Geshe Drakpa Gelek
Chronology and Video Archive of Teachings in San Antonio
Venerable Lama Passang Gelek was the translator for all of the teachings listed below.
NOTE: This page will be under development for some time, being refined, corrected, and expanded as time permits. Additional videos are coming, and a photo collection of Geshe-la both in India and on his travels to France, Korea, and the USA. Some audio files with teachings on the four schools of Buddhist tenets are coming, with some transcriptions as they are completed. We have many ideas of how to expand this and hope to manifest those ideas quickly!
Visit I. December 2006 – January 2007
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Geshe Drakpa Gelek arrived on December 15, 2006 — which was also Je Tsongkhapa Day. He came after leading a Kalachakra retreat at Namgyal Monastery in Ithica, New York
• Was introduced to students at Bao Quang Temple in San Antonio, where Lama Passang resided.
• Taught Lam Rim topics on several Saturday mornings
• Taught a Three Part Series at Viva Books:
Wednesday, December 27, 2006: "Developing Mental Stability"
Wednesday, January 3, 2007: "A Christian - Buddhist Dialog" with Rev. Jane Lancaster Patterson
Wednesday, January 10, 2007: "Overcoming the Fear of Death"
• Geshe Drakpa conferred Refuge to a handful of students on/about January 8, 2007
Visit II. December 9, 2007 – March, 2008
(arrived San Antonio from Korea)
Stages of Meditation
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Teaching and Commentary on Kamalashila's Stages of Meditation
Series held at The Workshop, Los Patios campus
A. INTRODUCTORY TALK:
Wednesday, December 12 at 4:00 pm
B. FULL COURSE AT LOS PATIOS (8 sessions)
1. Wednesday, December 19 at 4:00 pm
a) The benifits of meditation: developing the wish to, and joy in, meditation
2. Saturday, December 22 at 10:00 am
b) The preliminary practices (preparation) for meditation that ensure one will be successful
3. Wednesday, December 26 at 4:00 pm
c) How to handle (shape) the mind by applying specific physical meditation techniques
4. Saturday, December 29 at 10:00 am
d) How to prevent grosser forms of conceptual thought through breathing meditation techniques
5. Wednesday, January 2 at 4:00 pm
e) Utilizing external and internal objects of meditation in order to accomplish Samadhi (single pointed) meditation
6. Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 am
f) How to prevent obstacles in order to improve mental stability (concentration) and clarity of the mind
7. Wednesday, January 9 at 4:00 pm
g) Meditation practices for developing love, compassion, and boddhichitta (altruristic intention)
8. Saturday, January 12 at 10:00 am
h) How to meditate on special insight (vipasana meditation) combined with meditation on emptiness
Begin Lam Rim Teaching and Other 2007-08 Talks
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NOTE: Not all dates have a corresponding video.
Sunday, Dec 30 at 11 am -- Celebration Circle Talk
Thursday, Jan 3 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Friday, Jan 4 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Sunday, Jan 6 at 10 am - Small Lam Rim class
Thursday, Jan 10 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Friday, Jan 11 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Monday Jan 14 through Friday, Jan 25 -- Dallas & Houston
Monday, Jan 28 -- Resume classes in San Antonio
January, 2008 - Austin, TX
(no video)
The Foundation of All Good Qualities: transmission and teaching
Saturday, January 12 at 7-9 pm
Sunday, January 13 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons: transmission and teaching
Saturday, January 26 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
Sunday, January 27 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
February, 2008 - peaceCENTER San Antonio
(no video)
"Creating Peace: Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom & Methods"
Taught by Geshe Drakpa Gelek with Lama Passang Gelek
February 2: How to Develop and Practice Compassion
February 9: How to Practice The Six Perfections
February 16: Introducing the Causes and Methods to Overcome Suffering
February 23: Peace Through Mahayana Mind Training
February, 2008 Detailed Lam Rim
VOL 4 VIDEO PLAYLIST Of LAMRIM
February 3, 7, 17, 20,
VOL 5 VIDEO PLAY LIST OF LAM RIM
Feb 22, 27, 28: In-depth Lam Rim teaching
March 2008, Buddhist Tennets
VOL 6 VIDEO PLAYLIST (coming)
March 1, 2, 7, 8
Private Teachings
(topics and dates under research)
Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth
by Lati Rinbochay & Jeffrey Hopkins
Thu - 1/31: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/3: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/7: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/10: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/14: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/17: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/21: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/24: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/28: Small class at 10 am
Departed end of February or early March.
