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The Memphis Heart Sutra Retreat with Ven. Khenpo Gawang Khenpo Gawang had a strong interest in becoming a monk and studying the Buddhist dharma so when he was 10 years old, he entered the Dzogchen Monastery called Marig Munsel (Dispelling the Darkness of Ignorance). He stayed at the monastery until he was 17 when he left to study under Khenpo Karma Tsepten. Khenpo Karma Tsepten was an amazing Dzogchen yogi who lived in retreat at the top of a snow-capped mountain. Khenpo Tsepten never saw a car or modern things. He wore simple clothing and would sit on a yak skin wearing a sheepskin coat. He would teach at 10 in the morning for a few hours on the days when he wanted to give teachings. Once Khenpo Tsepten began teaching a particular text, he would continue the teachings, even if it snowed, until finished. After Khenpo Tsepten passed away, Khenpo Gawang stayed in retreat for a few months practicing the ngondro and then journeyed to South India to Namdroling Monastery, home to one of the best shedras ( Buddhist schools) in all of India, Nepal and Bhutan. There, he continued his studies earning degrees in Madhayamaka, Prajnaparamita and Mantrayana. Khenpo Gawang studied the Mantrayana chiefly under His Holiness Penor Rinpoche, abbott of Namdrolling Monastery, from whom he received many abhishekas, reading transmissions and oral instructions. Khenpo Gawang has been teaching classes on Madhyamaka, valid cognition and grammar at Namdrolling Monastery since 1999. Now whenever Khenpo Gawang goes back to Namdroling, he continues to teach various subjects. He tought there this March and April and is presently teaching in Europe and the USA. During his time at Namdroling, Khenpo Gawang met Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche, head of the Shambhala Buddhist lineage. In 2003, Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche invited Khenpo Gawang to come to the West. Khenpo Gawang will be teaching his first week long retreat in the Southern United States at Dragon Seat Meditation Center in Memphis, TN. Visit Khenpo Gawang's website for his complete schedule. |
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Joining us at Dragon Seat for the middle part of the Heart Sutra retreat is Ms. Cynthia Moku from Boulder, CO . Ms. Moku is a thangka painter and long time Buddhist practitioner who has studied Japanese calligraphy for many years. She will be leading exercises in the afternoon using ink and brushes to give retreatants a direct experience of these teachings. Ms. Moku teaches at Naropa University in Boulder and in the US and Europe. Visit Ms. Moku's website |
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Meditation and contemplation sessions will be led by Ms. Candia Ludy, Director of Dragon Seat Meditation Center. Ms. Ludy has been a student of Shambhala and Tibetan Buddhism since 1980. The retreat will begin at 7 PM on July 22nd with an orientation and opening talk by Khenpo Gawang. The retreat will end on July 30th at 3 PM with a reception. The daily schedule begins at 9 AM and ends at 5:30 PM. There will be optional activities at night for English speakers and a 7 PM Vietnamese translation of Khenpo Gawang's talks at the Vietnamese Temple next door. If you cannot attend the whole retreat, please come for part of it. We would appreciate knowing when you will be with us so we can make enough lunch and have a seat ready for you. If you have your own cushion or bench, please bring it. Cost: We are asking for a donation of $200 to cover the costs for the retreat which includes simple vegetarian lunches. This retreat is open to everyone regardless of abiility to pay. Note: This donation does not cover the teacher's gift which is private and given at the end of the retreat. Dragon Seat Meditation Center, Pema Karpo Institute and Pho Da Vietnamese Temple welcome you to this retreat. Contact Dragon Seat for more information and to make your reservation. |
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Taking Refuge In The Three Jewels and Three Roots, I Vow To Work For The Benefit Of Beings Until All Are Liberated
