The Courage of the Bodhisattva 2012 Series of Teachings

ZaChoeje Rinpoche

Rinpoche's 2012 series of teachings are on the Courage of the Bodhisattva. With his precise explanations, knowledge and humor, Rinpoche will guide us in understanding the two difficult subjects of the Perfection of Meditation and the Perfection of Wisdom.

These teachings from Chapters 8 and 9 of Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life will help us learn ways to tame our minds and recognize our true potential, letting go of hindering disturbing emotions and negative afflictions.

The Courage of the Bodhisattva comes from learning and recognizing the illusion-like nature of suffering by overcoming attachment and aversion. Becoming familiar with our true potential we can more effectively cherish living beings as the source of all happiness and work solely for the benefit of all.

Chod Healing and White Umbrella Purification Saturday December 22

Geshe Jampa
11:00 am - 1:00 pm

CHOD: Chod means “cutting” ; that is, cutting through the misconception of the self that is at the very root of Samsara. Buddha frees beings from suffering by helping them realize the actual nature of their own existence. It is the realization of true paths, the perfection of wisdom, which eradicates the ignorance obscuring the minds of beings. In the chod practice the fearful provocation of the spirits is also considered an external manifestation of one's own internal fear and attachments. Thus, one can emphasize confronting one's fear and emotion from the comfort of a meditation cushion. Chod practice is performed with chanting and the use of the Damaru (small drum) and bell.

WHITE UMBRELLA DEITY: The Sanskrit name for the White Umbrella deity is Ushnisha Sitatapatra (Tib: Dug-kar) which can also be translated as "The Victorious White Parasol." Her parasol indicates her ability to protect sentient beings from natural catastrophes, diseases, and so forth. She is white in color, because the principal means by which she accomplishes this function is the enlightenment energy of pacification.

Both practices are considered powerful to remove the inner and external obstacles and negative energies. Geshe Jampa will perform the ritual ceremony of the Chod healing and purification of White Umbrella.

Everybody is welcome. Suggested donation $20.

Power of Compassion and Forgiveness Sunday December 2

Geshe Jampa
11:00 am - 1:30 pm

Compassion is the heartfelt wish that all sentient beings be free from suffering. We have a responsibility to each other; we cannot act out of mere self-centeredness. Love and compassion are the main sources of a happy and peaceful life. Many problems and difficulties arise from a selfish attitude and self cherishing thoughts. Being caring and compassionate to both oneself and others will bring a courageous, joyful and meaningful life.

Generally, forgiveness is a decision to let go of resentment and thoughts of revenge. The act that hurt or offended you might always remain a part of your life, but forgiveness can lessen its grip on you and help you focus on other, positive parts of your life. H.H. the Dalai Lama has stated, "Of course, we may still remember what happened, but forgetting and forgiving are two different things. There's nothing wrong with simply remembering what happened, but with the development of forgiveness, it's possible to let go of the negative feelings associated with what took place."

Everybody is welcome.

AHIMSA Sunday December 9

Annual Ahimsa Celebration in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

Ahimsa is the Buddhist term for non-harming. We will celebrate the 23rd anniversary of the 1989 awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the world’s best-known Tibetan Buddhist leader and international figurehead in the cause for peace on our planet.

Toy Drive: Practice generosity! We are requesting toys to donate to the fire department for their annual toy drive.

Food Donations Needed: Please bring a nonperishable food item for our ongoing food drive, supporting the Desert Mission Food Bank in north Phoenix.

Schedule:

4:30 PM Community Meeting
4:45 PM One-on-One Questions to Board Members
5:15 PM Pot Luck. Please contact Donna at donna@emahofoundation.org and let her know what dish you would like to bring

6: 30 PM Showing of the film "Compassion in Exile," the life story of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Editorial Reviews of the film

"Beautifully shot-a sense of directness. His story is inextricably entwined with that of Tibet." -- Tricycle