———————--
———————--
Visit III. October 20, 2008 – April, 2009
1. Cutting Through Appearances
by Geshe Lhundrup Sopa & Jeffrey Hopkins
Snow Lion Publications - $18.95 list price
2. Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth
by Lati Rinbochay & Jeffrey Hopkins
Snow Lion Publications - $10.95 list price
3. Oral Transmissions: "Heart Sutra," "Three Principles of the Path"
• LAM RIM CLASS SATURDAYS AT 10:00 AM
LOCATION: BAO QUANG TEMPLE
Lama Passang's ongoing class on The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
(Lam Rim) will continue, based on the text Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand
by Pabonka Rinpoche/Trijang Rinpoche.
• REALITY & EMPTINESS: FOUR TENETS CLASS
Geshe Drakpa and Lama Passang will be teaching a weekly class to guide
students through the Tibetan Buddhist Philosophical schools known as
The Four Tenets. The book, Cutting Through Appearances is the related text.
• SMALL CLASSES:
Friday evenings: Grounds and paths of Guyasamaja
• PEACE CENTER
Nov 9, 2008: 12 Links
January, 2009: The Five Agregates
• BODHISATTVA VOWS
January 5, 2009
(Matt, Victoria, Carolyn, Don, C, C, C)
• SOL CENTER
February 2009 at SoL Center
Tuesdays, Feb 10, 17, & 24th, 7:00-9:00 pm. UPC Sanctuary.
Tibetan Buddhist Practices for Cultivating Love and Compassion:
Facilitated by Covita Moroney
———————--
———————--
Visit IV. September, 26, 2009 – March 2010
Teaching Started October 3, 2009
• Who: Geshe Drakpa and Venerable Passang Gelek (bios at bottom of email)
• Text: Lamrim Chenmo (Great Treatise on the Path to Enlightenment), Volume Three
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_6022.html
• Where: Bao Quang Temple, 14837 Santa Gertrudis, San Antonio 78217
• When: every Saturday, beginning October 3rd (2009), at 10:00 am
Class 1: Samadhi Meditation:
Beginning on Saturday, October 3rd, Geshe Drakpa will begin teaching "Calm Abiding," or "Samadhi" meditation — an essential practice for anyone who wishes to develop the potential of the mind to maintain serene, focused concentration. In addition to being helpful for any person (Buddhist or non-Buddhist) developing this mental state (samadhi), is a pre-requisite of advanced esoteric Buddhist practices. This class will take about eight weeks, depending on a number of factors.
Class 2: Vipashyana Meditation:
After Geshe-la completes his teaching on calm abiding (which could take approximately 8 weeks) he will begin instruction on "Special Insight" or "Vipashyana" meditation. Vipashyana emphasizes discerning, or analytical meditation which gives rise to exceptional understanding of the object of meditation. NOTE: Students will gain much more benefit from the teaching on Vipashyana if they first attend the Samadhi meditation classes. It is not yet known the exact start and end dates for this teaching.
The Four Tenets: Philosophical Views of Reality
• Text: Cutting Through Appearances by Geshe Sopa and J. Hopkins.
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_294.html
• When: every Wednesday evening, beginning October 7th (2009), at 7:00 pm
Tibetan Buddhists study several philosophical understandings of the true nature of reality. The Tenet system is used in monasteries and colleges to teach monks to see reality in a systematic and progressive fashion, each philosophical view being more subtle than its predecessor. Therefore the four schools can be seen as a gradual path from a rather easy-to-grasp, "realistic" philosophical point of view, to more complex and subtle views on the ultimate nature of reality, that is emptiness and dependent arising.
———————--
———————--
Visit V. February 13, 2011 – August, 2011
2011 Topics:
Taking The Three Bodies into the Path
Mahamudra
Debate
Tenets
Kalachakra
Saturday: 10 am to 12–12:30 pm
Bao Quang Temple, 14837 Santa Gertrudis Street, San Antonio, TX 78217-1170
The first Saturday class is tomorrow (2/19/11).
The subject will be relative truth and ultimate truth according to the highest school of Tibetan Buddhism, Prasangika Madhyamaka. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyamaka]
Wednesday: 7 pm to 9–9:30 pm
Moroney's house, 12107 Magnolia Blossom, San Antonio, TX 78247
The first Wednesday class is next week (2/23/11).
