Abhidharma Basics

The Abhidharma is perhaps regarded as dry and scholarly, theoretical. We will see. In any case, I would like to welcome those of you who are brave and willing to go into it. To a certain extent, you are warriors.”

- Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

“Abhidharma” or “a higher knowing of what is” - is a body of profound, technically precise Buddhist teachings exploring the human mind’s wisdom and confusion. For many of us, exploring such teachings may seem daunting or inaccessible. Yet, familiarizing ourselves with some Abhidharma basics is more user friendly than may first meet the eye and applying such basics to our everyday life is central to the Buddhist path.

In these five sessions we will:

Explore some core Buddhist principles such as: five skandhas, eight consciousnesses, eight-fold path, three poisons and others.
Learn and practice shamatha vipassana meditation and examine how this simple practice illuminates many of the Abhidharmic principles
Consider how some Tibetan and Indian commentaries illuminate the multilayered wisdom contained in the Abhidharma teachings
Discuss how such ancient teachings can help us engage our modern-day circumstances with skill, wisdom, and compassion

21st Bodhi: The joyful life of a Bodhisattva
REGISTER

By Donation Only

Course Outline

TIMES & DATES:

5 weeks January – February 2023

The program will be conducted on Tuesday (6:30pm – 8:30pm East Coast time) and Wednesday (6:30pm – 7:30pm East Coast time) evenings beginning Tuesday January 17 and ending Wednesday February 15. Tuesday evenings will focus on lecture & discussion and Wednesday evenings will focus on meditation practice.

Dates:
Tues, Jan 17, 2023
What are the Abhidharma teachings and why should we care?

Wed, Jan 18, 2023
Meditation

Tues, Jan 24, 2023
Unraveling confused mind through shamatha–vipassana meditation

Wed, Jan. 25, 2023
Meditation

Tues, Jan 31, 2023
The five “heaps”, karma and working with emotions

Wed, Feb. 1, 2023
Meditation

Tues, Feb 7, 2023
Discovering Buddha nature and stepping beyond duality

Wed, Feb. 8, 2023
Meditation

Tues, Feb 14, 2023
Bringing the Abhidharma alive in everyday

Wed, Feb. 15, 2023
Meditation

Teachers

Matt DiRodio

Has been a student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, since 73′, attended the 1978 Vajradhatu Seminary, has been a MI since 1980. Studied with Ajari Jomyo Tanaka of the Shingon Tradition, a Japanese Vajrayana school. Lived at Karmê Chöling from 79-81, where he designed and installed the Japanese style Rock Garden upon request of VCTR. He is a Veteran, retired Physician Assistant in Emergency Medicine of 30 yrs.

Michael Carroll

Michael Carroll is an authorized teacher in the Kagyu-Nyingma lineage of Vajrayana Buddhism and is the author of Awake at Work (2004), The Mindful Leader (2007), Fearless at Work (2012) & Mindful Leadership Training (2016). Michael began practicing meditation in 1976 after receiving instruction from his first teacher HH Dudjom, Rinpoche, graduated Buddhist Seminary in 1980 under the guidance of his root teacher Chögyam Trungpa, Rinpoche and has studied with other teachers including Traleg, Rinpoche; Changling, Rinpoche; Osel Tendzin and Khenpo Khatar, Rinpoche.

Abhidharma Basics

21st Bodhi: The joyful life of a Bodhisattva

By Donation Only

Course Outline

Teachers