On behalf of H. E. Chhoje Rinpoche, we are delighted to announce Christina Monson will be at PMC on Sunday, January 6th and Monday, January 7th to teach on Shantideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva.
Overview of Program :
The great Indian master Shantideva (c.685-763) gifted the Buddhist tradition what may well be its most powerful teaching on how to make the spiritual path a personal experience in his famous treatise the Bodhicaryavatara, The Way of the Bodhisattva. Shantideva wrote this work for himself, based on what he actually saw and experienced in his own mind. His insights have proved timeless. The penetrating and inspiring verses of this, his master work, are as relevant today as ever before. Beginning with an elucidation of bodhicitta – the heart of the Mahayana path – the Bodhicaryavatara invites us to uplift ourselves out of self-focused attitudes and embrace the true source of happiness: a motivation to awaken for the benefit of others. With this as the foundation, the teaching then takes us on a journey of developing the skills needed to engage this intention on a practical level, a discovery of what it means to be fully minded. Getting right down into the sneaky machinations of ego-fueled emotions, Santideva’s masterful verses leave no place for us to hold onto ordinary poverty-stricken thinking. Instead, the text, properly studied and contemplated, opens the door into the possibility of experiencing fully qualified meditation and an understanding of the true nature of all that appears to exist.
Over this two-day intensive retreat, we will focus on the first three chapters of the text through close study, contemplation, experiential activities and practice. Respecting the auspiciousness of the beginning of a new year, we will welcome forth aspirations for ourselves, for others, and for our world based upon our commitment to the bodhisattva path and the vision it unfolds. It may be helpful to have a copy of The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva with you to reference during the program.
Introduction of Christina Monson:
Christina has been practicing and studying Buddhism since 1987. Her interest in the wisdom traditions of Asia began in high school and led her to devote her first two years of college to immersive study of the Zen and Chan Buddhist traditions of Japan and China. She first traveled to Nepal in 1989 and immediately met her root guru, Chatral Sangye Dorje Rinpoche, under whose guidance she studied and practiced for the next twenty- seven years. Her practice has focused on the treasure lineage of Sera Khandro Dewai Dorje, the great Tibetan female mystic and treasure-revealer whose collected writings Christina continues to translate. Extensive periods of solitary retreat in the sacred land of Yolmo, Helambu, where Chatral Rinpoche bestowed his heart teachings, brought a deepening of experience in the richness of the pith instructions of his practice lineage.
Christina has also studied with Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche, Soktse Rinpoche, Katok Getse Rinpoche, Tengboche Rinpoche, Chhoje Rinpoche, Tsoknyi Rinpoche, Sogan Rinpoche, Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche, Yatse Khenpo, Khenpo Yeshe Gyaltsen, Khenpo Choying Dorje, and Khenpo Tashi Tseten.
Times for Teaching Sessions:
There will be four sessions, Sunday and Monday, each morning and afternoon.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Monday: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The requested offering is $30 per session, or $120. Everyone is welcome to attend any one session or combination of sessions.
Members: please use the member discount coupon code when you check out to apply a 15% discount. If you do not have the discount code, please email treasurer@pmctr.org.
