THE GRADUATED PATH TO ENLIGHTENMENT

ALL OUR MODULES IN 2023 (and beyond) WILL FOCUS ON JE TSONGKHAPA’S MAJOR WORK – THE LAMRIM CHENMO

MODULE FIVE – THREE WEEKS – 18TH OCTOBER to 2ND NOVEMBER 

“What distinguishes it [the Lamrim]… is its scope and clarity. It expounds the entire path from the way one should rely on a spiritual teacher, which is the very root, right up to the attainment of buddhahood, which is the final fruit. The various stages of the path are presented so clearly and systematically that they can be easily understood and are inspiring to put into practice.” 

His Holiness Dalai Lama

The most important thing is the continuity of developing your mind in the lamrim, the stages of the path to enlightenment. It doesn’t matter if you are in Africa, Tibet, on the moon, in Iraq or wherever, whether you are rich or poor: continue to develop your mind in the lamrim. That is the most important thing.—

Lama Zopa Rinpoche

As part of FPMT’s Basic Program, we study the subject ‘Stages of the Path’ and Geshe Tsultrim has chosen to do this through the study of Tsongkhapa’s Lamrim Chenmo. This extensive text covers the entire path to enlightenment according to the Middle Way Consequence School, from guru devotion all the way to calm abiding and special insight (and an introduction to the paths of tantra).

When we talk about Lamrim, we mean the entire path to ultimate happiness laid out in graded steps. This is what this subject of our Basic Program covers!

Yes, this is huge but when we break it into the graduated stages, it becomes a beautiful process through which we can transform our ordinary mind, bringing it into a state of love and joy, which extends to all beings. Often we are offered short courses which give us a very valuable overview, but now unbelievably we have the opportunity to really examine, to delve into the details, and to get a real understanding – perhaps even realisations!

We have already completed 4 modules of this extensive teaching, introducung the text and the teacher and looking at the initial stages, shared with the being of the initial scope and we are starting to delve into the stages of the path shared with those of the intermediate scope.

Now, in module 5, Geshela will continue to teach about recognising our actual current unsatisfactory situation, and, through an examination of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, identify how these sufferings come into existence and how we can reverse the links and develop a path leading to liberation.

Through meditation, teachings and Q&A sessions with Geshela, and tutorials with one of our most senior students, Judy Bowey, you will hopefully gain a clear understanding of these life-changing ideas, enabling you to integrate that wisdom into your own way of thinking, transforming your experience.

Although of course it is best to attend all the modules of this extensive and wonderful text, it is fine to join in at any point. Each module will contain material on particular Lamrim topics that will be beneficial for you, and we’ll be happy to make all materials from earlier modules available to those who’d like to catch up.

We do need to make it clear that this is part of our In Depth Program (read all about this here), but this subject in particular is more suitable for less experienced students than some others. Please contact the coordinator on bsp@chenrezig.com.au if you’d like to discuss this further.

About our Teacher:

Our resident Tibetan teacher, Geshe Phuntsok Tsultrim is immensely popular for the warm and approachable way in which he presents the teachings and inspires our community. He became a monk at Sera Je Monastery in India, where he was awarded his Geshe degree (the equivalent of a doctorate in Buddhist studies) in 2005. He began teaching at Chenrezig Institute in 2014 after being specifically chosen for our community by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Geshe Tsultrim has a warm-hearted, caring and practical approach to teaching Dharma. He has been the resident Geshe at Chenrezig Institute since 2014 and since then, he has taught Dharma both formally in the Gompa, and by the example he sets amongst the community.

Geshela’s teachings will be interpreted by Ven Dorje who is kindly working on zoom for us from Atisha Centre.

Ven. Dorje grew up in South Africa. He ordained in 2003 and lived and studied at Nalanda Monastery in France and Instituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy, before moving to India in 2010. After studying Tibetan at Sera Monastery for three years, he graduated from the FPMT’s translator programme in Dharamsala in 2014. He has been translating at Atisha Centre in Bendigo since 2016. 

The text referred to will be

Lamrim Chenmo: The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volumes 1, 2, 3 by Je Tsongkhapa

Unfortunately we are not able to provide copies of this text but there are copies of all three volumes in our library for in house students to borrow while they are at the centre and hard copies may be ordered through our bookshop. Digital copies are available through Amazon.com.

For those keen to prepare ahead, you can find a list of some of the many texts written on Lamrim here. Some of these books are available from our library and some are in our bookshop – others may be accessed in digital form.

It is wonderful to actually stay at the centre to study with other students and to engage in the other activities here, so we are offering a special deal to students wishing to come to the centre for these two days. Accommodation for Advanced Program students who have committed to follow at least one module in full will be offered at a reduced rate (20% off) for Tuesday, Wednesday and/or Thursday nights.

Beds will be limited so please contact info@chenrezig.com.au as early as possible to arrange this.

Please register nice and early and PLEASE don’t leave it until the day we start! Some people don’t receive the zoom, youtube and dropbox links in time and there is a last minute panic!

Register to attend in-person:

The recommended contribution for this three-week module is $180 with a minimum charge of $90.

Never let finances get in the way of your listening to the Dharma, but please donate what you can to enable Chenrezig Institute to continue to offer these teachings at the centre and online. Contact bsp@chenrezig.com.au if this minimum amount is too much for you, there is absolutely no point in anyone not attending because of financial considerations.

Sangha are invited to attend our courses free of charge but are always requested to register.

If you can, please consider offering more than the recommended contribution – this will help us cover costs while assisting students who are financially challenged to attend.

Register to attend online:

The recommended contribution for this module is $240 with a minimum charge of $120.

Never let finances get in the way of your listening to the Dharma, but please donate what you can to enable Chenrezig Institute to continue to offer these teachings at the centre and online. Contact bsp@chenrezig.com.au if this minimum amount is too much for you, there is absolutely no point in anyone not attending because of financial considerations.

Sangha are invited to attend our courses free of charge but are always requested to register.

If you can, please consider offering more than the recommended contribution – this will help us cover costs while assisting students who are financially challenged to attend.