Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche
Thought Education and Emotional Hygiene
a program of Lama Tzong Khapa Institute
Teachings based on the text The Clear Words of Chandrakirti commentary to
Nagarjuna’s Fudamental Wisdom.
November 21-25, 2022
Teachings on the two minds of enlightenment:
Conventional and Ultimate Mind.
Bodhisattva vows
November 26 and 27, 2022
Lama Tzong Khapa Institute is pleased to announce the visit of Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche from November 21 to 27, 2022.
Rinpoche, who is considered by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche to be among the most capable Dharma teachers of the new generation, will teach Chapter 24 of the Clear Words, the quintessential Madhyamaka text by Master Chandrakirti commenting on The Fundamental Wisdom of the great Indian Master Nagarjuna.
With the keys of his infinite knowledge, experience and wisdom, Serkong Rinpoche will open the gates of liberation for us by elaborating the words of Chandrakirti’s commentary on Chapter 24, “The Analysis of the Truths of the Superiors.” This fundamental text of Madhyamaka is rarely explained in the West. Rinpoche has great communication skills based on his infinite knowledge and profound experience, and his teachings are very effective and transformative for the minds of 21st century practitioners.
The teaching of dependent arising and emptiness is the true distinguishing character of Buddha’s teachings, the foundation of the three turns of the Dharma Wheel and the Pali and Sanskrit traditions that developed following Paranirvana.
Based on the explanation of the nature of phenomena, the two truths, conventional and ultimate, Buddha Baghawan explained the method and wisdom that are the main elements of the Dharma Path, the integrated practice of which matures into the result, the two Supreme Bodies, the final awakening characterized by the total abandonment of the two obscurations and the complete development of all qualities.
In accordance with the guidelines provided by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who advises approaching the study and daily practice of the Foundation of Wisdom on the basis of four of the 27 chapters that constitute the root text, Serkong Tsenshab Rinpoche will explain in the sequence indicated by the Dalai Lama:
- Chapter 26 “The Analysis of the Twelve Branches of Existence” (taught earlier)
- Chapter 18 “The analysis of the self” (taught previously)
- chapter 24 “The analysis of the four truths of the superiors” the subject of these November teachings
- and finally with chapter 22 “The Analysis of the Tathagata” (subject to be taught in 2023).
All teachings are part of the Lama Tzong Khapa Institute’s autochthonous program Thought Education and Emotional Hygiene. This program started before the pandemic lockdown and was therefore delayed. This hiatus allowed the ILTK teachers team to refine and expand the program with Rinpoche, which will resume with great commitment in the last week of November both in-person and online at the Lama Tzong Khapa Institute.
Following the directions of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche, with this program the Institute aims to make available to the general public the Buddha’s teachings commented on by the great Indian masters of the Nalanda tradition, such as Nagarjuna and Chandrakirti, addressing the maintenance and propagation of the Nalanda tradition in the Western world.
Serkong Rinpoche will teach twice a day, morning and afternoon, for four days, with a one-day break in between to give students a chance to internalize and deepen the experience. The course takes place in retreat format, with guided meditations on the subjects explained, discussion, debate and questions/answers, both with Rinpoche and the program’s qualified mentors.
MONDAY 21 | TUESDAY 22 | THURSDAY 24 | FRIDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2022
- Dalle 7:00 alle 8:00
Monday 21, Thursday 24, Friday 25 and Saturday 26:
Motivational and analytical meditation on teachings subjects with Stefano Gaviglio (Meditation room – only Italian language)
Tuesday 22, Wednesday 23, Sunday 27
with instructor Sharon Methvin- (Mandala room – except Sunday outdoor or meditation room)
- 9:45 am
Access to the Gompa– while waiting for Rinpoche’s arrival we sit in silence
meditating on the breath
- From 10:00 to 12:00
Teaching with Serkong Rinpoche | also live streaming |
- From 15:30 to 16:30 Individual meditation/discussion:
students are invited to divide into groups to meditate and discuss the teachings – no tutoring is provided
- From 17:00 to 19:00
Teaching with Serkong Rinpoche | also live streaming |
WEDNESDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2022
- From 7:00 to 8:00 a.m
Qi Gong with instructor Sharon Methvin- (Mandala Room)
- From 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m Meditation Calm abiding
- From 10:30 to 11:30 a.m
Meditation-Special insight (analytical meditation on the subject explained by
Rinpoche)
- 15:30 to 17:30
Questions and answers, discussion, and meditation.
WEEKEND PROGRAMME FOR TEACHINGS WITH SERKONG RINPOCHE
Teachings on The two bodhicitta – Conventional and ultimate
SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2022
- •7:00 am to 8:00 a.m
Motivational meditation with Stefano Gaviglio (Meditation room)
- 10:00 to 12:00 a.m
Teaching with Serkong Rinpoche | also live streaming
- 15:00 to 16:00
Logic class with Atisha Mathur on the teachings of Rinpoche on the two
Bodhicitta
- From 17:30 to 19:30
Debate on the two Bodhicitta The debate will be prepared by the students of the Logic and Debate study programme, led by Atisha Mathur and Fri. Kunsang. Those not enrolled in the programme may attend this session without active participation. Attendance is recommended to understand how a debate is structured in the Nalanda tradition.
