and 5, 2008 Contact: Fred Cooper fredc ath@earthlink.net for details. |
| April 7 - 9 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will visit Questa, New Mexico April 7 - 9, 2008 Contact: Gabrielle Herbertson gabri@chamisamesa.net or (505) 586-1038 for details. |
| Apr 13 - 14 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will continue to give instruction to the three-year retreatants at the Kagyu Droden Kunchab retreat land. April 13 and 14, 2008 Rinpoche is guiding these retreatants through an intensive series of teachings, empowerments and practice sessions all in accordance with the protocols and curriculum of the traditional Tibetan 3-year retreat. This is the third 3-year retreat Rinpoche has led on the West Coast. He is very pleased with the progress, diligence and profound generosity demonstrated by the men and woman now well along toward completing their goal. |
| Apr 25 - 27 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will visit Arcata, California April 25 - 27, 2008 For details contact Mody or Henry Holloman at (707) 822-4756. |
| May 2 - 20 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will lead an Eight Nyung Nes retreat Tuition: $600 (KDK members, $300) On the first day of the lunar month, the moon, though present in the night sky, is not visible. As the moon waxes, a sliver of light is seen then a larger portion of the sphere appears until finally we witness the glory of a full moon. The phases of the waxing moon mirror Buddha Shakyamuni’s experience under the Bodhi tree. He subdued the maras of negativity and his wisdom increased and expanded until he accomplished full enlightenment. Lord Buddha’s realization is symbolized as the final phase of a waxing moon, perfect unobstructed wisdom light. During the Eight Nyung Nes practice, participants follow the example of Buddha Shakyamuni. Just as Lord Buddha engendered enormous, selfless aspirations for all beings, a Buddhist practicing this way can accumulate tremendous positive karma. But since the maras of negativity rally forces at this time as well, negative karma can also increase. So the retreat always ends auspiciously on the day of the full moon. In Tibetan, the word “Nyung” means less. “Nes” means remaining. This means that during this retreat, we reduce our negativity and, ideally, eliminate negativity entirely. The eight precept vows are called “So Jong.” "So" means we replenish the positive, and "Jong" means we purify the negative. By taking the eight precept vows, the experience is greatly intensified. In addition, we practice creation stage meditation where we visualize the 1,000 Arm Chenrezig, who is the embodiment of all the enlightened ones, and recite his mantra. We visualize the environment as the mandala, ourself as the deity, and thus transform all impure perceptions to perfectly pure and divine, celestial perceptions. Nyung Nes is a practice of fasting and purification. Each morning, one takes vows and abides by them for the whole day. On the first day, one vegetarian meal is eaten at noon and liquids are taken. On the second day, no food or drink at all is consumed. On each day practitioners do the 1,000 Arm Chenrezig practice. So great is the powerful merit of this practice that to do one Nyung Nes, closes the doors to the lower realms in the next rebirth. It is also said that by completing eight consecutive Nyung Nes practices, one closes the door to rebirth in samsara. One is instantly reborn into a realm where enlightenment comes quickly and easily. |
| May 26 - June 9 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will continue to give instruction to the three-year retreatants at the Kagyu Droden Kunchab retreat land. |
| June 14 - 18 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will continue to give instruction to the three-year retreatants at the Kagyu Droden Kunchab retreat land. |
| June 20 - 22 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will visit St. Louis, Missouri. |
| June 23 - 25 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will visit Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. |
| June 28 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will officiate at the Karmapa Birthday Celebration. We invite students of Kagyu Droden Kunchab to join the celebration of His Holiness the Karmapa’s birthay. This annual event sponsored by many organizations and devoted individuals will be held at the Berkeley Marina. The public is invited to participate in this wonderful gathering where food, a fire puja, prayers and Tibetan cultural festivities will occur. Location: Berkeley Marina Shorebird Park, next to His Lordship’s restaurant. Parking lot directions: Take University Ave. Exit west toward the bay. Follow signs to His Lordship’s restaurant. |
| July 1 - 11 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will continue to give instruction to the three-year retreatants at the Kagyu Droden Kunchab retreat land. |
| July 17 - 21 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will lead a Chöd Retreat and Empowerment. Registration required by calling (925) 228-3999 Chöd is an important practice among the four different classes of Tantra. This technique, revealed in India by Pha Dampa Sangye and taught to his disciple the Tibetan holy woman Machig Labdron, is practiced in all the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Chöd means “cutting through ego” and it is ego which causes confusion, negative actions and suffering. Actually, Chöd is a lineage, one of the eight major schools of Tibetan Buddhism which includes Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, Gelupa, Shanpa Kagyu, Chöd, Kalachakra and Dorje Nyundro. This retreat will establish a profound link with Chöd and plant the seed for understanding the illusory nature of ego, or self, leading to the realization of the nature of mind. Chöd is one of Lama Lodu Rinpoche's principal practices and he is a master of this technique. Rinpoche's commentary on the meditation is contained in the new book, CHÖD PRACTICE MANUAL AND COMMENTARY. This splendid resource for Chöd practitioners contains the Chöd sadhana written by the 14th KarmapaThekchok Dorje and Jamgön Kongtrül Lodö Taye and translated with commentary by Very Venerable Lama Lodu Rinpoche. This daily practice text is given in three versions: Tibetan, a phonetic rendering of the Tibetan, and an English translation. This is an essential tool and reference guide for the serious Chöd practitioner. It is available through the KDK Bookstore and Snow Lion Publications for $16.95. It is an excellent resource for study during the retreat. |
| July 28 - Aug 11 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will continue to give instruction to the three-year retreatants at the Kagyu Droden Kunchab retreat land. |
| Aug 16 | Lama Lodu Rinpoche will bestow the Manjusri Empowerment and Instruction.
