On-site, in-person dharma study group begins Saturday, Sept. 27 and runs every second Saturday (more or less!)
“The Second Turning of the Wheel of Dharma took place in Rajagriha, which is known as Vulture Peak Mountain. There, Buddha taught the Prajnaparamita Sutras to bodhisattvas, the Mahayana Sangha. At that level, Buddha taught the notion of complete shunyata, egolessness, selflessness, and emptiness. In these teachings, the Buddha taught that outer appearances are empty. The inner experiences of thoughts, perceptions and so forth, are also empty by nature. Both outer and inner world are in the nature of emptiness, altogether.” — Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
The four courses of the Mahayana study path build on Nalandabodhi’s Introduction to Buddhism and Foundational (Hinayana) courses, expanding our view of no self to include the emptiness of all phenomena. Egolessness or selflessness in the Mahayana is called the great emptiness free from all reference points, emptiness with a heart of genuine compassion.
The cycle of Mahayana study begins with The Heart of Daring, which introduces the foundations of the Mahayana, including an extended discussion of Bodhicitta: the heart of awakening, both conventional and ultimate, and the Four Immeasurables: Immeasurable impartiality, immeasurable love, immeasurable compassion and immeasurable joy.
Please register below.
Facilitators: Karunika Susan Stewart will be the main teacher. Susan is on Nitartha Institute’s faculty and is a senior student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche. She has lead study classes at Nalandabodhi Vancouver for many years.
Anne Marie Weiss has been a student of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche since 2005. She has attended Nitartha’s Summer Institute for many years and co-facilitated Nalandabodhi study groups since 2021. She loves the interactive nature of in-person classes.
Prerequisites: To register, we suggest you have completed Nalandabodhi’s Introductory and Foundational (Hinayana) courses or have an equivalent background in Buddhist studies.
Mahayana 301: Heart of Daring
Dates: Sat., Sept. 27; Oct. 18 (via Zoom) & Oct. 25, Nov. 8 & 22; Dec. 6 & 20
Time: 10 am til 11:30 am
Where: Maitrivana, 4610 Earles St., Vancouver BC
Cost: Tuition: $40 (or what you can afford). Courseware: $20 (available in class)
BTW: If you’ve previously taken Nalandabodhi’s Mahayana courses, you’re welcome to register for this course free of charge.
Any questions? Please write to: study@nalandabodhi.ca
Date/Time
Date(s) - Sat., September 27, 2025
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Location Nalandabodhi Vancouver – Maitrivana
