USA 2019 Teachings: Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute, Tucson, Arizona, USA
Tuesday, May 21, 6 pm, Kurukulle empowerment and instructions. Kurukulle (Red Tara) is known as the passionate lotus dakini, who originated from Oddiyana. She is depicted as a voluptuous and seductive nude sixteen-year old girl and is red with four arms, holding a bow and arrow made of flowers in one pair of hands and a hook and noose of flowers in the other pair, reminiscent of the Western Eros and Cupid. Thus, she is sometimes described as the Buddhist goddess of love and sex, corresponding to the Western goddesses Aphrodite and Venus or Diana. Suggested donation $25.
Wednesday, May 22, 6 pm, Vajrayogini empowerment and instructions.Vajrayogini is a Tantric Buddhist female Buddha and dakini. Her essence is “great passion”, a transcendent passion that is free of selfishness and illusion – she intensely works for the well-being of others and for the destruction of ego clinging. She is seen as being ideally suited for people with strong passions, providing the way to transform those passions into enlightened virtues. According to scholar Miranda Shaw, Vajrayogini is “inarguably the supreme deity of the Tantric pantheon. No male Buddha, including her divine consort, Heruka-Chakrasamvara, approaches her in metaphysical or practical import.” Suggested donation $25.
Thursday, May 23, 6 pm, Chod empowerment and instructions. Chod is a spiritual practice found primarily in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism. It is also known as “Cutting Through the Ego.” The practices are based on the Prajnaparamita or “Perfection of Wisdom” sutras, which expound the “emptiness” concept of Buddhist philosophy. Chod combines Prajnaparamita philosophy with specific meditation methods and tantric ritual. Suggested donation $25.
Friday, May 24, 6 pm, Verses of the Eight Noble Auspicious Ones by Mipham Rinpoche – presentation. Text available at www.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/mipham . Suggested donation $20.
Saturday, May 25, 9 am, The Great Cloud of Blessings: The Prayer Which Magnetizes All that Appears and All that Exists by Mipham Rinpoche, an important prayer to H.H. Jigme Phuntsok Rinpoche – presentation. Text available atwww.lotsawahouse.org/tibetan-masters/mipham. Suggested donation $20.
Sunday, May 26, 9 am, The Nyingma Dharmapalas and the Five Buddha’s Mudras and Actions – presentation. The three principle protectors of the Nyingma lineage are Ekajaṭi, Rahula, and Dorje Legpa. Rinpoche will also demonstrate the Five Buddha hand gestures (mudras) and their actions. Suggested donation $20.
Monday, May 27, 6 pm, Tibetan Yogas – demonstration and instructions. Rinpoche will demonstrate the 21 Tibetan Yogas, as presented in his book, Tibetan Meditation Yoga: Ancient Teachings Living Today. Suggested donation $20. Suggested donation for all events $120.
No one will be turned away due to inability to pay.
