Diamond Mountain University Spring 2007

ACI Course 16 with Alistair Holmes

This review course covers the first five ACI courses. Topics include the principal teachings of Buddhism; Buddhist refuge; applied meditation; proof of future lives; and how karma works.

Bok Jinpa 9 with Lama Christie McNally

We are continuing the study of Arya Nagarjuna´s most famous text on emptiness, entitled: "Wisdom: A Song on the Root of the Middle Way." In Tibetan they call this text Tsawa Sherab, and it is known as Mulaprajnya in Sanskrit. The realized being Nagarjuna is famous for his profound explanations and meditations on emptiness, and we will explore some of these in depth.

Colloquial Tibetan with Evan Osherow

This study group is learning spoken Tibetan. Texts include "Practical Tibetan" and the "Tibetan Phrasebook". Emphasis is on learning vocabulary and grammar, with students already having a basis understanding of the Tibetan alphabet. This is a prerequisite for those participating in the Diamond Mountain Overseas Study Program at Sera Mey Monastery in South India.

Sacred Classics Translator IX with Geshe Michael Roach

For the ninth session of the On-Line Sacred Translator´s Course, we´ll continue through one of the greatest books ever written on the subject of emptiness: "Entering the Middle Way (Madhyamaka Avatara)," written in the 7th Century by Master Chandrakirti. We will also be continuing the commentary called "An Overview of the Middle Way", the standard textbook used at Sera Mey Tibetan Monastery for the study of Master Chandrakirti´s work. This textbook itself is an explanation of the "Illumination of the True Intent of the Middle Way," composed by Je Tsongkapa (1357-1419) and perhaps the most important book ever written in Tibet on emptiness. "The Overview" was composed by Kedrup Tenpa Dargye (1493-1568), and this class provides a unique opportunity for budding translators to master the dialectic style of the great Tibetan monastic classics. During this term, we´ll be working at length for the first time on the classical division of argument into refuting the opponent´s position; establishing our own; and then overcoming rebuttal. The debate content of the text will be increasing, and translators will be learning the unique language of this genre.

Bok Jinpa 2 with Yat Peng & Benjamin Worden

In the second part of this series, we continue going throgh in detail the great classic Sanskrit text on meditation, "Bhavana Krama (The Stages of Meditation)" by Master Kamalashila (c. 750AD). This is the Sanskrit root text that first taught the Tibetans how to meditate, and from which all Tibetan works on meditation of our lineage were based.

Path of Realizations I with Trisangma & Peter Watson

Since higher realizations are built on more basic ones, how can we expect to experience the finer details of deity transformation if we haven´t succeeded in stabilizing the most basic realizations in our minds? Flashes of a realization come and go, they don´t stay with us for very long. How can we establish these powerful states of mind so deeply that they inform every single thing we do, waking and sleeping? The Path of Realizations course series looks at these questions through the material of the Lam Rim. We will visit the technical meaning of each of the steps of the path as defined by classical commentaries. Then we will explore how these might feel if we were to experience them in our everyday lives.

The Jesus Sadhana with Geshe Michael Roach & Lama Christie McNally

Kirtan with Geshe Michael Roach & Lama Christie McNally

The kirtan classes have come to be an important part of the Diamond Mountain community experience. The sessions help open our hearts, and allow us to get together and enjoy each other´s company, somewhere between silence and speaking.

Star in the East Peace Through Understanding Series with Julia & Ruth

Songs of Devotion with Ora Maimes, Jamie Plante,

Mercedes Bahleda, Will Duncan, Kevin Warren

Over the centuries, in both Tibet and India, many songs of devotion to the Angel of Diamond, Vajra Yogini, have been written. A good number of the most ancient songs and devotional poems, originally written in Sanskrit, are still preserved in the Tengyur Collection of Tibet. And a few of these are still available in the original Sanskrit as well. We will be reading the first English translations of these songs, talking and meditating about their deeper meaning for our practice, and then actually singing some of them, learning both the traditional melodies, and then some will be set to the music of kirtan.

Tibetan Heart Yoga Classes

Tibetan Heart Yoga focuses on the breath and thoughts during yoga practice, working from the ´inside out.´ It is a combination of traditional yoga poses (asana), breathing practices (pranayama) and meditation. Included in this practice are unique instructions on how yoga really works. By working on both the inside and outside, this yoga practice is very powerful and affects all areas of your life. All levels of practitioner are welcome.

The Wish Giving Jewel VII with Ven. Chukyi

If you had a jewel that could grant you your every wish, what would you wish for? Close your eyes and take a moment to imagine yourself as a perfect being: a being who can stand on billions of planets in a single instant, ready to help an infinite number of beings in an infinite number of ways. It´s hard for us to even imagine, isn´t it? What if there is a perfect way to become that being? The renowned Lama, Chone Drakpa Shedrup, launches us on our journey with his great commentary on the true intent of Buddhist discipline: "A Wish Giving Jewel." Come learn how to live in a spiritual community. Come learn the guidelines that you can follow to make every dream of yours come true. Join us for our continued serious study of the first English translation of this holy text that we began in the 2005 Spring term.