Wisdom
Play in the Illusion
June 2022
Each day, we live our lives as the self we think we are. Yet the real nature of this “me” eludes us; is it the parts of us, or separate from our parts Recognizing that it does not exist truly lets us play in the illusion of how we appear, and to have fun with the possibilities of becoming our best self, who can love and care for all.
The Angel Debates the Devil
February 2022
His Holiness the First Panchen Lama wrote a profound debate between the Angel, representing wisdom, and the Devil, representing the misperceptions that cause us suffering. This argument plays out in our lives as we approach every action of our day: will we use our knowledge, or will we allow our habitual patterns to run the show? This class shares insights and personal experiences to make sure that wisdom wins the day.
Dream of a Midsummer Night
August 2015
Come explore insights and meditations on emptiness, and have fun searching for the thing that is not there. Experience meditations that are focused upon the truth of “emptiness:” the fact that there is nothing in our lives which is not coming from how we treat others around us. Using logical reasoning, explore the play of illusion we project onto the blank screen of our lives and learn how to awaken from the dream of misperceptions we live by. Once we see that the way things truly work in the world is completely different than what we have always thought, we can realize new possibilities for happiness!
Meditations on the Diamond Cutter Sutra
May 2018
During the last two years, Venerable Chunzom has taught upon the great ideas of the Diamond Cutter Sutra. We’ve used the ancient Indian commentary of Master Kamalashila, with secrets that haven’t been explored for over a thousand years.
In the final teaching of this series, the Buddha answers five mysterious questions from his student, Subhuti:
1) How do I build a Buddha paradise?
2) Is the Diamond Cutter a book, or an idea?
3) How can you write if the pen never touches the paper?
4) How did I help make the Buddha get enlightened, before I even met him?
5) Should I say I know, when I do, or say I don’t?
Somewhere in the answers to these questions is the key to getting everything we want in our life. We’ll explore the inside of our minds in meditations on these questions.
Meditations on the Diamond Cutter Sutra
February 2018
Enjoy inner success all day! Master Kamalashila’s book called The Meaning of the Diamond Cutter teaches us to meditate for knowledge that will make every moment successful. Come meditate to deepen your understanding how the wisdom of the Diamond Cutter Sutra can create a meaningful life. Venerable Chunzom will highlight some of the extraordinary meditations that have been taught on this text over the past years in New York City.
Master Kamalashila:
Meditations on the Diamond Cutter Sutra
5 classes in course
Spring 2017
Lord Buddha gives us a roadmap for reaching enlightenment and entering a diamond body that simultaneously serves all living beings, everywhere.
Master Kamalashila's meditations will guide us all the way!
Diamond Cutter Review
February 2017
Meditations that highlight the wisdom of the Diamond Cutter Sutra, come from a commentary by Master Kamalashila. This Meditation Review class gives a deeper understanding of the sutra and prepared students for a February 2017 teaching in NYC.
Meditation Masterpieces
5 classes in course
June 2016
Design a successful meditation practice that helps you to live with wisdom and love all day. This series of classes reveals a beautiful lifestyle that makes every meditation a masterpiece. Master Kamalashila’s Stages of Meditation will refine your art of meditation, as his exceptional presentation on The Meaning of the Diamond Cutter exquisitely exhibits what to focus on during your daily meditation to make your day, your life, exactly how you wish it to be.
The Garden of Higher Truth
May 2010
Everyone wants to be happy all the time; no one wants to feel pain. Therefore, we search for the things we like and avoid the things we don’t like. This causes negative emotions to flourish and destroys our kindness to others.
The only way to stop the bitter fruit that such emotions are certain to bear is to understand where things in our world truly come from.
Prince Siddhartha settled under a tree in India 2,500 years ago as a suffering man, and discovered the answers to his pain in Four Higher Truths. Each Truth brings us
closer to creating a unique garden of life, a place with only happiness for all.
Diamond Cutter Sutra
8 classes in course
January 2008
The Key to Destroying Unhappiness
In Sunlight for the Path to Freedom, Chone Drakpa Shedrup’s commentary on this sutra, we learn to create many great mountains of merit and purify lifetimes of negativities.
What does it actually mean to find happiness? The keys to the actual meaning and ways of going about this goal are dealt with in the Diamond Cutter Sutra. These talks dive into one of the direct teachings on why we suffer, methods on how to end it, and the ways to help others. The Diamond Cutter classes are about the heart of this ancient wisdom: emptiness. Through commentary from many masters and the original teachings of Lord Buddha, we learn that enlightenment isn’t in India or even after death. It’s in the world right in front of our eyes.
All we have to do is wake up to this reality, see emptiness directly. The Diamond Cutter Sutra is the dawning sun that ends the darkness of suffering.
Perfection of Wisdom
5 classes in course
December 2008
All teachings lead to wisdom. Gyaltsab Je’s (1364-1432) famous commentary Entry Point for Children of the Victorious Buddhas cuts to the most important aspect
of all Buddhist wisdom: emptiness, the truth of how nothing is what it appears to be. “The Perfection of Wisdom” uncovers the emptiness in every object, every person, and every situation we will ever meet. How can we turn this wisdom to our advantage?
This class unveils Gyaltsab Je’s commentary as well as the original source by Master Shantideva: A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. These classes unfold over a series of beautiful, guided talks into the heart of Buddhism.