Emaho's Student-Led Discussions have been powerful tools for ZaChoeje Rinpoche's students. By exploring a topic taken from the teachings of Buddhism, students gain a valuable opportunity to dive deeply into a subject and then share their knowledge with others. Rinpoche asks his students to research a variety of dharma texts and resources and bring together many teachings and viewpoints.
Students have commented that this practice has been both challenging and rewarding. Bringing together a presentation for others adds a different dimension to one's study. Knowing that the material is to be presented, the student knows that his or her understanding of the topic needs to be more organized, and more comprehensive. The richness and depth of Buddhism's often complex philosophy is challenging, yet it rewards the student willing to explore the teachings in this different way.
We are all fortunate that we can learn together in this time-honored manner.
Thursday January 4 - Steve Ullman
Life Story of Shantideva
Steve Ullman will give a short talk on the life of Shantideva, the great Indian master best known for writing A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life .
Steve has been studying Mahayana Buddhism with ZaChoeje Rinpoche for four years. Previously, he took Sutra teachings in New York with the Venerable Thupten Puntsok, as well as other lay and ordained Buddhist teachers.
Thursday January 25 - James Riviezzo
Compassion and Wisdom: Two Wings
In Tibetan Buddhism, wisdom and compassion are considered the two most important aspects of practice. Just like a bird needs two wings to fly, wisdom and compassion support our ability to soar to our ultimate potential for happiness.
Rinpoche says as we live our lives we construct the story of who we are on a continual basis. We construct a solid wall of separation between us and others, driven by a fundamental ignorance. This conditioned ignorance perceives our self as permanent and unchanging and we grasp to that idea. This grasping is the root of all of our suffering. As we begin to cultivate the wisdom of dependent origination and impermanence of self, the walls we create begin to weaken and eventually fall. We break down the idea of self and other and begin to open our selves to our compassionate nature and experience an existence free from suffering.
In this discussion we will explore the interdependence of a wisdom that understands reality, and a compassion that includes all beings starting with our selves.
Born in New York, James studied fine arts and philosophy until drawn to Arizona by the spacious nature of the desert environment. James has received teachings from our great teacher ZaChoeje Rinpoche as part of Emaho for five years. James currently works as a graphic designer and serves on the Board of Directors of Emaho Foundation.
Thursday February 22 - Chris Young
Nature of Liberation
The actual discipline of practicing Buddhism is to engage in special training that aims to remove all of the obstacles to our happiness and freedom. Buddhists call this complete freedom "Liberation," which is the ultimate fruit, or result, of genuine spiritual practice. In this discussion we will examine the nature of Liberation and try to clarify some of the practices described by the Buddha to attain this great jewel of freedom.
Chris has been studying Buddhism since 2001 under the compassionate guidance of his teachers, ZaChoeje Rinpoche and Merrie Frasier. He lives with his wife, Tanya, Bando the dog, and Cloud the cat. His greatest wish is that through great love and great compassion, we will all begin to unconditionally support and help each other in this life and beyond. Chris is currently the Information Technology Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona. He writes: This opportunity to share our practice is wonderful! I hope that we will all learn more about Buddhism, apply its techniques to our daily lives, and quickly save all beings from suffering!
Thursday March 1 - D.J.
12 Links of Dependant Origination
Existence is dependant on certain causes. All phenomena and awareness is part of a cycle. In this discussion we'll explore the pathway of cyclic existence. We will use the basic outline of the 12 links of dependant origination: ignorance, mental formation, consciousness, name and form, the six senses, contact, craving, clinging, becoming, birth, and aging and death. Fortunately for us this outline is easy to understand, making the idea of dependant origination accessible for each of us.
D.J. writes: Conceived in Sedona during the late summer of 1958, D.J. was born in Phoenix on June first of 1959. At the age of seven he began searching for a sensible belief system. He rode his bicycle to various neighborhood churches on Sundays and attended religious services with a variety of family members. Throughout his life he researched belief in a myriad of forms. At age eighteen he finally settled on Buddhism as his path. While he claims to not know much about "Buddhism" he is known to contemplate most the teachings of emptiness and no self.
Thursday March 15 - Donna Tash
Buddha's Life story
The discussion on the life of the Buddha will address the significant historical events and Dharma teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Donna Tash has been studying under ZaChoeje Rinpoche since the end of 2002. She had the privilege to join the India tour in 2005. She serves Emaho Foundation as a Board of Director member and videographer.
Thursday April 5 - Molly Riviezzo
How compassion helps us and others
Thursday April 19 - Donna Tash
Six Perfections: Six stories Illustrating the Perfections
The path to becoming a Bodhisattva incorporates the six perfections or paramitas. These are generosity, morality, patience, enthusiasm, meditation, and wisdom. In this discussion, metaphors illustrating the six perfections will be presented.
Donna Tash has been studying under ZaChoeje Rinpoche since the end of 2002. She had the privilege to join the India tour in 2005. She serves Emaho Foundation as a Board of Director member and videographer.
