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Living in the Path - in Amsterdam
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Ondy |
Kaye & Gordon |
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Based exclusively on the teachings of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, the curriculum and course material is being drawn from Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Living in the Path teachings, an annual event hosted by Kadampa Center in the USA.
During this course, we will watch and discuss videos excerpted from Lama Zopa Rinpoche's teachings and meditate on the main subjects to deepen our understanding.
More information on this latest FPMT study program Living in the Path.
To follow this program, previous experience with Buddhism required. If you are not sure whether you can join, please contact the centre.
The most powerful practice (part 1)
With Ondy Willson
The foundation of the path to enlightenment is the realization of guru devotion – seeing the guru as a buddha. On the basis of this, one makes offerings, offers service, and, most importantly, obtains advice and follows it. If this is not well understood it can lead to serious misunderstandings and problems for both student and teacher.
In this module, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives pith instructions for how to generate this realization and how to take advantage of the guru-disciple relationship for maximum benefit.
“Buddhas definitely exist and definitely guide us through manifesting as gurus.”
Lama Zopa Rinpoche
Ondy will present the course on November 1, 22 and 29, and on December 6, the other evenings, we will study as a group.
Tuesday evenings: November 1 - December 6
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 16,- per evening. Includes reading material
The Most Powerful Practice (part 2)
With Ondy Willson
We continue with this module, which is part of a new FPMT programme that utilizes videos of Lama Zopa Rinpoche as well as meditation and discussion.
The foundation of the path to enlightenment is the realization of guru devotion – seeing the guru as a buddha. On the basis of this, one makes offerings, offers service and, most importantly, obtains advice and follows it. If this is not well understood it can lead to serious misunderstandings and problems for both student and teacher.
In this module, Lama Zopa Rinpoche gives pith instructions for how to generate this realization and how to take advantage of the guru-disciple relationship for maximum benefit.
Follow the teachings and join the study group for the Tuesday in between.
Teachings:
Tuesdays, January 10, 17, 31
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 12,50 (per evening)
10 class discount card € 100,-
Study group:
Tuesday, January 24
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 5,- ( per evening)
The Happiness of Dharma
With Ondy Willson (February and March), Kay Cooper and Gordon McDougall (April)
In this course, Lama Zopa Rinpoche inspires us to recognize the opportunity of our perfect human life and take full advantage of it. We are skillfully reminded that life is short; but we can still ensure our success in obtaining all levels of happiness. A marked distinction is made between those who think of future lives and those who “have no idea”. Finally, Rinpoche shares some profound quotes from realized masters pointing out the difference between worldly desire and Dharma happiness.
Follow the teachings and join the study group for the Tuesdays in between.
Teachings:
Tuesdays, February 14, 21, March 13, 20, 27, April 3, 17
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 12,50 (per evening)
10 class discount card € 100,-
Study group:
Tuesdays, February 7, March 6, April 10, 24
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 5,- ( per evening)
Bringing Emptiness to Life
with Kay Cooper and Gordon McDougall
This module contains pith instructions from Lama Zopa Rinpoche for how to meditate on emptiness and maintain wisdom awareness in daily life.
Learn the importance of clearly identifying the object of refutation (gag–cha) in one’s analysis of emptiness; and discover the hallucinations of ignorance to be refuted, according to different schools of Buddhist philosophy. This brings us to a clear understanding of the Prasangika Madhyamaka view. Finally, receive Rinpoche’s heart advice for completing the realization of emptiness and the resultant understanding and confidence that comes with it. Follow the teachings and join the study group for the Tuesdays in between.
Teachings:
Tuesdays, May 8, 22, June 12, 26
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 12,50 (per evening)
10 class discount card € 100,-
Studygroup:
Tuesdays, May 15, 29, June 5, 19
Time: 20.00 – 21.30 hrs
To help cover our costs: € 5,- ( per evening)
Click here for contact information to register for the courses.
Ondy Willson was born in Cape Town in 1951, and grew up in the south of England. In 1980 she took refuge with Geshe Jampa Tekchog, then sold up her home and gave up her job to be near him. Since then she has received teachings and initiations from many high lamas including H.H. Dalai Lama, Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. In 1983 she did her prostrations retreat in Bodhgaya whilst receiving teachings from H.H. Ling Rinpoche and Tara Tulku.
Ondy was Head of Belief, Philosophy and Ethics in a large English high school, and contributed to primary and secondary school educational books on religious & moral issues and spirituality, specialising in Buddhism. She went on to develop 'Inner Management' courses and started her own consultancy. She teaches the dharma for Yeshe Buddhist Group, which she founded in 2001. In 2009 she published her story of the Buddha’s early life, “Ten Thousand Days of Summer”, Book One of a trilogy. She is currently working on the second book. Ondy is also a storyteller and Drama teacher, offering workshops to children of all ages.
Ondy has recently spent 3 months teaching at Tushita Meditation Centre in Dharamsala, N. India, and will spend a significant amount of time touring and teaching in 2012, returning to teach in India at Tushita and Root Institute next Autumn. Her teaching style combines head, heart and humour with the emphasis on making Buddhism relevant for contemporary life. Her partner is Andy Weber, the Tibetan Buddhist Iconographer and Buddhist Art teacher and they have two grown children.
Kay Cooper and Gordon McDougall have been students of Buddhism for 25 years, starting with the FPMT centre in Hong Kong in 1987. Gordon was the first director of the Hong Kong centre and Kay was the Chinese/Western coordinator there for two years. When they moved to London in 1990 they became involved in Jamyang Buddhist Centre as volunteers.
They have both been regular teachers there since 2000 and were instrumental in helping Jamyang London’s teacher, Geshe Tashi, set up the extremely popular Foundation of Buddhist Thought, one of the core study programmes of the FPMT. Kay has been an online tutor for the FBT course for over 10 years. Gordon was the administrator of the course as well as the Spiritual Programme Coordinator for Jamyang from 2000 to 2006.
Gordon now works for Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive editing Lama Zopa Rinpoche’s Lam.Rim books. Kay and Gordon are registered Discovering Buddhism and FBT teachers who focus on facilitating discussion and how to put Buddhism in our everyday lives.
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