The Buddhist Path to Enlightenment
.
with Gen Kelsang Suma
Wednesdays, 7:00 – 8: 30 pm
Classes will begin with an exploration of how to find the real meaning of human life. We will then explore teachings from Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso’s latest book, The Mirror of Dharma – with Additions. Gen Suma will receive the oral transmission of this book at Fall Festival and will focus in her teachings on the Three Principal Aspects of the Path – the path to perfect peace, the path of compassion, the path of wisdom.
Each class will begin with a short recitation of chanted Buddhist prayers and a guided breathing meditation. We’ll then listen to a teaching and engage in a guided contemplative meditation focused on the content explored. There will be a chance to ask questions at the end of the class.
Cost is $12 per class or 4 classes for $40 (free for members)
.
.
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate positive energy and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a 20-minute meditation on one of the 21 Stages of the Path to Enlightenment or Lamrim. After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. We make requests to overcome all inner and outer obstacles to our Dharma practice, and for the creation of favourable conditions that nurture and increase our Dharma realizations.
Habits of Happy People
with Gen Kelsang Suma
Is the attainment of happiness really as complicated as we make it? Is it true that happiness depends on such things as our ‘success’, reputation, status, looks, or possessions? The reality is that not one of these things – nor all of them together – can bring us lasting happiness. On the contrary, chasing after them with this hope is a sure way to frustration, disappointment and even cynicism.
Buddha teaches how we can all cultivate simple attitudes of mind that will make us genuinely happy. We will explore some of these through teachings and guided meditation.
.
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate positive energy and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a 20-minute meditation on one of the 21 Stages of the Path to Enlightenment or Lamrim. After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. We make requests to overcome all inner and outer obstacles to our Dharma practice, and for the creation of favourable conditions that nurture and increase our Dharma realizations.
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate positive energy and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a 20-minute meditation on one of the 21 Stages of the Path to Enlightenment or Lamrim. After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. We make requests to overcome all inner and outer obstacles to our Dharma practice, and for the creation of favourable conditions that nurture and increase our Dharma realizations.
Foundation Program – Barrie
Meaningful to Behold
Becoming a Friend of the World
with Gen Kelsang Suma
Sundays, 10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Many people have the compassionate wish to benefit others, but few understand how to bring this about effectively in their everyday lives. Bodhisattvas are friends of the world, who have such strong compassion that they are able to transform all their daily activities into methods to benefit others.
The path of the Bodhisattva was exquisitely described in the beloved poem, Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, by the 8th-Century Master, Shantideva. In the book, Meaningful to Behold, Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso provides a remarkable commentary to this poem where he explains clearly how modern practitioners can actualize this profoundly meaningful way of life.
“Our present situation can be understood in terms of the following analogy. If a person comes across a nugget of gold but does not recognize its rarity and worth, he may easily throw it away. At this moment we have attained a precious human life far more valuable than gold, but if we do not recognize its worth we are apt to squander it in meaningless and purposeless pursuits.”
~ Geshe Kelsang Gyatso
Offering to the Spiritual Guide
The main practice here is relying upon our Spiritual Guide visualized in the aspect of Je Tsongkhapa, and making praises and requests. This puja also includes all the essential practices of the stages of the path to enlightenment and training the mind, and the two stages of Highest Yoga Tantra. Through engaging in this practice of “guru yoga” our compassion, wisdom and spiritual power naturally increase. This puja includes a tsog offering, so you may bring a vegetarian food offering if you wish. (2 hours)
This practice is the heart essence of Kadampa Buddhism. In the first part we visualize our Spiritual Guide as Je Tsongkhapa and make prayers and requests to purify negativity, accumulate positive energy and receive blessings. This prepares our mind for a 20-minute meditation on one of the 21 Stages of the Path to Enlightenment or Lamrim. After the meditation we make prayers to our Dharma Protector, Dorje Shugden. We make requests to overcome all inner and outer obstacles to our Dharma practice, and for the creation of favourable conditions that nurture and increase our Dharma realizations.
.
Habits of Happy People
with Gen Kelsang Suma
Is the attainment of happiness really as complicated as we make it? Is it true that happiness depends on such things as our ‘success’, reputation, status, looks, or possessions? The reality is that not one of these things – nor all of them together – can bring us lasting happiness. On the contrary, chasing after them with this hope is a sure way to frustration, disappointment and even cynicism.
Buddha teaches how we can all cultivate simple attitudes of mind that will make us genuinely happy. In each class we will explore, through teachings and guided meditations, how we can nurture powerful mental habits that fend off gloom and negativity, and enkindle a freeing lightness of heart and mind.
Everyone is welcome.