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Khenpo Samdup
Blazing Wisdom Retreat
Manjushri Blazing Wisdom Empowerment
Madhyamaka Practical Wisdom Teachings
Trekcho "cutting through" Dzogchen Instructions:
The Three Statements of Garab Dorje
December 8-11, 2011
Bristol, Vermont
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Khenpo Samdup
We are very honored to have Khenpo Samdup be the first teacher to visit the DDCV after our 10 year anniversary on LhaBab Duchen.
For many years H.E. Garchen Rinpoche has told us of Khenpo Samdups
qualities and encouraged us to invite him. We are very happy that the
causes and conditions have come together for him to come to the DDCV and
turn the Wheel of Dharma.
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Blazing Wisdom Retreat Schedule
Thursday, December 8
Manjushri "Blazing Wisdom" Empowerment
The
empowerment of Manjushri is one of the most important empowerments and
practices in Vajrayana Buddhism. Through the unbroken lineage of
realized masters going back to Shakyamuni Buddha, the blazing wisdom
which cuts through all ignorance has been passed down from teacher to
student. It is only through severing the root of ignorance that we can
put to rest the afflictive emotions which cause ourselves and others so
much suffering. Because it is from ignorance that all the afflictive
emotions are born. It is a great blessing to be able to receive this
Manjushri empowerment from Khenpo Samdup, for it is a practice that he
has taken to heart, and through this empowerment the seed of blazing
wisdom that goes back to the historical Buddha and other great realized
masters will be planted within us, and if we do the practice, the seed
of wisdom will grow into a blazing wisdom that will cut
through our own ignorance, allowing our Buddha nature to awaken and
manifest for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Time: 7 PM
Sug. Don. - $25
Location: 2 Elm St. Bristol, VT
Friday, December 9
Madhyamaka Practical Wisdom Teachings:
The Method which Severs the Root of Ignorance
Madhyamaka
is a powerful and universal means of calming our afflictive emotions
and awakening our inner wisdom. It is a method that works with our
everyday experience in a very practical way. Through this method we can
deconstruct and cut through our ignorance and allow the sunshine of
wisdom to penetrate the darkness of delusion that obscures our true
nature. For Westerners, raised in a culture devoid of faith and
devotion, Madyamaka is a method through which we can use reason, logic
and analytical meditation to prove and gain certainty of the truth of
the Buddhist wisdom teachings. Khenpo Samdup, though realizing the
true nature of mind through the direct pointing out instructions of
Khenpo Munsel, one of the greatest Dzogchen masters of the last century,
chose to continue his studies and realize the teachings of Madhyamaka,
so as to be able to benefit sentient beings who are unable through faith
and devotion alone to recognize their true nature. So this is a very
special and auspicious opportunity to be introduced to the teachings of
Madyamaka, from a true Khenpo, who has a unique gift in transmitting
these teachings, which draw in part on skills we have naturally learned
already receiving a Western education. Don't miss this opportunity to
receive practical teachings which can cut the root of ignorance and
ignite the fire of blazing inner wisdom.
Time: 2-5 PM and 7-9 PM
Sug. Don. - $50
Location: 2 Elm st. Bristol, VT
Saturday-Sunday, December 10-11
Dzogchen Trekcho "cutting through" Instruction:
The Three Decisive Statements of Garab Dorje:
Khenpo Munsels Blazing Wisdom Teachings
The
opportunity to receive these teachings from Khenpo Samdup is the
greatest kindness and most precious opportunity. These are the teachings
that Khenpo received when he went together with his root Lama H.E.
Garchen Rinpoche, to receive the heart essence Dzogchen Trekcho
teachings from one of the greatest Dzogchen Masters of the last century,
Khenpo Munsel. Khenpo Munsel was such a sublime and realized Master,
that H.E. Garchen Rinpoche took him at his own root Lama. It was from
Khenpo Munsel that Khenpo Sumdup was first truly introduced to the
nature of his own mind. So to be able to receive these quintessential
Trekcho Dzogchen teachings from Khenpo Samdup, is to be touched by the
living wisdom mind of Khenpo Munsel, who though he has left the body,
continues to benefit countless beings, through the blazing wisdom that
he passed down to H.E. Garchen Rinpoche, Khenpo Samdup, and many other
great realized beings. This is an opportunity to connect with the living
wisdom mind of all the Buddhas, in a very direct and personal way. The
Three Statements of Garab Dorje, in and of themselves, if taken to
heart and practiced, will without a doubt bring about great realization
in this lifetime, the wisdom that can put an end to suffering and
be of true benefit to others.
Time: 10-12 & 2:30-5 PM Both Days
Sug. Don. - $100
Location: 2 Elm St. Bristol, VT
Suggested Donation for those attending the
complete retreat, December 8-11, 2011 is $150.
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Registration
For those attending the complete Retreat
(December 8-11) the suggested donation is $150.
To Register please email ddcv@gmavt.net
Or call 802-453-3431
Work Study and Scholarships Available
No one turned away for financial reasons.
If you are able to pre-register for these teachings
that is very much appreciated. But it is also ok to register at the door the day of the event.
Registration checks should be made out
to DDCV and sent to:
DDCV
PO Box 252
Bristol, VT 05443
You can also pay by Paypal.
