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MA GYÜD - Bön mother Tantra

Dribsel practice - removing obscurations - and other basic practices from the Ma Gyüd: Teachings by Lama Sangye Mönlam in Yeshe Sal Ling, St. Radegund bei Graz, Austria, April 15-21, 2019

• Place: Yeshe Sal Ling, Kurweg 2, 8061 St. Radegund bei Graz, Austria - directions here.
• Begin: Mon April 15, 2019, 10:30
• End: Sun April 21, 2019, 16:00
• Language: Tibetan, interpreted into English (with German interpretation of difficult parts on request)
• Cost: Euro 290 for expenses. In addition, donations to the Lama are always a good idea.
• Contact and Registration: contact@yeshesalling.org (Sophie)
• Accommodation

In 2019, Lama Sangye Mönlam's comprehensive course of Ma Gyüd teachings covers the second part of Tharlam, the "way of escape" or "way of emancipation", which contains:

• "the methods of emancipation, which are: purification of obscurations, ablutions, clearing away of contaminations, and restoring vows" and
• "the key points of the powers of emancipation, which consist of completing the two accumulations: accumulation of virtue, and of wisdom"

Regarding purification of obscurations (namely, of those obscurations of our mind that prevent us from being in natural state), Lama Sangye will teach a powerful ritual called Dribsel involving visualization of the many Ma Gyüd deities on a special mandala and recitation of the ritual's verses and mantras to a special "medicinal" melody. This ritual is part of Lama Sangye's own regular practice. Time permitting, we will also perform a small Jinseg, or fire offering, for the same purpose, that of clearing the path.

Regarding the two accumulations, Tharlam contains the first hints (to be developed more fully in the Drol-lam chapter) of the practice of natural state, which constitutes the first accumulation: that of wisdom; and a very detailed account of the mandala offering, which stands for all the conceptual practices that constitute the accumulation of virtue. The mandala offering itself operates on several different levels: there are outer, inner, and secret mandala offerings, all described in detail in Tharlam.

Lama Sangye will comment on the text of Tharlam (from Guru Nöntse's terma) line by line and this is a precious opportunity to get involved with this fascinating text. We are planning to prepare an English translation of the chapters of the Ma Gyüd text in the order that Lama Sangye teaches them. Lama Sangye teaches in Tibetan and will be interpreted into English.

Also, we will refresh and practice the basic Ma Gyüd practice for integrating with the enlightened mind of Lama, Yidam and Khandro (gong choe nam sum - the basic practice that every Ma Gyüd practitioner performs every day). Lama Sangye will also refresh his instructions on the musical part of the recitation (how to play damaru and shang) and the mudras accompanying the practice.

Prerequisites: Lama Sangye Mönlam's Ma Gyüd teachings are suitable for beginners and new students as well as for advanced practitioners, including those who have already received Ma Gyüd teachings. As most of us have experienced, with profound texts such as the Ma Gyüd, one understands the same teachings on a new level upon every encounter with them, and always learns something new. The teachings in 2019 are the second of a series of teachings that Lama Sangye began in 2018; but new students are welcome to join. Having attended Lama Sangye's Ma Gyüd teachings of 2018 is not a prerequisite.

Further teachings by Lama Sangye Mönlam here.

Announcements of Lama Sangye's earlier Ma Gyüd teachings (for archival reasons) here: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018. (The announcement for 2011 has not been preserved.)