The subject will be Mahamudra. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamudra]
Geshe-la invited students who were going to receive Kalachakra initiation in Washington DC (July 2011) to attend extra classes.
Prior to Washington DC (July 6-16, 2011) for the Kalachakra event we had many classes to prepare us. During the 12 days of teaching and initiation Geshe-la would call Covita to explain what had taken (performed by HHDLD) place that day and/or needed to be done for the following day, such as to avoid meat. After the trip Geshe-la explained the 6-session yoga and all of the vows required
1. KALACHAKRA TANTRA: RITE OF INITIATION
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_697.html
2. DEATH, INTERMEDIATE STATE AND BARDO*
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_1117.html
1. THE MIND AND ITS FUNCTIONS
2. MIND IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM
3. DEBATE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM
4. THE GELUG/KAGYU TRADITION OF MAHAMUDRA #GEKATR
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_1148.html
———————--
———————--
2012 India Trip
Feb 28 through March 19, 2012
Claudia Ladensohn, Christopher Moroney, Covita Moroney
Kalachakra Tantra private teachings in the hills above McLeod Ganj
———————--
March 20, 2012:
Geshe-la brain anyruism
———————--
———————--
Visit VI. Arrived Jan 22, 2015 — Departed April 14, 2015
Three Month Buddhism Residency in San Antonio:
• Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
• Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
All teachings took place at the Moroney house, where the monks lived. (Moroneys moved to a nearby apartment)
Seven Point Mind Training
Nagarjuna's "Fundamental Wisdom of Middle Way"
35 Confession Buddhas
———————--
———————--
VII. Summer, 2016 Visited USA
Geshela informed us that he would not teach, just visit friends. Two San Antonio students were ill with cancer and it was wonderful that he saw them prior to their passing away. He visited Madison, Wisconsin; Oakland and Santa Ana, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Washington, DC.
Geshe-la and Lama Passang were with the Moroneys and/or in San Antonio from August 22 – September 13, 2016. The Moroneys drove to California to pick up the monks for a road trip from Southern California to the Grand Canyon, then to visit a student in Chama, New Mexico, and on to San Antonio.
Palden Lhamo Sadana
Geshe Drakpa performed a unannounced Palden Lhamo sadana in the living room at Moroneys, where most classes had taken place.
Note to gather the chair, table, ritual items used.
Advice Given in September, 2016 by Geshe Drakpa
At the conclusion of his 10-day visit to San Antonio, which was his last, Covita asked Geshe Drakpa if he had any specific spiritual advice to share before he returned to India. This took place on the drive from San Antonio to Houston where he would fly to India. In a potent 10-minute response (translated by Lama Passang) Geshe-la gave instructions to adhere to seven attitudes. Geshe-la's advice was not only for Covita and Christopher, but for all of his students:
1. Practice satisfaction when things are not as you would like them to be.
2. Cultivate happiness for the good things in your life.
3. Follow the Middle Way in your behavior of body, speech, mind.
4. Take a long view about your spiritual development toward liberation and enlightenment.
5. Accept that is the nature of Samsara for ordinary human life to be difficult.
6. When troubles arise, recall that difficulties burn off your past negative karma.
7. Frequently meditate on the fact that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence.
———————--
———————--
Subjects studied, to be placed on timeline:
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hands, teaching
Refuge ceremony
Lamp for the Path, transmission and teaching
Pratimoksha Vows
Aspiring Bodhisattva Vows
Engaged Bodhichitta Vows
Eight Mahayana Precepts
Tonglen, lineage transmission and teaching
Heart Sutra, transmission and teaching
root text refered to in Cutting Through Appearances
Grounds and Paths of Guyasamaja, teaching
Three Principal Aspects of the Path, transmission and teaching
Foundation of All Good Qualities, transmission and teaching
a chapter from Great Lam Rim used in Stages of Meditation
Debate (the book)
Mindtraining like Rays from the Sun, teaching
Death Bardo and Rebirth, teaching on book by same title
Mahamudra, teaching on Dalai Lama book
Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, teaching
Tsong Khapa sadana Ganden Lhagye, teaching
Vajrasattva, sadana instructions
Kalachakra Six Session, commitments instructions
Palden Lhamo, sadana performed
Visit I. December 2006 – January 2007
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Geshe Drakpa Gelek arrived on December 15, 2006 — which was also Je Tsongkhapa Day. He came after leading a Kalachakra retreat at Namgyal Monastery in Ithica, New York
• Was introduced to students at Bao Quang Temple in San Antonio, where Lama Passang resided.
