MAHAYANA ESSENTIALS SERIES, hosted by Pema Osel Do Ngak Choling
In this year’s Mahayana Essentials program, hosted by Pema Osel, Elizabeth will teach on the six paramitas, or “transcendent actions”: generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, meditation, and wisdom. These practices, which are fundamental to the development of wisdom and altruism on the bodhisattva path, are grounded in seeing the world as a field of opportunity for developing our most noble qualities. The paramitas provide a path for engaging our life in a non-egocentric and graceful manner and create a sense of well-being for both self and others.
Elizabeth’s three talks will include guided meditation and Q&A.
Before the Saturday and Sunday morning talks, there will be half-hour guided meditation sessions. We will also have discussion groups before the Saturday afternoon talk. All of these will be hosted on Zoom and led by senior students.
Financial Support
The proceeds from this program support Pema Osel, our center in Vermont where Elizabeth usually gives these teachings in person. In order to support our annual budget, we hope that most people are able to pay the full amount. However, no one will be turned away for financial reasons. If you can't pay in full, don't let that be an obstacle. Contact us here by May 25th for more information on payment options.
Program Schedule
Please note that times are in Mountain Daylight Time (MT) and Eastern Daylight Time (ET).
Saturday, May 29
Meditation: 9- 9:30 MT/ 11-11:30 ET
Talk 1: 10-12 am MT/ 12- 2 pm ET
Discussion groups via Zoom (optional): 1:30-2:30 pm MT/ 3:30 - 4:30 pm ET
Talk 2: 3-5 pm MT/ 5-7 pm ET
Sunday, May 30
Meditation: 9- 9:30 MT/ 11-11:30 ET
Talk 3: 10am-12 pm MT/ 12- 2 pm ET
You will receive a welcome email closer to the program with information on how to join the online meditation and zoom discussion groups, and a link to the opening and closing chants. Stay tuned for the welcome email.
Program Contact: Vanessa Waxman: vanwaxman@gmail.com
SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Elizabeth about Prajnaparamita
We generally speak of six paramitas: generosity, discipline, patience, diligence, concentration, and wisdom. All of a bodhisattva's wisdom and skillful means are included within these six practices. Usually the order in which we discuss these starts with generosity. If you can train yourself to be generous, if you can be less attached and more openhearted, it's easier to be morally disciplined—not harming others, benefiting them, and thereby accumulating virtue. If you're a disciplined person, it's easier to become patient. If you're patient, then it's easier to be diligent in whatever you to do, on the spiritual path or elsewhere. And, if you are a diligent person, it becomes easier to concentrate. Once you have good concentration, it becomes easier to contemplate deeply and develop wisdom. So, since the first paramita helps the second one and so forth, the order was established and taught in this way. But we don’t have to practice them in this order. In any particular situation it’s likely that all the paramitas are required.