Want to receive reminders of Kurukulla Center KURUKULLA CENTER events by email? Sign up for the Kurukulla for Tibetan Center email list at kurukulla.org.

Contact Kurukulla Center: 68 Magoun Ave, Medford MA 02155 Calendar Tel: (617) 624-0177 Email: [email protected] Mid-November 2003–February 2004 www.kurukulla.org Ven. Tenzin Priyadarshi New Year’s Eve Celebration On Being Disciples of the Buddha Wednesday, December 31, 7:30 p.m. Vajrasattva Purification Sunday, December 7, 10 a.m.–12 Noon 9 p.m. food and fun, 11 p.m. Guided Meditation Discipleship is never to be taken lightly in the The best way to make holidays meaningful is to throw a “party” Buddhist world. In this talk we will look at what it where we practice . Join us for end-of-year guided means to be disciples of the Buddha, explore the Vajrasattva meditation practice to help clean up any karmic mess meaning of taking in the Triple Gem, consider what being a from the past twelve months (and from countless previous lives!). disciple meant during the time of the historical Buddha and what it Then share in a delicious meal together (please let Wendy know if means today, and reflect on what we mean when we say, “I am a you can bring something: [email protected]). For those wish- Buddhist.” ing to continue to the midnight hour a guided tonglen taking and giving meditation will be offered. the basic program

Overview of the Basic Program Way of the Sunday, January 4 • 9–9:45 a.m. Sundays 10 a.m.–12 Noon • December 14 & 21 The Basic Program is a five-year nonresidental study program of & Wednesdays 7–9 p.m. • January 14, 21 & 28, as presented in the great classics of Indian and Tibetan . Classes are offered twice weekly and include February 4, 11, 18 & 25 readings, homework, and daily meditations to lead students to a When we look at the examples of kindness and wisdom in our profound understanding of Buddhism. Bring your questions. teachers like His Holiness the Dalai and our own Tsulga, we may yearn to have these qualities ourselves. Such a goal Path to Enlightenment is considered highly worthwhile and completely attainable for any of us that sincerely undertake Buddhist practice. A Guide to the Sundays 10 a.m.–12 Noon Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Master Shantideva serves as a manual for those on this quest. Geshe-la continues his commentary on this January 4, 18 & 25 classic text with his discussion on patience and enthusi- astic effort, the source of all good qualities. February 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Lamrim, or path to enlightenment, texts are revered because they provide a summary of all the important doctrines and practices in All Basic Program classes are taught by Geshe Buddhism. By becoming familiar with these texts, we can develop Tsulga and are open to all, whether you are for- an inner roadmap of where we are headed with our practice and mally enrolled in the program or not. The sug- how to get there. Geshe Tsulga resumes his commentary on The gested donation for nonmembers is $10 per class. Middle Length Lamrim by Lama Tsongkhapa and will cover how to Members free. train in the first five bodhisattva perfections. sunday monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday saturday 10am–12 noon 16 17 18 7–9 pm 19 7–9 pm 20 Begins 7 pm 21 Nyung Nae (cont’d.) 22 3 Aspects of the Path Guru Puja How Karma Works Nyung Nae Retreat Ven. Geshe Ngawang Dr. Nick Ribush Wendy Cook Holiday: Lhabab Duchen 12:30 Yard Work No 10 am teachingNovember23 24 25 No class 26 Happy Thanksgiving 27 28 29 (Nyung Nae Retreat in session)

9:30–10 am 30 7–9 pm 1 2 7–9 pm 3 7–9 pm 4 5 6 Open Gompa Puja Guru Puja Life, Liberty & the 10 am–12 noon Pursuit of Happiness Meditating on the Path Dr. Nick Ribush Dr. Nick Ribush CLASS IN CAMBRIDGE 9:30–10 am 7 December8 9 7–9 pm 10 7–9 pm 11 12 13 Open Gompa Buddhist Fundamentals Life, Liberty & the 10 am–12 noon Ven. Geshe Tsulga Pursuit of Happiness Disciples of the Buddha Dr. Nick Ribush Ven. Tenzin Priyadarshi CLASS IN CAMBRIDGE 9:30–10 am 14 15 16 7–9 pm 17 7–9 pm in Medford 18 19 20 Open Gompa Buddhist Fundamentals Tsongkhapa Light Puja 10 am–12 Noon Ven. Geshe Tsulga 7–9 pm in Cambridge Way of the Bodhisattva Life, Liberty & Happiness Ven. Geshe Tsulga Dr. Nick Ribush 9:30–10 am 21 22 23 No Class 24 Happy Holidays! 25 26 27 Open Gompa 10 am–2 Noon Way of the Bodhisattva Ven. Geshe Tsulga No Class 28 29 7–9 pm 30 Starting at 7pm 31 4–6 pm 1 2 3 Tara Puja New Year’s Eve Guru Puja Dharma Celebration & Light

