SAN FRANCISCO
NOVEMBER 3 - 4, 2007
Saturday & Sunday
other dates to be announced
Foundation: Ngondro
The Ngondro, or Preliminary Practices are the foundation of all advanced practices, including those with form (such as Yidam practices, see below) and those that work with pure energy to broach the borders of enlightenment. Taking a year or more to complete, the Foundation Practices consist of five sets of meditations that must each be repeated 100,000 times. These are very practical mental and physical exercises that clear negative imprints, accumulate positive karma, and clear obstacles that would otherwise impede spiritual development. All lineages and sects of Tibetan Buddhism have Ngondro as a prerequisite. The Ngondro of PeGyal Lineup is particularly pithy and profound, so one may enter the practice with a minimum of liturgical "red tape", the hallmark of the Yogic (as opposed to monastic) path.
Yidam 1: Tara
Yidam practice is unique to the Vajrayana system, and possibly the most accessible and powerful spiritual technique on earth. First appearing in the tantric crucibles of Southern and Northwest India from the 4th-8th centuries, these methods were brought to a high level of sophistication and development in the mountain ranges and high valleys of Tibet. Here, in isolation from disruptive and chaotic forces of technological civilization they flourished and were expanded upon, reaching their present form.
There are basically three aspects of Yidam practice: Visualizing one's body as an enlightened form, hearing all sound as mantric vibration, and experiencing all thoughts, sensations and emotions as the Wisdom Mind of the Yidam. This rapidly takes one out of a false, karma-based identity, with its biographical and biological trappings, and brings us close to our true identity of brilliance, purity and freedom. While there are literally hundreds of archetypal forms one may use, Tara is possibly the most renowned and widespread of all Yidam practices of Tibet. However, it is extremely deep and essential spiritual practice. PeGyal Lingpa's Tara contains a condensed version of the usual, extensive Praise of the 21 Taras, such that the full blessings and activity of Tara is accomplished with a more condensed, concise liturgy. Received as a treasure from Guru Rinpoche, this ritual contains blessings that are profound and rapid in their effect.
Chö 1: PeGyal Lingpa Chö
Chö is a remarkable spiritual method developed by MaChik Labdron, perhaps Tibet's greatest female saint. Through this practice one quickly cuts through both egoistic fixation and selfishness, as well as attachment to all our petty hopes and fears. We are introduced directly to our Wisdom self, while clearing mountains of karmic debt from many lifetimes.
PeGyal Lingpa's chö terma was received as a visionary instruction from MaChik Labdron, the creator of this remarkable practice. Since this great sage lived very recently, and his lineage has not yet been dispersed far and wide, it carries great blessings and power. Its value also lies in the fact that it is very concise, easy to practice, and yet extremely profound in its Dzokchen view and activity. And as a complete chö practice, it can be used as a base to which other specialized chö rituals can be appended. This includes the PeGyal Lingpa healing practice, or Changbu, which is taught in Level 2, allowing one to help many beings clear deep-seated karmic obstacles.
Protectors 1: Short SolKa / Ma Dza Dam Sum
Protector practices are essential to our spiritual life. There are so many forces of disruption, deviation and blockage, that without these approaches, our path becomes particularly arduous. These obstacles are both external and internal. On the outer level, sickness, poverty, stress, social and cultural impacts, and all kinds of life demands can hinder and distract us from our true path. Internally, we have a burden of suffering, emotional baggage, ripening karmic seeds and mental confusion that threatens our success in many subtle ways. Protectors are highly wrathful, extremely powerful and uncompromising Wisdom beings that blast through these problems and obstacles. By engaging in these rituals daily, we create a healthy protective "spiritual immune system" which acts as an effective barrier against breaches by anti-spiritual, anti-transformative forces from without and within.
Offering 1: Mar Sur Offering
Smoke offerings are a way of repaying vast karmic debts, as well as sanctifying and pacifying the environment where we do our spiritual practice, as well as where we eat, live, work and play. During Sang or Sur practices, smoke is used a vehicle to transport our visualizations, prayers and spiritual energy into invisible realms. In this way, we can make vast spiritualized offerings to all levels of beings throughout the universe, classified in the Tibetan path as the Four Classes of Guests. This includes both the highest guests, representing all enlightened beings, Buddhas, male and female realized masters and so on. It also extends to all sentient beings: human, animal, and those suffering the greatest hell-like existences, as well as those in the tender trap of false luxury in god-like wealth and richness. Finally it touches on beings that exist in a demonic, ragefull form, caught in cycles of ill-will and desire to destroy, harm and vampirize others without compassion. Karmic debts can thus be repaid, great positive merit accumulated and beings without limit can receive potential benefit, as our practice goes from training to actualization.
