RimeShedra.NYC

Ignorance is the cause of suffering

The goal of the Rime Shedra is to make accessible the vast treasures of Buddhist wisdom to those who wish to progress further in their understanding of the profound principles presented in these advanced Buddhist texts. The understanding of the ultimate nature of reality is the key to liberation. For practitioners this program provides an opportunity to develop a more sophisticated understanding of the nature of reality.  For scholars it provides an opportunity to expand their understanding of Buddhism by cultivating an experiential understanding. The program is based upon the traditional Shedra, or monastic college, curriculum which is the cornerstone of Buddhist education in all of the schools of Tibetan Buddhism.

Shamatha & Vipashyana: The Core Practice Manuals of the Indian and Tibetan Traditions of Meditation

#Meditation

In this course, we will explore the core practice manuals on Shamatha and Vipashyana in the Indian and Tibetan traditions that we inherit as supports for deepening our own practice of meditation. In particular, we will explore: the main Mahayana Sutra presentation attributed to the Buddha: The Maitreya Chapter of the Samdhinirmocana Sutra; the foundational trilogy on meditation composed by Kamalashila in the eighth-century for the purpose of providing the Tibetan world both the background and the specifics of the practice of meditation; and a key Mahamudra presentation, The Mahamudra Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance by the ninth Karmapa, Wanchuk Dorje. Additionally, we will explore some supplementary material on the progression of the practice of Shamatha and how it differs from, supports and leads into the practice of Vipashyana.

Core Materials

  1. Sourcebook

Supplemental Materials

  1. Samdhinirmocana Sutra (Audio)

  2. Jnanagarbha's Commentary on the “Maitreya” Chapter of Samdhinimocana Sutra

  3. Outline of the The Questions of Maitreya - Summary

  4. Outline of the The Questions of Maitreya - Detail

  5. “The Nature of Mindfulness and its Role in Buddhist Meditation” by B. Alan Wallace and the Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi

  6. The Progress of Insight by the Venerable Mahasi Sayadaw

  7. “Clearing Doubts Regarding the Methods for Maintaining the View of Reality and Meditative Absorption” from Mahamudra—The Moonlight—Quintessence of Mind and Mediation by Dakpo Tashi Namgyal

Class Recordings

  1. September 18, 2018

  2. September 25, 2018

  3. October 2, 2018

  4. October 9, 2018

  5. October 16, 2018

  6. October 23, 2018

  7. October 30, 2018

  8. November 6, 2018

  9. November 13, 2018

  10. November 27, 2018

  11. December 4, 2018