9–9:45 am 4 5 6 7–9 pm 7 7–9 pm January8 7–9 pm & 9 1–4 pm 10 Basic Program Overview Prayer and Opening Your Heart Forgiving Ourselves, Forgiving Ourselves, 10 am–12 Noon Recitation in Hard Times Forgiving Others Forgiving Others Path to Enlightenment Ven. Robina Courtin Ven. Robina Courtin Ven. Robina Courtin Ven. Robina Courtin Ven. Geshe Tsulga CLASS IN CAMBRIDGE 9:30–10 am 11 12 13 7–9 pm 14 15 16 4–6 pm 17 Open Gompa Way of the Bodhisattva Guru Puja 10 am–12 noon Ven. Geshe Tsulga Introduction to Ven. Robina Courtin 9:30–10 am 18 7–8:30 pm 19 7–8:45 pm 20 7–9 pm 21 22 23 24 Open Gompa Introduction to Buddhism Yoga & Meditation Way of the Bodhisattva 10 am–Noon Ven. Tsunma-la Wendy Cook Ven. Geshe Tsulga Path to Enlightenment Ven. Geshe Tsulga 9:30–10 am 25 7–8:30 pm 26 7–8:45 pm 27 7–9 pm 28 7–9 pm 29 30 31 Open Gompa Introduction to Buddhism Yoga & Meditation Way of the Bodhisattva Tara Puja 10 am–Noon Ven. Tsunma-la Wendy Cook Ven. Geshe Tsulga Path to Enlightenment Ven. Geshe Tsulga 9:30–10 am 1 2 7–8:45 pm 3 7–9 pm 4 5 6 7 Open Gompa Yoga & Meditation Way of the Bodhisattva 10 am–Noon Wendy Cook Ven. Geshe Tsulga Path to Enlightenment Ven. Geshe Tsulga 9:30–10 am 8 9 7–8:45 pm 10 7–9 pm 11 7–9 Februarypm 12 13 14 Open Gompa Yoga & Meditation Way of the Bodhisattva How to Meditate 10 am–Noon Wendy Cook Ven. Geshe Tsulga Dr. Nick Ribush Path to Enlightenment Ven. Geshe Tsulga 10 am–Noon 15 16 17 7–9 pm 18 7–9 pm 19 20 Losar 21 Path to Enlightenment Way of the Bodhisattva How to Meditate (Tibetan New Year) Ven. Geshe Tsulga Ven. Geshe Tsulga Dr. Nick Ribush 4–6 pm 5–7 pm Medicine Buddha Puja Guru Puja 9:30–10 am 22 23 24 7–9 pm 25 7–9 pm 26 27 Sunday, February 29 Open Gompa Way of the Bodhisattva How to Meditate 10 am–Noon 10 am–Noon Ven. Geshe Tsulga Dr. Nick Ribush

Kurukulla Kurukulla Center Schedule 2003–February 2004 Mid-November Path to Enlightenment Path to Enlightenment Ven. Geshe Tsulga Ven. Geshe Tsulga Ven. Robina Courtin

