Buddhist Studies: Intro to Vajrayana

Buddhist Studies: Intro to Vajrayana
Mingyur Rinpoche’s new online learning site is live!
Thich Nhat Hanh: “We laugh all day long, yet not one of us has a private bank account.”
What’s new for book lovers?

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 09:00 AM PST

Teacher:

Ethan Nichtern

Location

The Interdependence Project NYC

302 Bowery 3rd Floor (Ring Middle Buzzer)

New York, NY, 10012

United States

See map: Google Maps

Mon, 1/9/2012, 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Register

Select Payment Level: *Please select6-week Course and Retreat, $ 150.00Full Price (I am not a member), $ 100.00Early Registration, $ 85.00IDP Full Member Discount, $ 67.00IDP Sustaining Member Discount, $ 50.00Drop-In – I am not a member, $ 20.00Drop – In – Full Member, $ 13.00Drop-In – Sustaining Member, $ 10.00

Are you enrolled in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program?: *

Yes

Check "YES" if you are enrolled in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program

6 Monday Nights, Jan 9 – Feb 13, 7-9pm

Retreat: Saturday, Feb 18, 2011, 10am-6pm

Interested in the Retreat? Sign up here.

Interested in Homestudy? Sign up here.

Join Shastri Ethan Nichtern for a six-week course followed by an optional daylong retreat that introduces the Vajrayana Path and practices. The course will cover the view of Vajrayana practice and how it fits into a larger understanding of the path of awakening and liberation, as well as how Vajrayana speaks directly to modern life in a globalized and virtual world in 2012. Specific topics will include: The View of Tantra, Transforming Confusion into Wisdom, The Meaning of Magic and Ritual from a Buddhist perspective, The Bardo (post death) Experience, and Visualization Practice.

During the daylong retreat Ethan will introduce students to a short White Tara liturgical visualization practice written by his teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche.

This retreat is only available for those who have already developed a regular meditation practice. In addition, it is recommended that students have at least one of the following statements apply to them to attend Saturday's retreat.

-A meditation practice of at least one year and an interest in vajrayana (tantric) practice that goes beyond intellectual curiosity.

-A feeling of personal connection to Ethan as a teacher (meaning one of your personal teachers)

-An interest in or active participation in the Shambhala path and desire to look further into those transformative teachings.

Ethan Nichtern is the founding director and Senior Teacher in Residence of the Interdependence Project. For the past eight years, Ethan has taught ongoing meditation and Buddhist psychology classes and retreats in New York City and around North America. He is on the part-time faculty at Eugene Lang College at New School University and lectures regularly at Brown, Wesleyan, and New York Universities. In the summer of 2010, Ethan was empowered by his teacher, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, as a Shastri, a senior teacher of the Shambhala tradition representing the New York region. He has also studied Theravadan and Soto Zen traditions, and is an avid yoga practitioner.

Required Reading

Secret of the Vajra World by Reginald Ray

Suggested Readings

Offered throughout the course

Cost

6 Week Course – $ 100

6 Week Course and Retreat – $ 150

Interested in the Retreat Only? Sign up here.

Interested in Homestudy? Sign up here

FREE! For IDP Visionary Members (If you are a visionary member and would like to register for this event, please send an e-mail tocaroline@theidproject.org)

(click here for info on becoming a member, and how much it helps us)

Can't afford it? It is our full intention to accommodate the financial needs of anyone who has a genuine commitment to practice and study. Reduced Payment Options and Work-Study are always available. Please contact caroline@theidproject.org to make alternative arrangements.

Secular Buddhist Studies Program

The Secular Buddhist Studies Program at the Interdependence Project offers a strong and accessible foundation in Buddhist meditation, psychology, philosophy, and ethics from a secular perspective, inclusive of multiple traditions and bodies of teaching. Interested in the Secular Buddhist Studies Program? Learn more here.

Region:

New York, NY

Programming Department:

Learn to Meditate and Study Buddhism

Event Category:

Buddhist Studies

Read More @ Source

Mingyur Rinpoche’s new online learning site is live!

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 08:00 AM PST

Before Mingyur Rinpoche began his retreat, he laid out a far-sighted plan to sustain the Tergar community for many years into the future. One of the main components of his bold vision was the Tergar Learning Community (TLC), an online learning platform with opportunities to learn about meditation and the essentials of Buddhist practice, to connect with other meditators around the world, and to deepen one's practice by reading, watching, and listening to teachings on the core principles of the path of awakening. We are now delighted to announce the launch of the Tergar Learning Community.

Click here to learn more: http://bit.ly/sOCaPc

Read More @ Source

Thich Nhat Hanh: “We laugh all day long, yet not one of us has a private bank account.”

Posted: 23 Dec 2011 07:00 AM PST

Gift-giving is one thing; materialism is another. So: what can we do about excessive materialism in our culture? It's a good question — and, it would seem, an especially timely one, given the seasonal pressures some of us are feeling – and it was put to Thich Nhat Hanh in "Be Beautiful, Be Yourself," the feature interview from our current magazine. Here's how the Zen teacher replied:

"You can set up an environment where people live simply and happily, and invite others to come and observe. That is the only thing that will convince them to abandon their materialistic idea of happiness. They think that only when you have a lot to consume can you be happy, but many are very rich without being happy at all. And there are those who consume much less, but who are happier.

"We need to demonstrate that living simply with a practice of the dharma can be very fulfilling, because until people see it and experience it, they cannot be convinced. In Plum Village, we laugh all day long, yet not one of us has a private bank account. [...] There is a belief that unless you have a lot of money, unless you hold a high position in society, you cannot be truly happy. It is hard to let go of that belief until you see the truth that happiness is possible in another way. Seeing that will make the future possible for our children. So I think in Buddhist circles we have to reorganize so that we can show people a way of living happily based on mutual understanding, not materialism. Just a dharma talk isn't enough, because a dharma talk is just a talk. Only when people see such an unmaterialistic community, when they see such a way of life, will they be convinced."

See "Be Beautiful, Be Yourself" in our January 2012 magazine for more from Thich Nhat Hanh — on why Buddhists don't really believe in reincarnation, why meditation is only worth doing if its enjoyable, why you don't have to be a Buddhist to be a good Buddhist. And for more of his teachings, visit our special Thich Nhat Hanh Spotlight page. Or perhaps you just want to get started exploring Buddhism and meditation? There's something for everyone at our Shambhala Sun Spotlight pages.

Read More @ Source

The Messiah shares herself about Buddhism and Happieness

The Messiah and Tiger the Cat talk about Buddhism and Happiness.

Video Rating: 2 / 5

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What’s new for book lovers?

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 01:00 PM PST

Whether you're looking to hunker down with a good read as the snow flies, or you need some help finding a meaningful gift to give, Shambhala Sun Deputy Editor Andrea Miller has got you covered with reviews of new books by Jack Kornfield, Frances Moore Lappe, the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Anne Waldman, and others. You'll find Andrea's reviews on page 83 of our current issue, or you can click right here to read them now. (And if you're looking for a great Buddhist book for a child in your life, see Tynette Deveaux's feature review "Good Reads for Little Buddhas" — also in our current issue. )