A Review of the Seven Points of Mind TrainingAfter meditation on second and fourth Sunday evenings from March 9 - June 15. At KCC Urban Center (see schedule below). Following these Sunday evening meditations, the teachers of KCC will give a 15-20 minute talk on each of the main points of the Mind Training tradition. Open discussion will follow. The first session will be an overview of the teachings by Lama Michael Conklin. On subsequent Sunday evenings we will go through each of the seven points one by one. These sessions are intended as both a brief introduction for those who are unfamiliar with the Seven Points of Mind Training as well as a refresher and encouragement for those who actively apply these teachings. Independent study and practice will enhance participation. While these teachings are offered without charge, please feel free to support the teachings with a donation.
The Seven Points of Mind Training (lojong in Tibetan) constitute a system for transforming our ordinary relationships with others and with ourselves into the ground for the cultivation of loving-kindness and insight. This Buddhist practice was initially brought to Tibet in the 11th century by the great Indian Dharma master, Atisha. Since then, all the Tibetan schools have come to treasure it. This system of training includes instruction on both ultimate and relative bodhicitta practices. We will review the seven points and focus on selected aphorisms to elucidate the practices and principles of this meditation system. Lojong practice is easy to approach, even for the novice, and is well-suited for application in the ordinary circumstances of contemporary life. Schedule of Teachings (links are to audio recordings of the teaching)March 9 Michael Conklin - An Overview - Part A, Part B March 23 Julia King Tamang Point One - Train in the Preliminaries - Part A, Part B April 13 Bill Spangle Point Two - Cultivating Ultimate and Relative Bodhicitta April 27 Dora DeCoursey Point Three - Transforming Adversity into the Path May 11 Julia King Tamang Point Four - A Synthesis of Practice for One Life May 25 Michael Conklin Point Five - Criteria of Proficiency in Mind Training June 8 Bill Spangle Point Six - The Pledges of Mind Training June 15 Dora DeCoursey Point Seven - The Precepts of Mind Training Suggested ReadingsParticipants may wish to read one or more of the excellent translations and commentaries on the Seven Points of Mind Training teachings, such as: Buddhism with an Attitude by B. Alan Wallace A Passage from Solitude by B. Alan Wallace Training the Mind by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche Enlightened Courage by HH Dilgo Kyentse Start Where You Are by Pema Chodron The Great Path of Awakening by Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche. Mind Training by Ringu Tulku Benevolent Mind; A manual in Mind Training By Traleg Rinpoche
Many of these are available in the KCC bookstore. Or if you prefer to order books online, you can use the links below to make purchases, the vendors contribute to KCC with no additional cost to you.
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