"alive filmmaking...intensely moving" -- New Times

"unprecedented intimacy" -- Los Angeles Times

"visually stunning" -- Time International

"Compassion In Exile" is an intimate portrait of Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet. Inherent in the life story of this Nobel Peace Prize laureate is the saga of the suffering of the Tibetan people under Chinese occupation. For over forty years the Dalai Lama has waged a non-violent struggle in exile to bring attention to the plight of his people and save their unique culture and religion. He is the embodiment of the ideal of his Buddhist heritage and practice, and his life story is an inspiring lesson in compassion and peace.
Produced and Directed by Mickey Lemle
Music Composed by Philip Glass
Cinematographer: Buddy Squires

Bardo Oct 13-14 

ZaChoeje Rinpoche
Workshop on Bardo (The In-Between State)

Saturday October 13, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday October 14, 10 am - 4 pm

Rinpoche will offer this special workshop on Bardo based on the Tibetan Book Of The Dead and the great Bardo prayer text "Liberation in the Canyon of Bardo."

During this workshop Rinpoche will give instructions on:
(A) How to practice during the dissolution of the elements and various signs in the process of dying.
(B) How to see the true nature of Mind in the clear light of death.
(C) How to help oneself and others to become more fearless and confident during the afterlife journey of Bardo.

Suggested donation $90.

We ask that you please register and pay in advance with thePayPal button below or send a check to the Emaho Foundation mailing address: 4111 E Phelps Rd, Phoenix AZ 85032, or pay at the Center in person before October 13. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds. Proceeds support the Emaho Center.

For more information, please call 480-704-4169 or e-mail Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org.

Discovering Dharma 3 Begins August 11

Geshe Jampa

We are happy to offer a special opportunity to receive teachings on Discovering Dharma from Geshe Jampa. Discovering Dharma will consist of a series of 8 classes of 1-1/2 hours each, to be held once a week every Saturday from 12 pm to 1:30 pm, except two sessions which will be held on Sundays, September 2 and September 23 at same time. This is a great opportunity to study in the traditional style, in a personal setting with a learned Geshe.

Discovering Dharma 3 is not a sequel to Discovering Dharma 1 and 2. In this course all the topics are new and everyone is welcome.

Register below

The four main topics of the Buddhist teaching covered in the Discovering Dharma teaching series are:

1. Dhammapada (Path of Dharma) chapters 5-7
2. Mahamudra (Great Seal)
3. SIx Perfections (Paramitas)
4. The three principle aspects of the path

DHAMMAPADA: The Dhammapada contains the most essential teachings of the Buddha. ‘Dhamma’ means teaching and ‘pada’ means path, so it is the path or way of the teaching. It is not all one lengthy discourse, but a compilation of what are said to be the Buddha’s utterances over many years brought together by his disciples to give the true nature of his unique understanding. Three chapters will be covered in this course.

MAHAMUDRA: Mahamudra is a Sanskrit word meaning "great seal" and refers to nature of all phenomena. Mahamudra also refers to sopisticated Buddhist systems of meditation and practice to realize this great sealing nature. The distinctive characteristic of these techniques is to see this nature by focusing on mind itself and discovering the relationship between mind and reality. When our mind confuses reality with fantasy, we produce problems for ourselves. The teaching will be based on the root text for the Gelug Mahamudra by First Panchen Lama Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen (16th Century Master).

SIX PERFECTIONS: The six perfections (generosity, ethical discipline, patience, enthusiastic effort, concentration, and wisdom) are practiced by Bodhisattvas who have the supreme intention of attaining enlightenment for the sake of all living beings. The Sanskrit word paramita means to cross over the other shore. Through the practice of the these six paramitas, we cross over the sea of suffering (samsara ) to the shore of happiness and awakening (Nirvana). Each of the six paramitas is an enlightened quality of the heart, a glorious virtue or attribute - the innate seed of perfect realization within us.

THE THREE PRINCIPLE ASPECTS OF THE PATH: The three principle aspects of the path refer to Renunciation, Bodhichitta, and Emptiness. Renunciation refers to the attitude of turning away from the faults of the samsara and yearning and directing one's spiritual practice towards liberation from such a state of cyclic existence. Bodhichitta refers to the motivation and intention to achieve the highest state of enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Emptiness refers to the wisdom of understanding the actual abiding nature of reality which is voidness, of non-inherent existence and dependent arising that is to say the middle way view. This small and concise text is written by Lama Tsongkhapa (15th Century master).