Manjusri embodies the wisdom of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the three times and ten directions. During this transmission you will meet the mind of Manjusri and, through Rinpoche’s commentary and instructions, receive all his blessings. |
Visiting Teachers at Kagyu Droden Kunchab, San Francisco
| Each Sunday, March 20 through June 1 | Ten Sunday Seminars with Khenpo Ghawang, Abbot of Rumtek’s Nalanda University.
Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom Sunday, March 30, 2008 - Sunday, June 1, 2008 JUNE 1 SEMINAR IS DEFERRED. Khenpo Ghawang is with His Holiness Karmarpa so the June 1 teaching will be given on June 8. All at KDK, 1892 Fell St. at Clayton, San Francisco, CA We are delighted to announce that Khenpo Ghawang, abbot of Rumtek’s Nalanda University will be in residence at KDK and will offer commentary on the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje’s, famous treatise. This series of teachings is open to all those interested in receiving instructions from a highly respected scholar and accomplished teacher. Khenpo Ghawang’s insight, realization and humility amazed and impressed students at Nalanda University.
Khenpo Ghawang was born in Eastern Tibet, Nakchen, to a nomad family. His exceptional intelligence was evident at an early age. He studied with many accomplished masters, yogis and pandits including Jigme Phunstok, renowned in Tibet and in the west. Khenpo Ghawang traveled to India and studied the philosophies of all four schools of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. He was appointed Abbot of Nalanda University by His Holiness the17th Karmapa. Currently Khenpo is working on a book with His Eminence Gyaltsap Rinpoche. He was also requested by H.H. Karmapa to write a commentary on a profound Madhyamika text. Accompanying Khenpo Ghawang is Acharya Kunzang, also of Nalanda University, Rumtek.
Acharya Kunzang graduated with the acharya title, the equivalent of a master’s degree, and was discipline master to the monks at Nalanda. We are blessed to have Khenpo Ghawang and Acharya Kunzang residing at KDK. Please refer to the next newsletter in the late summer 2008 for other weekend seminars by Khenpo Ghawang.. |
| June 13 - 18 | Inner Yoga June 13 - 18, 2008 Lama Denys was born in Paris in 1949. As a young man he was interested in medicine and philosophy. When he was 18 he traveled to India, to the Himalayas, where he met the great Tibetan Buddhist teacher Kalu Rinpoche. Lama Denys learned Tibetan, settled in India and began his training under Khabje Kalu Rinpoche. In due course he became Rinpoche’s translator, revealing Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings at many retreats.
Lama Denys received transmissions from lineage holders of the Kagyu, Nyingma and Sakya schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Among his teachers were Dujon Rinpoche, Kangyour Rinpoche, Pawo Rinpoche, Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche and H.H. the 16th Karmapa. In 1979 Kalu Rinpoche recognized Lama Denys as Vajracharya (Master of Vajrayana). Since then Lama Denys has directed the Institute of Karma Ling, a Buddhist retreat center in the French Alps. We are honored to host this excellent teacher and hope many will take advantage of the opportunity to receive the Inner Yoga transmission from him. |
| June 28 | Karmapa Birthday Celebration Saturday, June 28, 2008, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. We invite students of Kagyu Droden Kunchab to join the celebration of His Holiness the Karmapa’s birthay. This annual event sponsored by many organizations and devoted individuals will be held at the Berkeley Marina. The public is invited to participate in this wonderful gathering where food, a fire puja, prayers and Tibetan cultural festivities will occur. Location: Berkeley Marina Shorebird Park, next to His Lordship’s restaurant. Parking lot directions: Take University Ave. Exit west toward the bay. Follow signs to His Lordship’s restaurant. |
| Aug 17, 23, 24, 30 & 31 | The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas Five Weekend Seminars with Khenpo Ghawang Beginning Sunday, August 17, 2008* (* The Manjusri Empowerment to be given by Ven. Lama Lodu Rinpoche will take place on Saturday August 16, 2008, as scheduled.)
After an inspiring commentary on "Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom," Ven. Khenpo Ghawang has kindly agreed to teach The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas. These seminars will give participants a profound, clear and vivid understanding of this treatise on living a meaningful life, a life of wisdom and compassion. Khenpo Ghawang was born in Eastern Tibet to a nomad family. His exceptional intelligence was evident at an early age. He studied with many accomplished masters, yogis and pandits including Jigme Phunstok, renowned in Tibet and the west. Khenpo Ghawang traveled to India and studied the philosophies of all four schools of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism. He was appointed Abbot of Nalanda University by His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. Currently Khenpo is working on a book with His Eminence Gyaltsap Rinpoche. He was also requested by H.H. Karmapa to write a commentary on a profound Madhyamika text. Khenpo Ghawang is eager to learn English while offering through a translator the teachings we requested. Sonam Norboo, (Robert Clark), will provide his excellent skills as translator. Khenpo Ghawang will be returning to India following this series of teachings. We may not see him at KDK for some time. We strongly encourage students to take advantage of this opportunity to receive instruction from such a great teacher and scholar. May all beings find happiness and the causes of happiness. Suggested text: |
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and fill in your credit card information as well as the title of the event.