Teachings with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Heruka Vajrasattva Tsog
Thu Apr 4, 7:30-8:30pm EDT ONLINE
Teachings with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Attachment and Enjoyment – Licking Honey from a Razor’s Blade
Fri Apr 5, 7:30-9pm EDT IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Breaking Free from the Endless Prison of Samsara
Sat Apr 6, 10:30am-4:30pm EDT IN-PERSON & ONLINE
~NEW~ Post-Teaching Snacks and Cittamani Tara Puja
Sat Apr 6: Snacks 4:30-5:15pm EDT IN-PERSON; Puja 5:15-7pm EDT IN-PERSON & ONLINE
The Heart of the Path – Guru Devotion
Sun Apr 7, 10:30am-4:30pm EDT IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Heruka Vajrasattva Tsog
Thu Apr 4, 7:30-8:30pm ONLINE
Geshe Zopa will be the Vajra Master and Jennifer Kim will be the umdze for the online Heruka Vajrasattva tsog offering ceremony. This practice has the power to purify negative energy, which is the main thing preventing us from actualizing the path to enlightenment. The practice consists of a series of requesting verses combined with the recitation of the hundred-syllable mantra of Vajrasattva. This Heruka Vajrasattva practice includes tsog: an offering ceremony that represents assembling all of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in a visualization of a sacred dance.
To register or learn more about this ceremony, please click here. All are welcome to participate.
Attachment and Enjoyment – Licking Honey from a Razor’s Blade
Fri Apr 5, 7:30-9pm IN-PERSON & ONLINE
In this thought-provoking analogy, attachment is like honey on a razor blade. The honey tastes so sweet and delicious when we are enjoying it, that we are unaware of the harmful consequences of attachment. This is the deceptive quality of attachment. Geshe Zopa will experientially guide us so that we can see how our mind infused with attachment leaves us unfulfilled, and contrast this with cultivating an attitude of enjoyment aligned with true happiness.
Breaking Free from the Endless Prison of Samsara
Sat Apr 6, 10:30am-4:30pm IN-PERSON & ONLINE
And from the two the seven come,
From seven the three come once again—
Thus the wheel of existence turns and turns.
Verses on the Heart of Dependent Origination by Ārya Nāgārjuna (v. 3)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama frequently mentions that the philosophical view of Buddhism is dependent arising, and its conduct is not harming others. Geshe Zopa will elaborate on Ārya Nāgārjuna’s extremely concise text to illuminate how all our experiences of happiness and unhappiness arise from their related causes and conditions. We will gain a deeper understanding of our habitual psychological processes that keep us trapped in a cycle of discontent, and most importantly, insight into how we might thrive and flourish.
~NEW~Post-Teaching Snacks – Mezze After Middle Way
Sat Apr 6, 4:30-5:15pm IN-PERSON
After Saturday’s teachings on the Middle Way, join us for a delicious mezze platter with healthy delights to nourish our bodies after we’ve just nourished our minds. Then stay for an energetic Tara puja to help clear away karmic obstacles for success.
~NEW~Cittamani Tara Puja
Sat Apr 6, 5:15-7pm IN-PERSON & ONLINE
Join us to clear away obstacles and accumulate energy on the path to enlightenment! Geshe Zopa will be the Vajra Master and Jennifer Kim will be the umdze for this practice invoking Cittamani Tara, who is well-known as a source of swift assistance in all temporal and spiritual matters. She is called upon to bring worldly success, protection from all negativities and fears, and swift assistance on our spiritual journey.
To register or learn more about this ceremony, please click here. All are welcome to participate.
The Heart of the Path – Guru Devotion
Sun Apr 7, 10:30am-4:30pm IN-PERSON & ONLINE
In Buddhism, the teacher-student relationship is precious because teachers connect our minds with the Dharma, the source of ultimate happiness. But must we regard all dharma teachers as our Guru? What does Guru devotion mean? Might a teacher be just a spiritual friend or spiritual mentor? What are the benefits of having a teacher? How do I find a teacher suitable for me? How do I practice after my teacher passes away? In the context of our contemporary culture, what are the misunderstandings that might arise from cultural expectations and language differences?
