Led by Tsering Drolkar
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019
Time: 1:30-4:30pm
Location: Sakya Monastery Kitchen & Cultural Hall
Class Size Limit: 15
Class fee (to cover cost of ingredients): $35
To register: https://conta.cc/2E9CyLX or contact the office (monastery@sakya.org)
Registration required by Friday, May 3, so we can buy ingredients!

Learn how to make fried pockets of goodness, the Tibetan recipe: Sha-bha-Lap! Traditionally made with meat, there will be a vegetarian option available.

Tse Drolkar has been cooking since age 7, has been a cook at PCC markets for 10 years as well as done many catering events including at the monastery.

Discussion Led by Jeff Schoening
Date: Wednesdays, April 10 & 24, May 8
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Sakya Monastery Cultural Hall
Suggested Donation:
per class: $15 Members, $20 Non-Members
Or, $35 Members/50 Non-Members for the series
Registration link: https://conta.cc/2IaiVY8

In 1265, Chögyal Phakpa composed a verse summary on the main points and practice of the Buddha’s Dharma for Kublai Khan at the Khan’s request. In 1271, Shérap Shönnu, a disciple of Chögyal Phakpa, wrote a prose commentary, Ornament that Explicates the Buddha’s Teaching. In 1976, Āchāryas Lobsang Jamspal and Mañjusiddārtha translated the verses into English prose with the title A Gift of Dharma to Kublai Khan. In this class we will read and discuss a new verse translation of the Gift of Dharma written by Jeff Schoening with Jeff Bennett and Tom Linder, in consultation with Shérap Shönnu’s commentary. In addition to the content of the translation, we will discuss issues encountered and choices made during translation, in order to take a deeper look into the meaning and content of the text. This marvelous treatise leads us into the stages of practice, the deepest view, and its culmination.

Jeffrey Schoening (Upasaka), holds a PhD in Buddhist Studies, and is a longtime member and interpreter at Sakya Monastery of Tibetan Buddhism. Jeff is the author of The Shalistamba Sutra and Its Indian Commentaries (Vienna 1995), a two-volume study of teachings on dependent arising. He served as a health care chaplain at Swedish Medical Center and Northwest Kidney Center and is currently a private practice spiritual director.

Led by Ven. Lekshay Sangpo

Date: Mondays, April 1, 8, 15, 2019
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Sakya Monastery Shrine Room
Suggested Donation per class: $20 Members, $30 Non-Members
Or $50/80 for the series
Registration link: https://conta.cc/2tmy66u

Shamatha (calm abiding) and Vipassana (insight) are ancient types of meditation from India. Each type has its own uses and benefits. The first 2 classes will be learning/practicing Shamatha. Then the 3rd class will teach Vipassana. A daily meditation practice of any type is a very beneficial life-long activity. This class is for both beginners and current practitioners. It is never too soon to learn meditation, but it can sometimes be too late! Venerable Lekshay recommends reading Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki. Please wear loose and comfortable clothing, and beginners, please bring some rolled up fluffy socks for knee support.

Ven. Lekshay Sangpo studied Zen Buddhism for 20 years before becoming a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner in 1994; after seeing The Dalai Lama. He is a student of H.H. Dagchen Rinpoche (d. 2016). He received his novice vows in 2001 and full ordination (Bhikhu) vows in 2005, from H.E. Chogye Trichen Rinpoche (d. 2007) in Nepal. From 2000 until 2015, he lived and taught monks at Tharlam Monastery in Nepal half time. Now he is living mostly in Seattle doing volunteer work, visiting Nepal for a few months each year.

Led by Lama Kelsang
Mondays: March 18, 25
Tuesdays: April 2, 9, 16, 23
Time: 7:00pm
Location: Sakya Monastery Shrine Room
Registration is limited to 6 students. Those 13 years old and older are welcomed to register and attend.
Please register: https://conta.cc/2TNke0K
Suggested donation:
$80 for the series, Members
$100 for the series, Non-Members

For centuries, Dharma students have traditionally studied Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend, for it provides a concise and thorough introduction to the entire Buddhist path practice. By examining the Four Noble Truths and the Six Perfections, Nagarjuna describes logically and poetically the internal patterns of experience which leads a person to Buddhahood.

Please join Lama Kelsang for this weekly Study intensive.

This course is open to all levels of practitioner, teenaged or older. Lama Kelsang only asks that students make a firm commitment to attending class regularly.