Recommended reading:
Dhammapada Translated by Friedrich Max Muller
The Gelug/Kagyu Tradition of Mahamudra by H H the Dalai Lama

Geshe Jampa will offer a Certificate of Completion to the students attending all sessions at the last session of the teaching. 

REGISTER FOR DISCOVERING DHARMA, PART 3
The cost for the full 8 classes will be $100. We ask that you please register and pay in advance with thePayPal button below or send a check to the Emaho Foundation mailing address: 4111 E Phelps Rd Phoenix AZ 85032, or pay at the Center in person before August 8. No one is ever turned away for lack of funds. The proceeds support the Emaho Center.

For more information, please call 480-704-4169 or e-mail Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org.

Medicine Buddha Five Buddha Families Sept 7-11

ZaChoeje Rinpoche

It was requested of Rinpoche to offer this intensive workshop to help us deepen our practice of Medicine Buddha by engaging the practice with that of the five Buddha families.

Rinpoche has kindly agreed and will bestow the Medicine Buddha initiation and perform a personal divination for each of us, revealing our personal Buddha family.

 Medicine Buddha is considered an enlightened healing quality of all the Buddhas and our own Buddha nature. By identifying this aspect of Medicine Buddha within us, we are able to create beneficial results that allow us to bring healing and happiness into our lives and the lives of others. Understanding our specific Buddha family in relation to Medicine Buddha, we begin to understand the energetic relationship between our self and our varied states, as well we better understand our relationship to others. Practicing with this understanding can bring about transformation of negative, unhealthy, unhappy states into positive, healthy states within our physical, mental, spiritual, emotion and energetic bodies. In turn we are able to be more effectively help others.

Each Buddha family carries a specific spiritual energy, an aspect of enlightened qualities. We can learn to harness the energy specific to our Buddha family, energy with which we're naturally attuned, manifesting tangible, positive results.

Prior to the Workshop:

• Prior to the intensive workshop Rinpoche asks that we register and have a short one-on-one interview with him. He is interested in our motivation, intention and commitment. The number of attendees will be limited, please register early.

Information on how to schedule an interview with Rinpoche will be sent to participants after registration is complete.

The workshop will consist of seven sessions beginning Friday September 7. Rinpoche will give an introduction and outline the syllabus for the series. Saturday morning September 8 Rinpoche will bestow the Medicine Buddha empowerment. He will also give an opportunity for each of us in the divination ritual ceremony to reveal our own Buddha family.

Schedule:

• Friday September 7, 7-9pm: Introduction
• Saturday September 8, 10:00am-12:00: Medicine Buddha empowerment
• Saturday September 8, 2:00pm- 4:00: Divination revealing our Medicine Buddha Family.
• Sunday September 9, 10:00am-4:00pm: Two-session Workshop
• Monday September 10, 7:00-9:00pm: Workshop
• Tuesday September 11, 7:00-9:00pm: Workshop

Location:

• Emaho Center, 4111 E. Phelps, Phoenix, AZ 85032

Following Activities:

• After two weeks practice of the mantra, mudra and meditation techniques we learn in the workshop Rinpoche suggests we submit to him our experiences in writing and in person.

This is an auspicious opportunity to study with our kind spiritual master in an intimate teaching environment.

For more information, please call 480-704-4169 or e-mail Emaho at mail@emahofoundation.org.

Celebration Saturday July 7

Please mark your calendar to join us at Emaho on Saturday July 7 at 5:00 pm for an evening to celebrate and honor His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama.

July 6th is His 77th Birthday. Plan for an evening of friendship, food, fun and the movie Kundun.

After a short meditation and recitation of His Holiness' Long Life Prayer we will shown the film.

Kundun is based on the life and writings of His Holiness. Richard Corliss, writer for the New York Times wrote of the film: "Aided by Roger Deakins' pristine camera work and the euphoric drone of Phillip Glass's score, Scorsese devises a poem of textures and silences. Visions, nightmares and history blend in a tapestry as subtle as the Tibetans' gorgeous mandalas of sand."

During the film we'll have plenty of popcorn and drinks, but please save room for cake. This is an auspicious evening to catch up with old Dharma friends and meet new ones. All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you.

21-Tara Retreat May 25-28,2012

Retreat with ZaChoeje Rinpoche