With open arms we welcome Drupon Thinley Ningpo's wisdom on the Buddhadharma!
The Venerable Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche will be teaching on Friday, May 18 until Sunday, May 20:
Friday, May 18
Introduction to the Preliminary Practices (Ngondro) of the Drikung Kagyu
Saturday, May 19
The Relationship Between Teacher and Student
Sunday, May 20
The Bardo Teachings
(See below for more details regarding the teachings)
Location:
5337 West Cullom Avenue, Chicago IL 60641
Friday, May 18
7:00 - 9:00 pm
Introduction to the Preliminary Practices (Ngondro)
*Following is reprinted from the /Introduction to Ngondro/ by Khenchen Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche:
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*For the benefit of all sentient beings, the most gracious Buddha Shakyamuni spoke the Dharma through the Sutras and Tantras. The five profound paths of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa are the essence of the Buddha's teachings which enable one to attain enlightenment even in one lifetime. However, to practice the path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa, one must be fully convinced of the "four ways of turning the mind" or the four ordinary foundations. The Four Ways of Turning the Mind are the basis for the successful practice of any of the Yanas. Then one practices the Four Extraordinary Foundations, or the Vajrayana Ngondro to purify the negative karma and obscurations of the mind, speech, and body and to develop virtues.
The great 12th Century Tibetan saint, Lord Jigten Sumgon, the 2nd Nagarjuna, said "The Ngondro is even more important than the higher practices." One must truly understand and practice the simple yet profound foundational teachings before one begins the higher teachings.
Suggested Donation: $15
*Saturday, May 19
10:00 am - Noon
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm*
*The Relationship between Teacher and Student
*HH Dudjom Rinpoche -
"All the siddhis of the profound and secret mantra arise from following the lama, and not from anywhere else."
Patrul Rinpoche has said-
"There is no mention in any of the sutras, tantras, or commentaries of anyone accomplishing buddhahood without following a lama. It can be seen that no one has attained the noble qualities of the levels and paths by their own creation and conjecture. Similarly, all sentient beings, including ourselves, are very
good at following the wrong path."
In Tibetan Buddhism, it is extremely important that the teachings of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni have been passed down from master to student, and this lineage (if unbroken) is said to hold great blessings and the actual power to transform one's mind. What does it mean to have the blessings of the lama? How does it work? Why is it so important?
In the West, it is difficult to put one's trust in another, but it is said that "without this relationship there is no way to attain buddhahood...(in fact) attempting to do so without a wisdom teacher who has fully developed wisdom and a compassionate mind is entirely futile and will leave us utterly lost."
Do you have questions regarding the nature of this important relationship? Are you sceptical? Ask Drupon Rinpoche all of your questions regarding this important subject.
Suggested Donation: $40
*Sunday, May 20
10 am - Noon
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
The Bardo Teachings*
There are six types of bardo.
The first is the bardo of becoming - or birth.
The next is the dream bardo followed by the meditative states, the bardo of death, the bardo of suchness, and the bardo of existence.
Drupon Rinpoche will present the Bardo teachings as an introduction and to create a karmic link for us with the essentials of practice at the time of death.
Suggested Donation: $40
Biography:
Ven. Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche has been Retreat Master at the Tibetan Meditation Center in Frederick, Maryland, since December 2001. Rinpoche, a native of Tibet, received the profound essence instructions in the the practice and mastery of Mahamudra under the great yogi, Ven. Pachung Rinpoche, while still a young monk in Tibet. Upon arriving in India, he completed the traditional 3-year retreat under the care and instruction of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpoche. During this retreat he studied and practiced the Five-fold Path of Mahamudra and the Six Yogas of Naropa. He was awarded the title Drupon, or Retreat Master, by His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche based on his
accomplishments both in philosophy and practice of sutra and tantra.
*Please join us for these teachings. Drupon Thinley Ningpo Rinpoche is much loved by all who have the opportunity to meet him.
*Suggested donations are a guideline. No one will be turned away for lack of funds. All donations are used to support the lama, our center, and the teachings. Without the generosity of participants, the teachings cannot happen. We are extremely grateful for your support. It is only because of you that we can continue to bring our Drikung lamas to Chicago.
