Welcome to The Rime Buddhist Center’s summer curriculum. This semester Geshe Tsewang Thinley will continue to lead classes on Shantideva’s Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra. We will be continuing our Tier 2 classes. Look for details below on these opportunities to deepen your practice with the support of fellow practitioners.
Most classes meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:45-9 pm, with an optional meditation session from 7-7:30 p.m. Ven. Geshe Thinley’s classes meet on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8 pm.
Class and text fees are listed with each class. Use the links in the titles of the class to register for the various classes online. Otherwise print out the registration form and bring it with you to the class. If you have questions about a specific class, please contact Lama Matthew Rice (Lobpön Palden Gocha) by email at spiritual.director@rimecenter.org.
Tier 1
Meditation Workshop CC101
Meditation has been proven to: lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and help you cope with anxiety. It has also been shown to be very effective with chronic pain, insomnia, and panic disorder. The wonderful thing about meditation is that it can be used anywhere, even on the way to work and has no dangerous side effects. In this one session class you will learn this simple technique that can change your life. This class is based upon the work of Jon Kabat-Zin of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center.
Date: One Session beginning January 16, 2019
Time: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: No class fee, donation suggested.
Text: No text fee.
Have you always wanted to understand Buddhism? Buddhism is a 2,500 year old tradition that teach us how to end pain and suffering in ourselves and others. This 12 week course will cover: meditation instruction, the life of the Buddha, basic Buddhist teachings, the three schools of Buddhism, and much more.
Date: 12 Sessions beginning on Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Time: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $50 class fee (for the entire twelve week course)
Text: Basics of Buddhism – $20
This class is for anyone who is contemplating on taking the refuge vows. Taking the refuge vows is generally considered to be the doorway to the learning and incorporating the Buddhist tenets into one’s life. The aim is to provide the student with the understanding the what, why and how before making the commitment to take the refuge vows.
Date: Two Sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, April 10 & 11, 2019
Time: 7:45 – 9:00 p.m.
Class Fee: $30 Class fee
Text: None, Handouts will be given
Prerequisite: Basics of Buddhism
Tier 2
Four Foundations of Mindfulness CC201
For the followers of the Buddha and his teachings, there is a need for great emphasis on the practice of meditation. One must see the straightforward logic that mind is the cause of confusion and that by transcending confusion one attains the enlightened state. This can only take place through the practice of meditation. The Buddha himself experienced this, by working on his own mind, and what he learned has been handed down to us. The four foundations of mindfulness are regarded as fundamental and lays a strong foundation for practice.
Instructor: Nora Quiason, MD (Swami Kuvirananda) and Luis Flores (Dakpa Gelek)
Dates: Four sessions on Wednesday and Thursday January 16 & 17 and January 30 & 31, 2019
Times: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness in Plain English – $16.95
Prerequisite: Tier 1
Turning the Mind Toward the Dharma CC202
This class focuses on the four thoughts that turn the mind toward the Dharma. These are the four contemplations are namely: 1) the difficulty of finding the freedoms and advantages, and 2) the impermanence of life, which turn the mind away from the concerns of this life; and the reflections on 3) the defects of samsara, and on 4) action (karma: cause and effect), which turn the mind away from our attitudes and conduct with respect to future lives.
Dates: Four sessions beginning on Wednesday February 13, 2019
Times: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book One – $34.95
Prerequisite: Tier 1
Establishing a Practice and Working with a Teacher CC203
This class is focused on understanding the circumstances for people who wish to embark upon the path of the Mahayana should try to establish in their practice. Whether is it finding solitude, a place that has all the necessary conditions and is in harmony with the Dharma, or finding a teacher. The class will also look at the relationship between student and teacher and how to engender that relationship with mutual respect and growth for ones practice.
Dates: Four sessions beginning on Wednesday March 20, 2019
Times: 7:45 – 9:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book One – $34.95
Prerequisite: Tier 1
Thursday Evening Classes Tier 3
The Way of the Bodhisattva CC307 – Thursdays
Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, The Way of the Bodhisattva is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. This text has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India, and later in Tibet. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the Bodhisattvas-those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment and vow to work for the liberation of all beings and to attain buddhahood for their sake. This class will cover chapter 7 on how we engage in the Bodhichitta conduct of diligence.
Dates: Eight sessions on Thursdays, beginning on January 3, 2019
Times: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: The Way of the Bodhisattva – $16.95
Prerequisite: Basics of Buddhism
Treasured by Buddhists of all traditions, The Way of the Bodhisattva is a guide to cultivating the mind of enlightenment, and to generating the qualities of love, compassion, generosity, and patience. This text has been studied, practiced, and expounded upon in an unbroken tradition for centuries, first in India, and later in Tibet. Presented in the form of a personal meditation in verse, it outlines the path of the Bodhisattvas-those who renounce the peace of individual enlightenment and vow to work for the liberation of all beings and to attain buddhahood for their sake. This class will look at how we how we engage in meditation on Bodhicitta.
Dates: Four sessions beginning on Thursday February 7, 2019
Times: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Class Fee: $30
Text: The Way of the Bodhisattva – $16.95
Prerequisite: Tier 2
Membership and Vows
Rime Membership Class – Sundays
Becoming an official member of the Rime Center demonstrates your support of the Center. In addition, members receive benefits, such as discounts and invitations to special “members only” programs. The four half-hour sessions cover the following topics: 1. Introductions, and over view of Tibetan Buddhism; 2. What does it mean to be Rime; 3. The organizational structure of the Rime Center and explanation of the center’s outreach programs; 4. Program Events and service opportunities – along with a tour of the Rime Center. Upon completion of the classes, students are inducted as new members of the Rime Center sangha and are given a mala personally blessed by H.H. Dalai Lama.
Instructor: Lama Matthew Palden Gocha
Dates: Four sessions on Sundays, beginning on February 3, 2019
Times: 10:00 – 10:30 am
Class Fee: No fees
Prerequisite: None
Rime Membership Class – Wednesdays
Becoming an official member of the Rime Center demonstrates your support of the Center. In addition, members receive benefits, such as discounts and invitations to special “members only” programs. The four half-hour sessions cover the following topics: 1. Introductions, and over view of Tibetan Buddhism; 2. What does it mean to be Rime; 3. The organizational structure of the Rime Center and explanation of the center’s outreach programs; 4. Program Events and service opportunities – along with a tour of the Rime Center. Upon completion of the classes, students are inducted as new members of the Rime Center sangha and are given a mala personally blessed by H.H. Dalai Lama.
Instructor: Sergio Moreno (Yeshi Garkyi Wangchuk)
Dates: Four sessions on Sundays, beginning on April 3, 2019
Times: 6:00 – 6:30 pm
Class Fee: No fees
Prerequisite: None
Taking refuge in the three jewels is a strict prerequisite for any kind of relationship with the Buddhist teachings. The objects of refuge are the: Buddha, Dharma & Sangha (also known as the precious triple gem) grant protection to the spiritual seeker. The refuge ceremony is when one “officially” becomes Buddhist. The act of taking refuge is a declaration of one’s intention to follow the Buddhist path. The format will consist of two teachings sessions and ending with the refuge ceremony. As part of the refuge ceremony one is also given a new refuge name. At the end of the service we will have a potluck so please bring dish to share.
Dates: One session on Sunday April 14, 2019
Times: 10:30 – 12:00 pm
Class Fee: No fees, but dana (donation) to the teacher suggested.
Prerequisite: Basics of Buddhism and Refuge Class