• Taught Lam Rim topics on several Saturday mornings
• Taught a Three Part Series at Viva Books:
Wednesday, December 27, 2006: "Developing Mental Stability"
Wednesday, January 3, 2007: "A Christian - Buddhist Dialog" with Rev. Jane Lancaster Patterson
Wednesday, January 10, 2007: "Overcoming the Fear of Death"
• Geshe Drakpa conferred Refuge to a handful of students on/about January 8, 2007
Visit II. December 9, 2007 – March, 2008
(arrived San Antonio from Korea)
Stages of Meditation
VIDEO PLAYLIST
Teaching and Commentary on Kamalashila's Stages of Meditation
Series held at The Workshop, Los Patios campus
A. INTRODUCTORY TALK:
Wednesday, December 12 at 4:00 pm
B. FULL COURSE AT LOS PATIOS (8 sessions)
1. Wednesday, December 19 at 4:00 pm
a) The benifits of meditation: developing the wish to, and joy in, meditation
2. Saturday, December 22 at 10:00 am
b) The preliminary practices (preparation) for meditation that ensure one will be successful
3. Wednesday, December 26 at 4:00 pm
c) How to handle (shape) the mind by applying specific physical meditation techniques
4. Saturday, December 29 at 10:00 am
d) How to prevent grosser forms of conceptual thought through breathing meditation techniques
5. Wednesday, January 2 at 4:00 pm
e) Utilizing external and internal objects of meditation in order to accomplish Samadhi (single pointed) meditation
6. Saturday, January 5 at 10:00 am
f) How to prevent obstacles in order to improve mental stability (concentration) and clarity of the mind
7. Wednesday, January 9 at 4:00 pm
g) Meditation practices for developing love, compassion, and boddhichitta (altruristic intention)
8. Saturday, January 12 at 10:00 am
h) How to meditate on special insight (vipasana meditation) combined with meditation on emptiness
Begin Lam Rim Teaching and Other 2007-08 Talks
VIDEO PLAYLIST
NOTE: Not all dates have a corresponding video.
Sunday, Dec 30 at 11 am -- Celebration Circle Talk
Thursday, Jan 3 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Friday, Jan 4 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Sunday, Jan 6 at 10 am - Small Lam Rim class
Thursday, Jan 10 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Friday, Jan 11 at 10 am -- Small Lam Rim class
Monday Jan 14 through Friday, Jan 25 -- Dallas & Houston
Monday, Jan 28 -- Resume classes in San Antonio
January, 2008 - Austin, TX
(no video)
The Foundation of All Good Qualities: transmission and teaching
Saturday, January 12 at 7-9 pm
Sunday, January 13 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
The Wheel of Sharp Weapons: transmission and teaching
Saturday, January 26 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
Sunday, January 27 at 10 am & 2-4 pm
February, 2008 - peaceCENTER San Antonio
(no video)
"Creating Peace: Tibetan Buddhist Wisdom & Methods"
Taught by Geshe Drakpa Gelek with Lama Passang Gelek
February 2: How to Develop and Practice Compassion
February 9: How to Practice The Six Perfections
February 16: Introducing the Causes and Methods to Overcome Suffering
February 23: Peace Through Mahayana Mind Training
February, 2008 Detailed Lam Rim
VOL 4 VIDEO PLAYLIST Of LAMRIM
February 3, 7, 17, 20,
VOL 5 VIDEO PLAY LIST OF LAM RIM
Feb 22, 27, 28: In-depth Lam Rim teaching
March 2008, Buddhist Tennets
VOL 6 VIDEO PLAYLIST (coming)
March 1, 2, 7, 8
Private Teachings
(topics and dates under research)
Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth
by Lati Rinbochay & Jeffrey Hopkins
Thu - 1/31: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/3: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/7: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/10: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/14: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/17: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/21: Small class at 10 am
Sun - 2/24: Small class at 10 am
Thu - 2/28: Small class at 10 am
Departed end of February or early March.