Thursday May 10 - Lou Ann Behringer
Meaning of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs
Tibetan symbols and motifs used in Vajrayana Buddhism's complex iconographical metaphysical system and their symbolic meaning is a rich inspirational tapestry that engages the mind with pictures of the stages of the path to enlightenment. We will take a few of the vast and profound images and explore their visionary meaning.
Lou Ann Behringer is one of the many volunteers at Emaho Center. She writes: it is with deepest gratitude that I look to ZaChoeje Rinpoche with inspiration, aspiration and faith. May His life be long for the sake of all.
Tuesday May 29 - Daniel Liebedies
Life story of Nagarjuna
"Nagarjuna (c. 150 - 250 AD) was an Indian philosopher, the founder of the Madhyamaka (Middle Path) school of Mahayana Buddhism, and arguably the most influential Buddhist thinker after the Gautama Buddha himself. His writings were the basis for the formation of the Madhyamika (Middle Way) school . He is credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras, and was closely associated with the Buddhist university of Nalanda." (Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagarjuna ) Studying his life story may strengthen our personal understanding of complex but integral themes, such as emptiness, and provide us with great inspiration on our spiritual journeys.
Daniel writes: I consider myself very fortunate to have studied under the guidance of an exemplary spiritual master, ZaChoeje Rinpoche, for nearly three years. My curiosity about meditation in pursuit of inner peace and true happiness were greatly rewarded when I set foot in Emaho's meditation center. With a Christian background, I initially struggled to comprehend the fundamentals of Buddhism but I find myself reconciling many of the teachings of both faiths and have only deepened my respect for all spiritual paths. Practicing with other devoted students provides me with tremendous peace and joy and I try my best to reciprocate the mutual love and kindness I experience in our spiritual community.
Thursday June 7 - Ira Pettit
Shamata: Single-Pointed Meditation
Shamatha is a meditative state of calm concentration in which the mind stays fixed on an object of meditation, effortlessly and without distraction. Through the practice of shamatha, we are trying to connect with the basic nature of our mind. With the practice of shamatha, we get closer and closer to our mind, seeing it just as it is.
Ira writes: I have studied under ZaChoeje Rinpoche since shortly after meeting him in October 2002. I've also been very fortunate to attend teachings given by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama over the past three years. I've given the announcements at Emaho's dharma teachings for over 2-1/2 years and briefly served as financial manager for Emaho Foundation.
Thursday June 21 - [cancelled]
Donna Wood
Mystical/Mythical Side of Buddhism: Metaphors for the Inconceivable, Inexpressible.
What is myth and what is its role in Tibetan Buddhism? According to Webster's dictionary, myth is defined as "a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon". In this discussion we will, together, explore what role mythology plays in Tibetan Buddhism and why it is important in our lives today.
Donna Wood has been a very fortunate student of Venerable ZaChoeje Rinpoche since 1999. She is a community volunteer and business owner residing in Phoenix with her husband, two dogs and "Buddy-sattva" the cat. Through the insightful, humorous and exemplary teachings of Rinpoche, she has been able to find her path and has been blessed with opportunity for growth, celebration and more peace in her life today.
Thursday July 5 - ernie stewart
1 Small Shift from the Clouds to the Sky
Here even the various mind-pleasing blossoming flowers
and attractive shining supreme golden houses
have no inherently existent maker at all.
They are set up through the power of thought.
Through the power of conceptuality the world is established.
BUDDHA
When you develop a rough idea of what it means to be dependent on thought, you ask yourself whether persons and things usually appear this way or not.
His Holiness the DALAI LAMA
A discussion about the difficulties of getting pulled into the clouds of ideas.
ernie stewart, student of ZA CHOEJE RINPOCHE
Thursday July 19 - D. J.
The Nature and Existence of Self
D. J. will lead the discussion on the Nature of Self.
D. J. writes:
Conceived in Sedona during the late summer of 1958 D.J. was born in Phoenix on June first of 1959. At the age of seven D.J. began searching for a sensible belief system. He rode his bicycle to various neighborhood churches on Sundays and attended religious services with a variety of family members. Throughout his life he researched belief in a myriad of forms. At age eighteen he finally settled on Buddhism as his path. While he claims to not know much about "Buddhism" he is known to contemplate most the teachings of emptiness and no self.
Thursday August 2 - James Riviezzo
Generating Bodchitta
Cultivation of the Four Immeasurables
The Four immeasurables are included in the preliminary of all practices at Emaho.
Wishes for happiness to all sentient beings and compassion are spoken of as skillful means. What does this have to do with mind training? How does reaching happiness depend on the well being of others? In this talk we explore compassion as wisdom and the true nature of self as it relates to Buddhist thought.
Thursday August 16 - MaryKaye Moses
Preliminary Practice, Altar Setup, Water Bowl Offerings
We will learn how to set up a personal altar and how to make water bowl offerings, activities that are an integral part of the preliminary practices taught by Buddha. Why have daily altars? ZaChoeje tells us an altar holds images or representations of the Buddha's enlightened body, speech and mind which serve as reminders of the goal of Buddhist practice. Rinpoche tells us the reason for setting up an altar is not for fame, for showing off wealth, or to increase pride, but rather it is to reduce one's mental afflictions and to seek the ability to help all sentient beings. We will set up an altar and talk about why things are done in certain ways, ways that will help us to acquaint our minds to daily preliminary practice.
