Category Archives: Uncategorized

37 practices: the six paramitas (verses 25-30)

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

This post is just a placeholder for now but I’ll come back and write an overview of the six paramitas, aka perfections, aka transcending actions, which actually take us to the other shore. Meanwhile, there’s an individual post for each … Continue reading →

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OPL8: chapter 4: impermanence of the composite

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

With chapter 4, we arrive at the heart of Gamopa’s Ornament of Precious Liberation. Here, in the instructions of the dharma master, which comprise the next 16 chapters of the book, the actual path begins, and our first stop is … Continue reading →

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OPL7: three prerequisites and four obstacles

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

Before we step onto the path to buddhahood, or set out in our boat to the other shore, let’s take a moment to make sure we’ve packed everything we need for the trip, and consult our map for a brief … Continue reading →

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OPL6: The condition: relying on an authentic teacher

Posted on January 27, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

Waking up in this life is the most difficult and most consequential thing we could possibly imagine. Why would we think that we could do it ourselves? Why would we not want to take advantage of others who have been … Continue reading →

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OPL5: Chapter 2: The support: a precious human existence

Posted on January 22, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

So now we have a compelling reason to want to wake up, AND our first prerequisite is checked off! The first prerequisite, buddha nature, is pretty much all good news: this simple and powerful potential to purify all our obscurations … Continue reading →

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OPL3: The case for awakening

Posted on January 11, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

Gampopa Sonam Rinchen, the 12th-century physician from Dakpo who entered monastic life after his wife and two children died in an epidemic, and who went on to “unite the two streams” of practice and establish the Kagyu Lineage that continues … Continue reading →

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OPL2: A note on translations and titles

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

The very first English translation of Gampopa’s 12th-century guidebook to awakening, by the German scholar Herbert Guenther, was published in 1959, and reissued in 1971 with a cover design and foreword by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche. It thus has excellent credentials … Continue reading →

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OPL1: Who was Gampopa?

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Yeshe Chödrön

Here begins our next class, on the essential comprehensive Kagyu guide to the path of awakening, Gampopa’s Ornament of Precious Liberation, aka, Jewel Ornament of Liberation. Class info is above, in “About the Gampopa OPL study guide.” When Guru Vajradhara … Continue reading →

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Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche’s visit to KTC Monastery October 2018

Posted on November 2, 2018 by Yeshe Chödrön

KTC had a wonderful visit from Kyabje Kalu Rinpoche October 20-22, 2018. Videos of his teachings are available at this link. There is a fee for most of them to help support visiting teachers and livestreaming of teachings. However, the … Continue reading →

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And let it begin with me

Posted on October 8, 2018 by Yeshe Chödrön

Before I get started on the Gampopa Ornament of Precious Liberation class notes, here’s a short presentation I gave a couple of weeks ago at an interfaith prayer service in Richmond, Virginia. Organized by Chaplain David Curtis at Westminster Canterbury … Continue reading →

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