———————--
———————--
Visit III. October 20, 2008 – April, 2009
1. Cutting Through Appearances
by Geshe Lhundrup Sopa & Jeffrey Hopkins
Snow Lion Publications - $18.95 list price
2. Death, Intermediate State and Rebirth
by Lati Rinbochay & Jeffrey Hopkins
Snow Lion Publications - $10.95 list price
3. Oral Transmissions: "Heart Sutra," "Three Principles of the Path"
• LAM RIM CLASS SATURDAYS AT 10:00 AM
LOCATION: BAO QUANG TEMPLE
Lama Passang's ongoing class on The Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
(Lam Rim) will continue, based on the text Liberation in the Palm of Your Hand
by Pabonka Rinpoche/Trijang Rinpoche.
• REALITY & EMPTINESS: FOUR TENETS CLASS
Geshe Drakpa and Lama Passang will be teaching a weekly class to guide
students through the Tibetan Buddhist Philosophical schools known as
The Four Tenets. The book, Cutting Through Appearances is the related text.
• SMALL CLASSES:
Friday evenings: Grounds and paths of Guyasamaja
• PEACE CENTER
Nov 9, 2008: 12 Links
January, 2009: The Five Agregates
• BODHISATTVA VOWS
January 5, 2009
(Matt, Victoria, Carolyn, Don, C, C, C)
• SOL CENTER
February 2009 at SoL Center
Tuesdays, Feb 10, 17, & 24th, 7:00-9:00 pm. UPC Sanctuary.
Tibetan Buddhist Practices for Cultivating Love and Compassion:
Facilitated by Covita Moroney
———————--
———————--
Visit IV. September, 26, 2009 – March 2010
Teaching Started October 3, 2009
• Who: Geshe Drakpa and Venerable Passang Gelek (bios at bottom of email)
• Text: Lamrim Chenmo (Great Treatise on the Path to Enlightenment), Volume Three
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_6022.html
• Where: Bao Quang Temple, 14837 Santa Gertrudis, San Antonio 78217
• When: every Saturday, beginning October 3rd (2009), at 10:00 am
Class 1: Samadhi Meditation:
Beginning on Saturday, October 3rd, Geshe Drakpa will begin teaching "Calm Abiding," or "Samadhi" meditation — an essential practice for anyone who wishes to develop the potential of the mind to maintain serene, focused concentration. In addition to being helpful for any person (Buddhist or non-Buddhist) developing this mental state (samadhi), is a pre-requisite of advanced esoteric Buddhist practices. This class will take about eight weeks, depending on a number of factors.
Class 2: Vipashyana Meditation:
After Geshe-la completes his teaching on calm abiding (which could take approximately 8 weeks) he will begin instruction on "Special Insight" or "Vipashyana" meditation. Vipashyana emphasizes discerning, or analytical meditation which gives rise to exceptional understanding of the object of meditation. NOTE: Students will gain much more benefit from the teaching on Vipashyana if they first attend the Samadhi meditation classes. It is not yet known the exact start and end dates for this teaching.
The Four Tenets: Philosophical Views of Reality
• Text: Cutting Through Appearances by Geshe Sopa and J. Hopkins.
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_294.html
• When: every Wednesday evening, beginning October 7th (2009), at 7:00 pm
Tibetan Buddhists study several philosophical understandings of the true nature of reality. The Tenet system is used in monasteries and colleges to teach monks to see reality in a systematic and progressive fashion, each philosophical view being more subtle than its predecessor. Therefore the four schools can be seen as a gradual path from a rather easy-to-grasp, "realistic" philosophical point of view, to more complex and subtle views on the ultimate nature of reality, that is emptiness and dependent arising.
———————--
———————--
Visit V. February 13, 2011 – August, 2011
2011 Topics:
Taking The Three Bodies into the Path
Mahamudra
Debate
Tenets
Kalachakra
Saturday: 10 am to 12–12:30 pm
Bao Quang Temple, 14837 Santa Gertrudis Street, San Antonio, TX 78217-1170
The first Saturday class is tomorrow (2/19/11).
The subject will be relative truth and ultimate truth according to the highest school of Tibetan Buddhism, Prasangika Madhyamaka. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhyamaka]
Wednesday: 7 pm to 9–9:30 pm
Moroney's house, 12107 Magnolia Blossom, San Antonio, TX 78247
The first Wednesday class is next week (2/23/11).