Prayer and Mantra Recitation Wednesday, January 7 • 7–9 p.m. Most classes at Kurukulla Center begin and end with recitation of prayers. But what does prayer mean in a nontheistic tradition like Buddhism? Who do we pray to and how do we pray? What do we hope to gain? When is it appropriate to recite ? Ven. Robina will speak about how prayer and mantra recita- tion can inspire our practice of . Opening Your Heart in Hard Times Thursday, January 8 • 7–9 p.m. Location: Friends Meetinghouse, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge Maintaining a kind, open heart is easy—when all is calm and pleasant. But what happens when the world is in tumult? How can we stand firm in our conviction that kindness and compassion are the only solutions to discord and fear? Ven. Robina presents the Buddhist perspective and explains why it is essential to avoid anger and retaliation and why kind and compassionate action is the wisest course, though Venerable Robina Courtin has been a especially in troubled times. ATibetan Buddhist nun for 25 years, her life took a circuitous route to get there. Born in Australia and Forgiving Ourselves, Forgiving Others raised as a Catholic she later became active in the rad- ical left and became a feminist while living in London. Friday, January 9 • 7–9 p.m. After years of studying martial arts, she attended a Saturday, January 10 • 1–4 p.m. course on Tibetan Buddhism given by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa and ordained as a Buddhist nun Through spiritual practice we become aware of ourselves; more sensitive to the in Kathmandu 18 months later. Presently she divides impact of our actions on others. But sometimes the power of deep habits over- her time between visiting prisoners and teaching at whelms us, and we act in a way that we later regret. Can we accept our mistakes Buddhist centers around the world. The subject of the and the mistakes made by others without dwelling in guilt and accusation? Ven. highly praised documentary, Chasing Buddha, she is Robina will speak on regret and skillful remedy from a Buddhist perspective. the founder of the Liberation Prison Project. During the Saturday afternoon session there will be time to meditate on the sug- gested techniques. Introduction to Tantra Sunday, January 11 • 10 a.m.–12 Noon Unless marked otherwise, all classes are held at: It is said that the swiftest way to make spiritual progress is tantric practice. Yet we Kurukulla Center are cautioned not to undertake it until we have a solid footing in the founda- for Tibetan Buddhist Studies tional practices of Tibetan Buddhism. Ven. Robina will discuss the purpose of tantra, what requirements a practitioner must meet, and how this practice ulti- 68 Magoun Ave, mately leads to the path to enlightenment. Medford MA 02155 617-624-0177 Suggested Donation for Ven. Robina’s classes: www.kurukullla.org two-hour classes: $12/class. Members $6 Saturday class: $15. Members $7 discovering buddhism for newcomers Discovering Buddhism courses emphasize an Meditating on the Path to authentic yet culturally relevant presentation of the Buddha’s teachings. These series will be taught by Enlightenment Dr. Nick Ribush who has more than thirty years’ experience in the practice and study of Buddhism. Sunday, November 30, 10 a.m.–12 Noon He has been editing and publishing Buddhist Dr. Nick Ribush books since the early 70s and was a monk for twelve years. His teach- ings are full of insight, clarity, and humor. Requested donation of $25 Dharma is medicine. It heals our suffering and eradicates its cause. for the series or $10/class. Members free. But, like any medicine, it has to be taken. It’s not enough to listen to and study the teachings; we must put them into practice. In this Life, Liberty, & the Pursuit session we will look at what putting the teachings into practice means and how to do it. of Happiness Thursdays 7–9 p.m. December 4, 11 & 18 Buddhist Fundamentals Friends Meetinghouse, 5 Longfellow Park, Cambridge Wednesdays, December 10 & 17, 7–9 p.m. What is life? What is its purpose? What is the best way to make it Ven. Geshe Tsulga meaningful? What is liberty? Buddhism defines it as complete free- Familiarity with the basic terms and doctrines of Buddhism opens dom from all problems and suffering—is it really possible to expe- the door to increased understanding of the Buddhist teachings pre- rience such a state of being? And what is happiness? We may not be sented at Kurukulla Center. In this two-week series, Geshe Tsulga able to define it, but we know it when we see it. Or do we? Is what will present key topics such as refuge in the Buddha, Dharma and we call happiness true happiness? If so, why is it so hard to find and and the three higher trainings of morality, concentration why does it never last? In this series we offer answers from the and wisdom. Highly recommended as a preparation for Geshe-la’s Buddhist perspective to these and other questions. other classes. How to Meditate: Part 1 Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism Thursdays, February 12, 19 & 26 • 7–9 p.m. Mondays, January 19 & 26, 7–8:30 p.m. What is meditation? It is making the mind familiar with positive Ven. Tsunma-la thoughts, ideas and objects. At present, our minds are all too famil- iar with negative thoughts, ideas and objects, and that is why we This two-part series introduces some of the foundational ideas in always encounter unfavorable circumstances and rarely find the Buddhism.Who is the Buddha and what is the Dharma that he happiness and satisfaction we seek. reverses taught? How we can use our human life in a meaningful way that this tendency. How to do it? It takes practice. In this three-week will bring benefit to both ourselves and others? Ven. Tsunma-la will course we shall learn how to sit in meditation and how to develop lead this series. concentration through creative visualization. Requested donation for all classes above: $10 per class. Members free. retreat yoga & meditation Nyung Nae Purification Retreat Tuesdays, 7:00–8:45 p.m. November 21–24 • 7 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday January 19, 26, February 2, 9 Advanced registration required due to limited capacity. Wendy Cook The Nyung Nae is a fasting retreat done in relation to Avaloki- teshvara, the buddha of compassion. It is very intensive and power- Yoga practice originally arose so that yogis would have strong, ful, consisting of practices to purify our negativities and collect pos- healthy bodies in order to meditate. These classes will include basic itive karma. There will be group sessions, which include visualizing yoga postures accompanied by guided meditation. Please wear com- Avalokiteshvara, making offerings, reciting mantras, and perform- fortable, fitted, modest clothing, and bring a sticky mat if you have ing many prostrations. We undertake this weekend with the inten- one. If you have questions email [email protected]. $34 for tion to dedicate our merits for world peace and the awakening of all the series or $10 per class. Members free. Please arrive ten minutes early. beings. Requested donation: $30 members/ $40 nonmembers.