Geshe Zopa has the perfect background and perspective to discuss the complexity and nuances of teacher-student relationships, and this is an ideal opportunity to directly ask Geshe-la all your questions.
Please join us on March 23 for a viewing of “Unmistaken Child,” a documentary film which follows the 4-year-journey of Geshe Tenzin Zopa to identify the reincarnation of his beloved teacher, the renowned master Geshe Lama Konchog.
For more information on this topic, please explore the book and articles by Dr. Alexander Berzin:
Wise Teacher Wise Student: Tibetan Approaches To A Healthy Relationship (Book)
Spiritual Teachers (Articles)
Important Note
This is an in-person and online event. Please review our latest Covid-19 policy if you are attending in person. For online, the events will be administered using Zoom*.
After registering, the system automatically sends a confirmation and/or a receipt email that contains the Zoom meeting link and/or other instructions. If you don’t immediately receive the system email(s) or you have any other questions, please contact us at registration@shantidevanyc.org.
*Zoom is an interactive video-conferencing tool that allows participants to see one another and ask questions. You will need a computer, a tablet or a smartphone with the Zoom application to attend. If you are using Zoom for the first time, please login earlier to allow any necessary installations on your device.
Registration/ Schedule
Fri Apr 5 + Weekend Sat Apr 6 & Sun Apr 7: Teachings with Geshe Tenzin Zopa
Suggested: $20 per session
Other offerings: free, $5, $10, $30
The suggested amount helps support teacher offerings and expenses, direct costs and rent. Shantideva member benefits will apply automatically if you have a membership in MindBody.
Shantideva Center may publish recorded sessions in the public domain (e.g., on YouTube). By registering for this event, you are agreeing to give your consent to this process. To protect your privacy, we recommend being conscious about any personal information you share during the sessions. To further enhance anonymity, you may want to consider turning off video or naming yourself using abbreviations.
Time zone: US Eastern Daylight Time (GMT/UTC-4)
For questions regarding registration, please email registration@shantidevanyc.org for assistance.
Additional Materials
Prayers for Teachings (Desktop-Friendly PDF) (Mobile-Friendly PDF)
Verses on the Heart of Dependent Origination by Ārya Nāgārjuna
Recordings
To jump to a particular session on the playlist, click the playlist icon (near the top-right corner) of the video frame to select video.
Dana for the Teacher
About the Teacher
Geshe Tenzin Zopa holds the honoured Geshe (Doctorate) degree from Sera Jey Monastic University, South India. He was born in the remote Himalayan region of Tsum valley in Nepal and was ordained at the age of 9 in Kopan Monastery by the late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. He received novice ordination from H.E. Geshe Lundrup Sopa Rinpoche and full ordination from H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama. Geshela was under the direct tutelage of H.E. Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Lama Lhundrup Rigsel, The Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog and Eminent Gurus including those from the Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. 104th Ganden Tri Rinpoche Losang Tenzin, 70th Abbot of Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. Khensur Losang Tsering Rinpoche and the 76th Abbot of Sera Jey Monastic University H.E. Logoan Tulku Tenzin Jampa Choesang Rinpoche.
Geshela possesses vast scriptural knowledge, holds many rare transmissions and initiations lineages, has completed many retreats, extensive teaching experience and is skilled in rituals and astrology. Geshela has also undertaken many meaningful projects for many years.
He is the principal and focal point of the award winning documentary film titled ”Unmistaken Child” which chronicles the search for the reincarnation of his master Geshe Lama Konchog. Now he is taking responsibility of overseeing the overall wellbeing of H.E Tulku Tenzin Phuntsok Rinpoche, the reincarnation of late Great Mahasiddha Geshe Lama Konchog. He has frequently taken part as a speaker at many Buddhist, interfaith and peace dialogue conferences for many years. He has taught at Oxford University (UK) under “Visitorship for Traditional Scholars” in the Tibetan and Himalayan Studies program. Since 2000 he has been actively teaching in FPMT centers as a visiting and resident teacher. Currently, he is serving as a touring teacher for the FPMT centers.