Our Paypal account is ddcv@gmavt.net
To pay by credit card please call 802-453-3431.
All teachings December 8-11, 2011
will take place at 2 Elm St. Bristol, VT 05443.
Community Housing
Inexpensive community housing is available for $20-25 per night. Contact us at ddcv@gmavt.net or call 802-453-3431 if you need housing.
Transportation from Airport/Bus/Train Station
For
those coming from out of town we can arrange transportation for you
from Burlington, VT, which is the closest city to come by plane, train
or bus. We often can also find rides for people coming from Boston or
New York City. We will do whatever we can to help you attend these
teachings, please don't hesitate to contact us and let us know what your
needs are.
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AN ABBREVIATED ACCOUNT OF MY
DHARMA HISTORY
BY KHENPO SAMDRUP
I
was born in Kham, in the Nangchen region of Eastern Tibet. When I was
seven years old I received the vows of Refuge from Garchen Rinpoche, and
at the age of twelve I became ordained as a monk. I learned how to
perform lama dance and pujas, and to play various musical instruments
and so forth. For three years I traveled every winter with Rinpoche
making the rounds to over 15 or so different towns to hold great
accomplishment practices, or drubchens. During the summers we would stay
in retreat at the monastery in Gargon. Not long after that I had the
great fortune of traveling with my kind root lama, Garchen Rinpoche to
Amdo, where I met another extraordinary and highly realized lama, the
Revered Dzogchen master Khenpo Munsel. From this great master I was able
to receive instructions on trekchod and togyal, as well as direct
pointing out instructions on the nature of mind. I also received
teachings on the practices of refuge, the four thoughts that turn the
mind and so on from many of the great Khenpos who were staying there
with Khenpo Munsel. From these experiences I found that my mind had been
deeply transformed. And I realized that to be monk without an authentic
understanding of the Dharma would be of no real benefit, that without
developing the mind through study, contemplation, and meditation, merely
reciting mantras and going through the motions of ritual, it is
difficult to accomplish one's own benefit, let alone the benefit of
others. Not only that, but to sustain and nurture the recognition of
mind's essence one has to meditate. And in order to grasp the profound
meaning of the practices based on the pith instructions it is important
to develop certainty with respect to the meaning of the teachings on The
Middle Way.
Prior to my experience with Khenpo Munsel I had faith and devotion, but I was
lacking understanding. Now I knew that my practice of the Dharma had
been based on blind faith, so from this point on I became especially
interested in the study of Buddhist philosophy, and particularly the
topics of Buddhist logic, reasoning, and the teachings of The Middle
Way. I came to understand that through study and contemplation there
arises a faith that's based on reason.
The main objective of Buddhism is to reach the state of liberation and
complete omniscience, and the path that accomplishes that objective is
the conduct of love and compassion, and bodhicitta, together with the
view of emptiness and karmic interdependence. I felt determined to apply
myself to the practice of study, contemplation, and meditation.
But at that time the Chinese government began to tighten its hold on the
Tibetan people and they were starting to place many restrictions on the
local monasteries. They made a new rule that no monks under the age of
eighteen were allowed to stay at the monastery. So I went home to live
with my family for some time.
Later I heard about the great qualities of the master Khenpo Jigme Puntsok,
and I gave rise to a strong longing to meet him. So before long I set
out on a challenging journey alone to Khenpo Jigme Puntsok's monastery
in Amdo, hoping I would finally be able to devote myself to study,
contemplation, and meditation. It was a far distance away and at that
time in Tibet the condition of the roads was very bad, so there were
very few people traveling that way. It ended up taking me over a month
to get there. When I arrived I found that I was much younger than most
of the monks and I had great difficulty understanding and communicating
because my dialect was so different. There was practically nobody there
from my region at that time so I was quite alone and without any
friends. There are plenty of amusing stories I could tell from those
times, but I won't get into those here.
I was however able to meet with Khenpo Jigme Puntsok and I received many
pith instructions, empowerments and teachings. I also was able to
receive teachings on almost all of the Twelve Great Scriptures from his
main student Khenpo Tsultrim Lodro. I stayed at Khenpo Jigme Puntsok's
for more than four years. During that time I was also able to visit the
great yogi Khenpo Chokyab who resided nearby. It wouldn't be an
exaggeration to say that his level of realization was comparable to that
of Milarepa. From him, I was also very blessed to receive many pith
instructions and clarifications on the meaning of texts.
The number of monks who flocked to receive teachings at the feet of Khenpo
Jigpe Puntsok had been steadily growing by the hundreds, and the Chinese
were becoming nervous. So before long they began to impose restrictions
on the numbers of people permitted to gather there. Once again I
returned to my village where my father started a small school and I
worked as a teacher of reading and writing and giving Dharma teachings
at the local monastery. My own studies however still were not over.
Later I would go on to study for four years at Dzogsar Shedra and then
went on to Kagyu College where I received a graduate degree and taught
for five years.
Given the oppressive atmosphere in Tibet due to the control of the Chinese,
I escaped to India,crossing the Himalayas by foot. When I reached
the Noble land of India I was able to meet and receive the blessings of
H.H. the Dalai Lama. and H.H. Chetsang Rinpoche.
******
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