The subject will be Mahamudra. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahamudra]
Geshe-la invited students who were going to receive Kalachakra initiation in Washington DC (July 2011) to attend extra classes.
Prior to Washington DC (July 6-16, 2011) for the Kalachakra event we had many classes to prepare us. During the 12 days of teaching and initiation Geshe-la would call Covita to explain what had taken (performed by HHDLD) place that day and/or needed to be done for the following day, such as to avoid meat. After the trip Geshe-la explained the 6-session yoga and all of the vows required
1. KALACHAKRA TANTRA: RITE OF INITIATION
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_697.html
2. DEATH, INTERMEDIATE STATE AND BARDO*
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_1117.html
1. THE MIND AND ITS FUNCTIONS
2. MIND IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM
3. DEBATE IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM
4. THE GELUG/KAGYU TRADITION OF MAHAMUDRA #GEKATR
http://www.snowlionpub.com/html/product_1148.html
———————--
———————--
2012 India Trip
Feb 28 through March 19, 2012
Claudia Ladensohn, Christopher Moroney, Covita Moroney
Kalachakra Tantra private teachings in the hills above McLeod Ganj
———————--
March 20, 2012:
Geshe-la brain anyruism
———————--
———————--
Visit VI. Arrived Jan 22, 2015 — Departed April 14, 2015
Three Month Buddhism Residency in San Antonio:
• Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 pm
• Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
All teachings took place at the Moroney house, where the monks lived. (Moroneys moved to a nearby apartment)
Seven Point Mind Training
Nagarjuna's "Fundamental Wisdom of Middle Way"
35 Confession Buddhas
———————--
———————--
VII. Summer, 2016 Visited USA
Geshela informed us that he would not teach, just visit friends. Two San Antonio students were ill with cancer and it was wonderful that he saw them prior to their passing away. He visited Madison, Wisconsin; Oakland and Santa Ana, California; San Antonio, Texas; and Washington, DC.
Geshe-la and Lama Passang were with the Moroneys and/or in San Antonio from August 22 – September 13, 2016. The Moroneys drove to California to pick up the monks for a road trip from Southern California to the Grand Canyon, then to visit a student in Chama, New Mexico, and on to San Antonio.
Palden Lhamo Sadana
Geshe Drakpa performed a unannounced Palden Lhamo sadana in the living room at Moroneys, where most classes had taken place.
Note to gather the chair, table, ritual items used.
Advice Given in September, 2016 by Geshe Drakpa
At the conclusion of his 10-day visit to San Antonio, which was his last, Covita asked Geshe Drakpa if he had any specific spiritual advice to share before he returned to India. This took place on the drive from San Antonio to Houston where he would fly to India. In a potent 10-minute response (translated by Lama Passang) Geshe-la gave instructions to adhere to seven attitudes. Geshe-la's advice was not only for Covita and Christopher, but for all of his students:
1. Practice satisfaction when things are not as you would like them to be.
2. Cultivate happiness for the good things in your life.
3. Follow the Middle Way in your behavior of body, speech, mind.
4. Take a long view about your spiritual development toward liberation and enlightenment.
5. Accept that is the nature of Samsara for ordinary human life to be difficult.
6. When troubles arise, recall that difficulties burn off your past negative karma.
7. Frequently meditate on the fact that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence.
———————--
———————--
Subjects studied, to be placed on timeline:
Liberation in the Palm of Your Hands, teaching
Refuge ceremony
Lamp for the Path, transmission and teaching
Pratimoksha Vows
Aspiring Bodhisattva Vows
Engaged Bodhichitta Vows
Eight Mahayana Precepts
Tonglen, lineage transmission and teaching
Heart Sutra, transmission and teaching
root text refered to in Cutting Through Appearances
Grounds and Paths of Guyasamaja, teaching
Three Principal Aspects of the Path, transmission and teaching
Foundation of All Good Qualities, transmission and teaching
a chapter from Great Lam Rim used in Stages of Meditation
Debate (the book)
Mindtraining like Rays from the Sun, teaching
Death Bardo and Rebirth, teaching on book by same title
Mahamudra, teaching on Dalai Lama book
Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, teaching
Tsong Khapa sadana Ganden Lhagye, teaching
Vajrasattva, sadana instructions
Kalachakra Six Session, commitments instructions
Palden Lhamo, sadana performed