SUNDAY, 27 NOVEMBER 2022
- 7:00 to 8:00am
Qi Gong with instructor Sharon Methvin (if the season permits outdoors – meet in
the main square otherwise in the Gompa)
- 10:00 to 12:00 am
Teachings with Serkong Rinpoche and Bodhisattva vow ceremony | also live streaming
WEEKEND MEAL TIMETABLE
Due to the presence of other activities at the Institute we ask participants in the teachings to respect the times indicated for meals
Lunch: FROM 12:30 TO 13:15 – Dinner: FROM 19:30 TO 20:00
At the age of two, Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche II (1984 – present) pointed to the photo of the recently deceased Assistant Tutor of the 14th Dalai Lama and said, “That’s me!” Recognized as the reincarnation of the former Tsenzhab Serkong Rinpoche, the young tulku received his Buddhist training initially at Ganden Jangtse Monastery in South India. After deciding to continue his work for the Dharma as a layman, he completed his education at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala. On the advice of the Dalai Lama, he has now completed two years of intensive study of English in Canada and is continuing his higher Buddhist training.
Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche I
Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche studied with masters from all the four major traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. He was a member of Ganden Jangtze Monastic University, where he received his Geshe Lharampa degree after fourteen years of study. He then spent nine years at Gyume Tantric College, where after passing all his examinations he held the position of Master of Discipline, before being appointed in 1948 one of the seven Tsenshab or Master Debate Partners to His Holiness the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche served His Holiness in this capacity for the rest of his life and imparted to His Holiness many lineages, initiations and oral transmissions. He accompanied His Holiness to China in 1954 and came in exile to India in 1959.
In India, Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche further served His Holiness in helping establish the Office of Religious and Cultural Affairs. He also served as one of His Holiness’ main advisors, chief performer of his personal religious rituals, his teacher of Buddhist technical knowledge and skills such as mandala construction and his spiritual lieutenant for communicating and carrying out his policies.
As a master of both sutra and all four classes of tantra, Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche travelled extensively throughout India and Nepal to give teachings and initiations and help the monasteries re-start their rituals. He made five trips to Spiti where, in the manner of Atisha, he reformed and revitalized the monasteries and the Buddhist tradition of that remote mountain region. He also made two tours of North America and Europe.
Taking on all obstacles to the welfare and works of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Tsenshab Serkong Rinpoche passed away in full control and in accordance with his intentions, in the manner of the Buddha Shakyamuni, on August 20, 1983 in Kyipar, Spiti, India. In memorium, His Holiness has praised his former Master Debate Partner as a real Kadampa Geshe, someone who always remained humble in the truest sense.
During your stay at the Institute you will benefit from:
- A plaid/cover
- Comfortable clothes
- An alarm clock
- An FM radio and earphones (mandatory for listening to the English translation. In the hall the languages will be Italian and Tibetan).
It will also be possible to purchase the radio and earphones at the Institute shop. - The park surrounding the Institute is not lighted in all areas; therefore, it is recommended to bring a good flashlight for the night hours
- Shoes with rubber soles or otherwise suitable for the countryside
- November in Tuscany can be rainy, so we suggest: a cap, a waterproof windbreaker, shoes suitable for mud, an umbrella
Wi-Fi: The free connection available to guests is exclusively within some rooms of the facility and during the following days and times:
Monday through Friday: 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. the next day. Saturday and Sunday free.
Stores in the village of Pomaia, a 5-minute walk away, are still stocked with essentials. One pharmacy outlet opens in half-day shifts six days a week.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Please note that photographing the event and taking any kind of audio/video footage is prohibited during the teachings. Only ILTK authorized staff will be allowed to take photos and audio/video footage.
Cell phone use will be allowed only for radio use. Those who do not comply will be asked to leave the hall.
Please remember not to leave unattended items inside the hall and to take them with you at the end of each session.
In the teaching hall you will not be allowed to enter with your shoes, which you will have to store neatly in the shoe racks provided.
For more information on What to bring please remember the appropriate section on the main event page.
Thank you for your understanding and kind cooperation.
FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS IN LIVE STREAMING
A donation is required to support the online event.
Go to the button below, make your donation, and upon completion you will be redirected to the page with the link to access the live stream from Nov. 21-27 (the entire period of the teachings)
Video recordings will be available later, exclusively within the Thought Education and Emotional Hygiene program. Dependent Arising and Vacuity module. The program will be presented soon.
When completed, please wait a few seconds to be redirected to the page with the live link.
Do not close the Paypal page. Thank you
IN-PERSON REGISTRATIONS SUSPENDED
We have reached the allowed number of requests for weekend event attendance.
We still have availability during the period of November 21-25 (no 26 and 27), please contact the secretariat to register at email: segreteria@iltk.it
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation
SUPPORT THE EVENT WITH ADDITIONAL DONATIONS
This precious opportunity to host Serkong Rinpoche’s visit is a great blessing for the benefit of all. All this is only possible through one of the fundamental practices of the Mahayana Buddhism, namely the generosity of those who make a free donation.
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