MaryKaye was awakened to Buddhism in 2002 and had found great peace and serenity in the challenges of studying the often complex depth of Buddhist philosophy. Finding her precious teacher ZaChoeje Rinpoche has been more than her dreams could imagine. MaryKaye lives in Scottsdale, is a realtor and has a son who lives in the Valley.
Thursday September 13 - Lisa Meyer
Stopping Karma
Produced by the delusions of attachment, hatred and ignorance, negative karma produces suffering in our lives. Although we are unable to cease the accumulation of negative karma completely as long as we have delusions, through the practice of the four opponent powers we can purify these negative karmic tendencies. This discussion will include an overview of the types of karma (contaminated and non-contaminated), karmic seeds and imprints, and the means of purification.
S
ince meeting her spiritual teacher ZaChoeje Rinpoche in the fall of 2001, Lisa's spiritual path has been profoundly enriched. Lisa is honored to be on the Board of Directors of Emaho Foundation. A retired pathologist, she also enjoys serving the community as a Hospice volunteer.
Thursday September 27 - Melissa Smith-Beckner
Selflessness of person according to the Parsankika Madhyamika
If I had an accident and lost my sight, if I was raised in a different culture, if I didn't have the opportunity to go to school, if I was a Taurus instead of a Virgo or a dancer instead of a banker - would I be essentially the same person? Through the years, am I essentially the same person? Your average person living from day to day would be inclined to say "um, aahhh, yeah probably." But the Prasangika Madhyamika says that this view is deluded. It says if I make a habit of looking for what is essentially Me that I will find only ideas based on many causes and conditions. It says that Me is a mundane concept, a made up story, the belief in which is the major road block to enlightenment.
Melissa writes: Native of Pittsburgh, I moved to Phoenix in 2002 and married Rick and his two boys in 2003. A banker for 20 years, ballet student for 12 years before that, now eagerly awaiting an opportunity for my next career change. Started studying Buddhism in 2000 when asked to help with fund raising for a tour group from Drepung Monastery. Found Rinpoche and the Emaho sangha in 2004 and have been loving them ever since!
Thursday October 4 - Lou Ann Behringer
Wisdom of The Heart Sutra
The Heart Sutra is one the most important, direct, succinct, critical teachings given by Buddha Shakyamuni. It is about the heart of our being, the true nature of our being; the heart of reality, the true nature of reality. It is a subtle teaching, a profound teaching, a teaching touching the essence of truth; it is the heart, the core, the center from which if we get a correct glimpse of its wisdom the glimpse and its implications will impact our lives as the beating of our heart impacts our existence.
Lou Ann Behringer is one of the many volunteers at Emaho Center. She writes: it is with deepest gratitude that I look to ZaChoeje Rinpoche with inspiration, aspiration and faith. May His life be long for the sake of all.
Thursday October 25 - Regula Stewart
Faith
The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment Vol 1 says: " Faith is a pre-requisite of all good qualities - a procreator of them, like a mother, who then protects and increases them."
Faith and devotion are such beautiful, but often misunderstood qualities. In Buddhism there are three kinds of faith: admiring faith, inspiring faith and trust.
We will discuss what faith and devotion are from a Buddhist view, what some misconceptions are, what their benefits are and how to strengthen these qualities in us. I hope that the discussion will help you towards a basic understanding of faith and devotion, so when you read the scriptures about it, you will have some guidelines on how to interpret it for your spiritual practice.
Regula Stewart is a student of ZaChoeje Rinpoche and a practicing psychotherapist in Flagstaff.
Thursday November 29 - Sylvia Berk
Eight Fold Path
Thursday December 13 - Skip Wharton
Three Principle Aspects of the Path
The great Lama Je Tsongkapa wrote the original verses of The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, a short and profound work that comprises the three aspects of the path necessary to enlightenment, the ultimate happiness state. The three are a strong and sincere wish to be free from Samsara and to attain Bodchitta and the correct understanding of emptiness. We all want freedom but we need to know how know how to cut the root to our ties to Samara. To do that Je Tsongkhapa tells us in this work that we must understand the nature of reality.
Skip Wharton studied Zoology and Geography in college and has been a grateful student of Rinpoche since 2002. He lives with his dog Beau in Sun City
Thursday December 27- Rick Weir
Preparing the mind for death
Analysis of death is not for the sake of becoming fearful but to take advantage and appreciate this precious human life. The study of the death process helps us become acquainted with death so we may be better able to further our practice during death and Bardo. The masters have taught us the stages of death. As we become familiar with them, we prepare our mind for the eventful experience.
Rick is a volunteer with Emaho and writes: I feel most fortunate in finding Rinpoche and the Dharma. Study with Rinpoche has enriched my life immeasurably.
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