Public meditation course at KIBI 2016

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, will lead the 6th annual Public Meditation Course at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi, India, from 24 December 2016 to 2 January 2017.

There will be the opportunity to learn Calm Abiding Meditation (Sanskrit: Shamatha; Tibetan: Shinay) to calm the mind, and prepare it for Insight Meditation (Sanksrit: Vipassana; Tibetan: Lhaktong).

Each day there will be a session of meditation on Chenresig (Sanskrit: Avalokiteshvara), the Buddha of Compassion.

In addition, there will be teachings about the Preliminary Practices (Tibetan: Ngöndro), the traditional preparations for Mahamudra Meditation, as well as the opportunity to practice them.

Previous courses have covered the so-called Common Preliminary Practices, also known as the Four Thoughts that Turn the Mind Away from Samsara and Towards Enlightenment, as well as the first two of the Uncommon Preliminary Practises: Taking Refuge and Developing The Enlightened Attitude, and purification of negative karma through the practice of Dorje Sempa (Sanskrit: Vajrasattva).

This year, the focus will be on the third of the Uncommon Preliminary Practices: the Mandala Offering. In this meditation one offers a symbolic ideal universe, which helps the practitioner let go of attachment and clinging, thereby accumulating immense merit.

For those who wish to take the Sojong Vows in the morning there will be an opportunity to do so every day.

Thaye Dorje, His Holiness the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, will teach, as well as Lama Sherab Gyaltsen Rinpoche and Ven. Dupon Nyigyam.

For more information about the course, and to register, see the KIBI website.

Participants at the public meditation course. Photo / Thule Jug