How do you feel about technology – Smartphones, Laptops, Apps, Websites, Social Media, Email? Love it? Hate it? Love it and Hate it?
If you’re like me, you have mixed feelings, but it’s hard to deny the pervasive and powerful presence of technology in our lives today.
One use of technology that I have zero qualms about, that I have, in fact, seen help many people in a beautiful way is the Buddhist Studies Institute.
Here technology makes possible for the Buddhist teachings to be shared via online classes, retreats and trainings to people living around the world.
Right now, a major upgrade is needed to keep the teachings possible in this way. The old systems are too cumbersome, out of date and not in sync with one another. It can’t continue.
Won’t you help? $50,000 will fund a major, much needed upgrade of the digital infrastructure. Both large and small donations will help this goal be reached.
Gifts can also be made by check, payable to Ngakpa International, and mailed to Dakini Mountain, P.O. Box 2396, Nevada City, California 95959, USA.
Ngakpa International is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit EIN 68-0529687 and all gifts are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Dakini Mountain Retreat Center
P.O. Box 2396 Nevada City, California 95946 USA
May we all be more powerful in the most kind way.
Wishing you the best,
Janak
Janak Kimmel Director of Fundraising Ngakpa International Buddhist Studies Institute www.buddhiststudiesinstitute.org P.O. Box 2396 Nevada City, California 95946 USA
Ngondro Training Heart of the Vast Expanse with Pema Khandro
Module 1 begins January 29
Mondays Online
5pm Los Angeles PT | 8pm New York ET | 12pm Sydney AET
Ngondro presents the core practices of Buddhist psychology, working with core needs in identity, relationality, forgiveness and repair, resources and the sense of empowerment. Join Pema Khandro and the Buddhist Studies Institute for a journey into Ngongro, the core practice of Buddhist tantra.
Ngondro meditation is the foundation of a solid experience of spiritual growth. Ngondro refers to a series of meditation practices for purifying, training and empowering the mind & body.
Ngondro means ‘before going.’ In traditional Vajrayana practice, it represents the cognitive, physical, emotional and philosophical components which are keys to the practice of liberation. It is the basis for all Vajrayana practice and thus it is used as a the pre-requisite for the great practices of the Vajrayana tradition. However, ngondro itself is a beloved meditation series for its own sake. It is often practiced many times throughout a life cycle by great yogis of the Nyingma tradition such as Patrul Rinpoche (eighteenth century).
Without proper instruction ngondro can be incredibly complex and difficult. This course offers a simple, thorough, direct and supported experience of ngondro – making the heart essence of Vajrayana accessible for serious practitioners.
1pm Los Angeles PT | 4pm New York ET | 9pm London GMT
People all over the world have turned to Buddhist meditation as a source of wisdom. Meditation offers a powerful method to access a sense of spaciousness, peace and authentic presence. The practical benefits of meditation are well documented. Research shows it improves mood, reduces stress (Brown & Warren 2003), it improves memory, visuospatial reasoning, sustained attention and executive brain function (Zeidan et al. 2010). It reduces sub-clinical depression and anxiety (Schreiner and Malcolm 2012).
From a Buddhist point of view, when we know how to meditate, we learn how to work with mind and emotions. We have a practice for unraveling conditioned scripts and unconscious habits. Meditation is a pathway to discovering human goodness by making peace with our mind. Ultimately it is a method for getting free from dissatisfaction, resolving confusion and waking up to see reality more clearly.
The Meditation Instructor Training supplies the fundamental knowledge and experience necessary to lead meditation classes and one-day meditation intensives.
3 Modules
Traditional Meditation
Teaching Practicum
Teaching Ethics
This training is a pre-requisite for the Chaplaincy Certificate offered summer of 2024.
12pm Los Angeles PT | 3pm New York ET | 8pm London GMT
January 1st is the kick-off to our 40 day meditation marathon. This is an invitation to practice every single day for 40 days from January 1st to Losar on February 10th. It’s so wonderful to be able to share this commitment with others and we invite you to join us every day for our free Daily Meditation sessions. Each 30 minute session is lead by an Certified Meditation Instructor from the Buddhist Studies Institute. Whether you practice on your own time or join us live, we will celebrate all those who complete the 40 day marathon at our Losar Event on February 12.
Finish 2023 strong/start 2024 on a sure foot with accessible dharma study online.
“Ongoing study of Buddhism is a potent way to find inspiration, clarity and reset your mindset. Over the long term, dharma study has an extraordinary result – it changes the way we see our world and opens us to a sense of natural goodness. In the past access to such study has limited who can study Buddhism and when.
In the past serious study required learning a foreign language, quitting one’s job to do extended retreat, travel to foreign countries along with all its perils of illness, high expenses and dubious access.
But the power of modern technology breaks through these obstacles. Access to Buddhist philosophy and practice is more possible than ever – even for those with full busy lives. Tibet’s Buddhist Yogis have demonstrated the possibility of balancing spiritual development with commitment to family, work and society.” ~Pema Khandro
