The Three Turnings: Overcoming the Kleshas Retreat 2 of 3: Transforming Outlook

Led By: 
Lama Michael Conklin
Location: 
KCC Urban Center
Date: 
Apr 16 2010 3:00pm - Apr 18 2010 12:00am

This is a series of three two-day retreats.  

According to the Tibetan traditions the Buddha’s teachings are divided into three major sets or “three turnings”. These three turnings present distinct yet complementary approaches to overcoming the kleshas– the fundamental ignorance and the emotional compulsions that arise from it– and giving rise to deep compassion and wisdom. 
 

The three two-day retreats, supported by optional classes, will include some explanation of the teachings that underly our meditation practices.  But the emphasis in the retreats will be on learning the different approaches presented by the three turnings through structured meditative exercises.  Based on this understanding, each individual should have a better sense of which practices to focus on in their personal path. Understanding the context should also give a better sense of how to approach the practice at hand. 
 

This series of retreats is recommended for students who have been practicing a year or more. Longer time practitioners may find the series useful for understanding how practices they already know fit within the context of the three turnings. Participants will be encouraged to practice in between the three retreats using the approaches covered.   
 

The dates of all three retreats are:

Jan 15th and 16th: Abandoning the Causes of Suffering

April 16th and17th: Transforming Outlook

and July 16th and 17th: Recognizing the Nature of Phenomena

For those already participating in the Mahamudra program or who otherwise have a full slate of practice, this program will give you more perspective about the practices you are doing already. You can engage in this program without adding to your existing practice commitments.   
 

Participants are meant to attend all three retreats.  Full participation is one way to meet the prerequisites for the one week retreat in September.  Participants must have been practicing a year or more or get permission from Lama Michael.

 

 Cost

$250 for KCC members, $300 for non-members.  The price includes the four classes for those who want to attend them, but they are not required to attend. The registration and payment is the same in that case.

 

 

A reading list will be posted at a later date.

 

If you have additional questions, please contact Karyn Fenton at  bandk290@canby.com  or phone: 503-263-3412

Scholarships 

A limited number of scholarships (up to 50% of the retreat cost) are available for individuals with serious financial constraints. Preference is given to KCC members of at least three months. The number of scholarships available depends entirely on donations to the Scholarship Fund. For those who can afford it, please consider contributing to the Scholarship Fund so that others who are less financially fortunate are able to attend KCC retreats.

 

Please review the scholarship and membership policies http://www.kcc.org/about-kcc/governance/policies-procedures/Scholarship%20Committee%20Guidelines To apply for a scholarship, please include a letter briefly stating your financial circumstances, the amount you are requesting and your history as a practitioner with your completed registration form and payment.

 

Possible Readings for The Three Turnings Program

Version:  January 12, 2010

 

The books below are the first pass at our recommendations for readings for the material covered in KCC's Three Turnings retreat and class series. By listing this many books, we definitely do not mean to imply that you should read them all. These are just books that some Program Council members have read in our own preparation for teaching this study and retreat series at KCC.

 

The first three books mentioned are translated from the teachings of Tibetan teachers and definitely have the cultural feel and language of many such books. We cannot recommend them highly for all readers, but there are few books specifically devoted to this topic, so we include them here.

 

If you know of other excellent books, please feel free to send them to Bill or Dora at dorabill@comcast.netor Julia at jtamang@easystreet.net.We will refine this list as we go.

 

Three Turnings, Three Vehicles in General

Dharma Paths, Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

The Three Vehicles of Buddhist Practice, Thrangu Rinpoche

Profound Buddhism: From Hinayana to Vajrayana, Kalu Rinpoche

Daring Steps Towards Fearlessness: The Three Vehicles of Buddhism, Ringu Tulku

 

First Turning

What the Buddha Taught, Walpola Rahula

The Essence of Buddhism, Traleg Rinpoche

The Life of the Buddha and The Four Noble Truths, Thrangu Rinpoche

The Four Noble Truths, the Dalai Lama

The Four Noble Truths, Ven. Lobsang Gyatso

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching, Thich Nhat Hahn

Old Path, White Clouds, Thich Nhat Hahn (life of Buddha)

Buddha, Karen Armstrong (life of Buddha)

 

Second Turning

The Four Immeasureables: Cultivating a Boundless Heart, B. Alan Wallace

The Thirty Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

Taking the Bodhisattva Vow, Bokar Rinpoche

The Heart Sutra, Red Pine

Mother of the Buddhas, Les Hixon (selections from the Prajnaparamita Sutra in 8000 Lines)

Profound Wisdom of the Heart Sutra, Bokar Rinpoche

Verses from the Center, Stephen Batchelor

Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche

 

Bodhicharyavatara by Shantideva

A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life, translated by Vesna and Alan Wallace

A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life, translated by Stephen Batchelor

No Time to Lose, Pema Chodron (commentary)

Healing Anger, the Dalai Lama (commentary on the 6th chapter)

 

Commentaries on Mind Training

Buddhism with an Attitude: The Tibetan Seven-Point Mind-Training, B. Alan Wallace

Start Where you Are: A Guide to Compassionate Living, Pema Chodron

Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness, Chogyam Trungpa

Enlightened Courage: An Explanation of the Seven-Point Mind Training, Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche

 

Third Turning/Tantra

Changeless Nature, The Mahayana Uttara Tantra Shastra, translated by Ken and Katia Holmes

Crystal Clear, Thrangu Rinpoche (this book also has excellent zhinay and lhatong instruction)

Everyday Consciousness and Buddha Awakening, Thrangu Rinpoche

Secret of the Vajra World (also includes chapters on the three vehicles), Reginald Ray

Creation and Completion, Jamgon Kongtrul, with commentary by Thrangu Rinpoche

Introduction to Tantra, Lama Thubten Yeshe



If you order books online, please go to
http://kcc.org/resources and then to the "button" on the right to Amazon or Powell’s. Accessing Amazon or Powell’s web sites via the KCC home page allows KCC to receive a portion of the profits from such sales.

Sponsor

Kagyu Changchub Chuling (KCC) http://www.kcc.org, a Dharma Center in Portland, Oregon, is sponsoring this retreat. KCC was founded in 1976 by the Very Venerable Kalu Rinpoche, one of the eminent meditation masters of modern Tibet and a holder of the Karma Kagyu and Shangpa Kagyu lineages. The mission of KCC is to make the teachings of these lineages accessible for all practitioners, whether they are just beginning to investigate Buddhism or are long-time students.

 

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3 turnings program overview.pdf31.79 KB
3 Turnings Timeline.pdf26.63 KB