Study Group: Paramitas, Paths and Bhumis (Mahayana 306)

Starts Sat., Sept. 16, 2023

ON ZOOM: Every second Saturday

9:00AM – 10:30AM Pacific Time

Hosted by Nalandabodhi Vancouver

This is the final course of Nalandabodhi’s Mahayana curriculum.  It presents the expansive overview of the entire Buddhist path as delineated in the Five Paths; details of the bodhisattva’s practice of application bodhicitta (the ten paramitas); the successive levels of the bodhisattva’s realization of the two kinds of selflessness as laid out in the ten grounds or Bhumis; the three dimensions of Buddhahood; and the basic characteristics of the nonconceptual wisdom of buddhas and bodhisattvas.

This course is taught in a participatory manner, with students presenting précis’ of each week’s reading.  Questions and discussion are encouraged.

Prerequisites:

It is recommended that students have some background in Buddhist studies. In particular, students should have a familiarity with such key Buddhist teachings as karma, skandhas, dependent origination, emptiness, and the Four Noble Truths; and that they have some experience with basic (Shamatha) meditation practice.

Contact: study@nalandabodhi.ca

This class meets on Zoom every second Saturday from 9:00AM to 10:30AM Pacific Time.

Dates: September 16, 30, October 14, 28, November 9, 25, December 9

Facilitators: Sid Weiss and Nina Miller

Text: The curriculum materials for the classes draw primarily from the teachings of Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.  In Canada, please contact Doug Ellis at study@nalandabodhi.ca to purchase texts. In the U.S. the curriculum can be purchased from the Nalanda Store.