All-encompassing Yoga Mind
with Jon Landaw

It is often stated that for the Mahayana path to enlightenment to be fully effective, it must be a union of compassionate method and insightful wisdom, also known as the combined practice of relative and ultimate bodhicitta. 

Recently, His Holiness the Dalai Lama strongly encouraged all those who consider themselves to be his sincere followers to follow his example and engage in a daily unified practice known as the All-encompassing Yoga Mind. This concise yet extremely profound set of meditational instructions—using the refreshingly simple image of a moon disc at one’s heart supporting an upright vajra—enables sincerely motivated seekers to gradually experience progressively deeper levels of spiritual transformation and fulfillment.

Inspired by the Dalai Lama’s advice, the Shantideva Center, in co-operation with other Buddhist centers, has requested Jon Landaw to lead a series of four 30-minute Saturday meditation sessions between April 16 and May 7. Eight months ago, during the pandemic, Jon had stepped back from all teaching duties, but he is now finally ready to take them on again and is very much looking forward to exploring His Holiness’ recommended practice with his dear Dharma sisters and brothers.

Although it will be of most benefit if interested participants can attend all four sessions, each individual session is designed to stand alone, and all sessions will be recorded for viewing at a later date.

This program is offered jointly by:

  • Jamyang London Buddhist Center, London, UK
  • Lama Yeshe Ling, Burlington, Ontario
  • Ocean of Compassion (Gyalwa Gyatso) Buddhist Center, Campbell, CA
  • Thubten Kunga Ling, Deerfield Beach, FL
  • Tushita Mahayana Meditation Center, New Delhi, India
  • Vajrapani Institute, Boulder Creek (Santa Cruz Mountains)

Additional Materials

Two videos to watch and a topic for students to contemplate in preparation for session 2 on April 23:

VIDEOS:

(1) Explaining the meaning of the Six-syllable Mantra (2:54)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqKfih7D30k

(2) Introducing the “All-encompassing Yoga Mind Meditation”

From: Day Two of Chandrakirti’s Entering the Middle Way” (1:24:29)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbZErtS8VkE

NOTE: Mainly watch the seven minutes from 1:15:15 to 1:22:35

​TOPIC TO CONTEMPLATE​:​

As is well-known, in his first discourse after his Enlightenment, Buddha presented the Four Noble Truths: the basis of all his subsequent teachings. In it he declared that (1) suffering is to be known, (2) its cause is to be abandoned, (3) its cessation is to be attained, and (4) the path to its cessation is to be cultivated.

Later, when he gave his Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) teachings, he declared that (1) although suffering is to be known, there is nothing to be known, (2) although its cause is to be abandoned, there is nothing to be abandoned, (3) although its cessation is to be attained, there is nothing to be attained, and (4) although its path is to be cultivated, there is nothing to be cultivated.

Is there a way to make sense out of these and the other apparently self-contradictory statements found in the Heart Sutra, the Diamond-Cutter Sutra and the other Perfection of Wisdom Sutras? How can you interpret them so they become relevant to your life and enhance your understanding of what you study?

Recordings

About the Teacher

Jon Landaw was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1944. He received his A.B. degree in English Literature from Dartmouth College in 1965 and spent three years teaching English as a Second Language with the Peace Corps in Iran (1966-69).

Jon worked as English editor for the Translation Bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India at the Library of Tibetan Works and Archives (1972-77) producing numerous texts under the guidance of Geshe Ngawang Dhargyey. As a student of Lama Yeshe and Kyabje Zopa Rinpoche since the mid-1970’s, he has edited numerous works for Wisdom Publications, including “Wisdom Energy” and “Introduction to Tantra.” He is also the author of “Prince Siddhartha,” a biography of Buddha for children, “Images of Enlightenment,” published by Snow Lion in 1993 and “Buddhism for Dummies”. As an instructor of Buddhist meditation, he has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

Jon is known for his ability to present traditional Buddhist ideas in ways that are accessible and relevant to our everyday life. He and his wife currently live in Santa Cruz, California where he teaches regularly at the nearby Land of Medicine Buddha center.