SEMINARS WITH LAMA VAJRANATHA—
TEACHING SCHEDULE SPRING 2016
June 25-26, 2016
Practices of the Wrathful Lion-Headed Wisdom Dakini Simhamukha
Kunzang Ling Center, Szczecin, Poland [Weekend meditation seminar]
Generally, in terms of Tibetan Buddhism, the Dakini represents the autonomous feminine principle that is outside the control of patriarchal society and the rational male ego consciousness. For this reason, the Dakini may be represented as alluring and enchanting, but also as wrathful and terrifying. This seminar will look at the meditations, rituals, and magical practices associated with the wrathful lion-headed Dakini Simhamukha, mistress of enchantments, sorceries, and witchcraft, who brings all those beings who are difficult to subdue under her power, and who also vanquishes and subdues all obstacles, negativities, and evil spirits. Simhamukha was the personal practice of Guhyajnana Dakini, the female Guru of Padmasambhava in the Central Asian country of Uddiyana and he introduce4d the practice into Tibet. She remains a very popular practice in the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. For this purpose, we rely on the profound expositions of Jamgön Kongtrul, Jamyang Khyentse, and Dudjom Rinpoche regarding the practices for this Dakini, who is a manifestation of enlightened awareness.
May 5-6-7-8, 2016
Tibetan Shamanism, Nature Spirits, and Healing the Earth
Nurenberg, South Germany [Two evening talks, weekend workshop]
May 5: Tibetan Concept of the Soul
This evening talk will examine the Tibetan concept of the soul, or La, from both the Buddhist and the shamanic viewpoints, and in terms of both the issues of healing and reincarnation. There are many Tibetan practices for retrieving lost fragments of the soul and reintegrating them in the individual and curing afflictions of the soul, which serves as the energetic basis of the emotional life of the individual.
May 6: Introduction to Tibetan Shamanism
This evening talk will provide an introduction to the practices of Tibetan shamanism as it is still practiced today in the Himalayas among native shamans known as Pawo and Lhapa, who practice healing and divinations relying upon their spirit guides.
May 7-8: Shamanic Practice and Nature Rituals of Ancient Tibet
Indian Buddhism, known as Vajrayana and based on the methods of the Buddhist Tantras, was introduced into Tibet by Guru Padmasambhava in the 8th century of our era. While in Tibet, Padmasambhava encountered a rich and ancient spiritual culture known as Bön, much of which dealt with shamanic practices for healing. Thus, he incorporated many of these shamanic methods into his Tantric Buddhist practices. Indeed, the roots of Tibetan culture lie deep within North Asian shamanism and this gives Tibetan culture its unique and colourful character. The principal function of this ancient shamanic practice is healing and the re-establishing of a harmonious relationship between the human world and the Other World of the spirits who inhabit the untamed wilds of nature. The workshop will focus upon various shamanic rituals and meditation practices employed in order to enter into a personal relationship with the local nature spirits and one’s spirit guides.
Dzogchen Practice in the Context of the Vajrakilaya Tantra
Sambhala Center, Budapest [Two day seminar and workshop]
Vajrakilaya is the leading meditation deity practice in the Nyingmapa school of Tibet and this was one of the personal practices of Guru Padmasambhava, who introduced Vajrayana Buddhism into Tibet in the 8th century of our era. Usually the practice of Vajrakilaya is classified as Mahayoga Tantra. However, Padmasambhava also taught Vajrakilaya in terms of the practice of Anuyoga and of Atiyoga, or Dzogchen, to his close disciples, the Princess Yeshe Tsogyal and the translator Khyeuchunglo. This complete transmission of Vajrakilaya practices in terms of Maha, Anu, and Ati, was again revealed in the 19th century by the later’s reincarnation, Düdjom Lingpa, in Eastern Tibet. His Termas, or hidden treasure texts, became widely known as Düdjom Tersar, the New Treasures of Düdjom. His reincarnation in the 20th century, Düdjom Rinpoche, expanded on this exposition with his commentaries and his own Terma texts.This seminar will focus on Dzogchen in the context of Vajrakilaya practice from the Düdjom Tersar.
Info. Sambhala Center:
The Practice of Zhang-Zhung Meri in the Bön Tradition of Tibet
Sambhala Center, Budapest, Hungary [Two day seminar and workshop]
The spiritual traditions of Yungdrung Bön came to Central Tibet from the ancient kingdom of Zhang-zhung, lying to the northwest of Tibet. At the center of that land is the great great sacred mountain of Kailas where, according to tradition, the great god Gekhöd Meri resides even today. However, according to Yungdrung Bön, Gekhöd Meri is much more than just a local mountain god, but he is actually the manifestation of an enlighted being, Atimuwer. Gekhöd was not only the patron deity and Kailas the soul mountain (la-ri) of the Zhang-zhung kingdom, but Gekhöd, and his warrior aspect, Meri, was one of the major five meditation deities of the Bönpo Tantra system. He is closely associated with the Zhang-zhung Nyän-gyüd, the Oral Tradition of Dzogchen from Zhang-zhung, as its principal associated Tantric practice. This seminar will look into the myths, legends, and practices connected with Zhang-zhung Meri in the Bönpo tradition.