NOTE: Class size is limited to 6 students, so please register by March 15, 2019

Ven. Lama Kelsang was born in 1980. In his early twenties, he entered Sakya College in Dehradhun, India, where he took monastic vows. There, he studied Buddhist philosophy for five years. During those years, he also received empowerments and teachings from H.H Dalai Lama, H.H Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, H.E Luding Khen Rinpoche, H.E Thartse Khenpo, and Khenchen Kunga Wangchok. He next went to Nepal’s Tharlam Monastery and completed a Manjushri retreat for three months. He received the Lamdre from H.H. Jidgal Dachen Dorje Chang in 2007. He was appointed as a tutor to H.E Asanga Rinpoche, a position he held from 2008 until 2012. After 2012, he was on a three year retreat. He has completed five times the requisite one-hundred thousand accumulations for the preliminary practices (ngondro) and has also completed the preliminary and main practice of Luminous Great Perfection, and the ritual practices of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition. He has lived at Sakya Monastery since 2017.

Teaching by Lama Kelsang
Translator: Rigdzin Tingkhye
Date: Sunday, Feb 10, 2019
Time: 1:30pm
Location: Sakya Monastery Shrine Room
Suggested Donation: $20 Members, $30 Non-Members

Join us as we gain a better understanding of this profound cycle of teachings and begin to clarify our motivations for practicing the Dharma.

When he was twelve years old, the great Sakyapa Lama Sachen Kunga Nyingpo spent six months in strict retreat doing the practice of Arya Manjushri and as a result, on one occasion he had a direct vision of the deity. The glorious Manjughosha, orange in color, was surrounded by a mass of brilliant light and seated resplendently upon a jeweled throne. He was displaying the mudra of teaching the Dharma, and was flanked on either side by two bodhisattvas. He spoke the following words:

“If you are attached to this life, you are not a true spiritual practitioner.
If you are attached to samsara, you do not have renunciation.
If you are attached to your own self-interest, you have no bodhichitta.
If there is grasping, you do not have the view.”

Ven. Lama Kelsang was born in 1980. In his early twenties, he entered Sakya College in Dehradhun, India, where he took monastic vows. There, he studied Buddhist philosophy for five years. During those years, he also received empowerments and teachings from H.H Dalai Lama, H.H Sakya Trichen Rinpoche, H.E Luding Khen Rinpoche, H.E Thartse Khenpo, and Khenchen Kunga Wangchok. He next went to Nepal’s Tharlam Monastery and completed a Manjushri retreat for three months. He received the Lamdre from H.H. Jidgal Dachen Dorje Chang in 2007. He was appointed as a tutor to H.E Asanga Rinpoche, a position he held from 2008 until 2012. After 2012, he was on a three year retreat. He has completed five times the requisite one-hundred thousand accumulations for the preliminary practices (ngondro) and has also completed the preliminary and main practice of Luminous Great Perfection, and the ritual practices of the Longchen Nyingtik tradition. He has lived at Sakya Monastery since 2017.

Teaching by Ven. Khenpo Jamyang Chopal
Translator: Loppon Geshe Jamyang Tsultrim
Date: Friday & Saturday, January 18-19
Location: Sakya Monastery Shrine Room
Suggested Donation (per session): $20 Members, $30 Non-Members (For all three sessions: $50 Members, $80 Non-Members)

We are pleased to announce this very auspicious three-part teaching given by Khenpo Jamyang Chopal as we welcome him on his first visit to Seattle.

Teaching Schedule
Part One: Friday, January 18, 7:00-8:00pm teaching, followed by 8:00-8:30pm Q/A session
The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma – focusing on the Four Noble Truths

Part Two: Saturday, January 19, 10:00-11:00am teaching, followed by 11:00-11:30am Q/A session
Continuation of The First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma – focusing on the Four Noble Truths

Part Three: Saturday January 19, 1:00 – 2:00pm, followed by Q/A session from 2:00-2:30pm
The Second Turning – The Transcendent Perfection of Wisdom sutras, highlighting the Bodhisattva path and Madhyamaka view.
The Third Turning – Focusing on Buddha Nature according to the Madhyamaka view

Venerable Khenpo Jamyang Chopal was drawn towards the Dharma at a very young age and in 1999, joined the Dzongsar Khyentse Chokyi Lodro Institute, India. Under the guidance of the late respected Khenchen Kunga Wangchuk and other prominent masters, he studied the five volumes: 1) logic, 2) madhyamika, 3) prajnaparamita 4) abhidharma-kosha, 5) vinaya (monastic discipline). In 2002, 2005 and 2007, he successfully obtained his Madyama, Shastra and Masters degrees respectively. The following year, he became an Assistant Instructor and promoted to a full time Philosophy teacher at the Dzongsar Institute. In addition, in 2006 he served as a Chant Master and in 2012 he was selected by the Board as General Secretary of Dzongsar Institute. In 2013, he received the certificate of Khenpo (Doctor of philosophy) from H.E. Khyentse Dzongsar Jamyang Norbu. In 2015, due to his knowledge and position, he was appointed as a special Instructor for H.E Sakya Khöndung Abhaya Vajra Rinpoche and currently remains as his Personal Tutor while simultaneously, also teaching at the Institute.