Khenpo Tsering Tashi on the Four Thoughts

Saturday 22 May 2021, 1.00-3.00pm AEST
Rigpa Australia National Centre, 158 Australia St, Newtown

The Four Thoughts are four profound contemplations to turn the mind away from samsara: the preciousness of human life, impermanence, karma and attachment. This is a foundational teaching of Tibetan Buddhism, and open to all.

Venerable Khenpo Tsering Tashi is the founder of Yeshikhorlo Tibetan Buddhism Association in Australia, Taiwan and Malaysia. He will be teaching in-person at the Rigpa Australia National Centre, and you can also join online.

The teaching will be followed by a guided Longchen Nyingtik Ngondro practice in English 3.30-5.30pm. All are welcome to stay for the practice if they wish.
 

You can attend either in-person at Rigpa’s National Centre in Newtown, Sydney (depending on COVID public health orders at the time) or online. 

This session is free for Rigpa subscribers.
For non-subscribers the charge is $30. This Event is open to non-Rigpa students.

Students should have completed 18 months or more of Buddhist studies and have a well- established meditation practice before starting regular Ngöndro practice. Anyone is welcome to attend the monthly sessions to learn about the Ngöndro before starting their own practice.

More about the Ngöndro

The purification practices known as the Ngöndro, have been skilfully designed to effect a comprehensive inner transformation. They involve the entire being – body, speech, and mind – and begin with a series of deep contemplations (known as the Four Thoughts) on:
•    the uniqueness of human life
•    the ever-presence of impermanence and death
•    the infallibility of the cause and effect of our actions
•    the vicious cycle of frustration and suffering that is samsara.

From this foundation, the Ngöndro is comprised of the specific practices of 
•    Taking refuge in the Buddha, the truth of his teaching, and the example of its practitioners
•    Compassion/Bodhichitta
•    Purification and healing/Vajrasattva
•    Developing universal generosity
•    Guru Yoga.

Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche said:
When we take our first steps on the Path, we are not yet capable of helping others. To accomplish the good of others, we must first perfect ourselves, by purifying and transforming our minds. This is the aim of what we call the preliminary practices, which establish the foundations of all spiritual progress. You may feel like dispensing with these foundations in order to practice teachings that you think are more profound, but if you do so, you are building a palace on the surface of a frozen lake.