Buddhist Summer School Program
12 - 17 January 2008
University College
University of Melbourne
College Crescent, Parkville

Download the Summer School brochure

SESSIONS

1. THE TRIPPLE GEM: THE BUDDHA, DHARMA AND SANGHA - Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

2. TEACHING AND PRACTICE OF ZEN MASTER DOGEN - Ekai Korematsu Osho

3. SEX, WORK AND MONEY - Acharya Samuel Bercholz

4. VIEW OF THE GREAT PERFECTION: AN INTRODUCTION TO DZOGCHEN - Acharya Samuel Bercholz

5. THE FOUR BRAMAVIHARIAS: REMEDIES FOR PAINFUL EMOTIONS - Venerable Sucinta Bhikkhuni

6. INTRODUCING BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING - Padmasiri de Silva

7. BUDDHISM GOES TO THE MOVIES - Dr Robert Miller

8. REDISCOVERING THE DHARMA: WESTERN ENCOUNTERS WITH BUDDHISM IN 19th CENTURY SOUTH ASIA - Peter Friedlander

9. BODY, BREATH AND MIND - Felicity Lodro

10. YOGA AND KUM NYE FOR MEDITATION - Felicity Lodro

11A. & 11B. BUDDHIST MEDITATION - Garrie O’Toole

OPENING AND CLOSING FORUMS

1. THE TRIPLE GEM: THE BUDDHA, DHARMA AND SANGHA
Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche

The Buddha as the teacher, the Dharma as the teachings and the Sangha as the community of practitioners are the objects of refuge for all Buddhists. This allows an individual to follow a path of practice through ethics, meditation and wisdom.This course will consider the importance of the Triple Gem from the perspective of both the Hinayana and Mahayana traditions.

Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche was recognised as the ninth incarnation of the Traleg lineage and enthroned as Abbot of Tra’gu Monastery. Rinpoche has undergone rigorous scholastic and meditative training under various Tibetan Kagyü and Nyingma masters in India and came to Australia in 1980 where he subsequently established Kagyü E-Vam Institute in 1982. He regularly conducts courses and retreats and has travelled extensively in the U.S.A., S.E. Asia and Europe conducting lectures and courses. Rinpoche is the author of various books including the best selling The Essence of Buddhism and the recently published The Practice of Lojong.
3 Sessions: $50

2. TEACHING AND PRACTICE OF ZEN MASTER DOGEN
Ekai Korematsu Osho
The foundation of Zen Master Dogen’s teaching, which he universally recommended, was commitment to Zazen (upright sitting meditation or Shikantaza) as the pivotal practice of all Buddhas and Ancestors. The tradition in a Zen monastery is that daily training begins with Zazen and ends with Zazen.

Dogen was convinced that practising Zazen is the action of a buddha, and that any activities arising from practice are also the actions of a buddha. As long as Zazen is anchored in one’s life, there is no need to be concerned whether you are enlightened or not. Zazen is not just a method by which to reach awakening, it is itself awakening. Dogen talked about this form of practice as going beyond Buddha and Buddhahood, beyond practice and enlightenment; he encouraged us to practise Zazen in the midst of the phenomenal world and our own difficulties. Each session will begin and end with a short period of meditation and the following topics will be discussed over the four sessions.

1. Practice/Practical Instructions
2. Dogen’s Philosophical Works
3. The Poetic Expression of Dogen
4. Transmission of Teachings

Zazen
In a mind clear as still water,
Even the waves, breaking,
are reflecting its light.
Dogen

Ekai Osho is a transmitted teacher in the lineage of the Soto Zen tradition in Japan and Resident Teacher of Jikishoan Zen Buddhist Community in Melbourne. He has practised and taught Zen in the USA, Japan and India for over 30 years. Since 1997 he has been a faculty member of Antioch University, USA, for their Buddhist Studies Program Abroad and annually teaches in India.
4 Sessions: $50

3. SEX, WORK AND MONEY
Acharya Samuel Bercholz
At the heart of the Buddhist path is the practice of meditation. The development of mindfulness and awareness is an essential foundation for both understanding ourselves and working with others. It is a common preconception that the spiritual journey takes us away from ourselves, to some higher of more peaceful existence. In this context, meditation practice is seen as a kind of drug, or as a way of removing ourselves from the harsh realities of life. Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the great meditation master of the 20th century, who was important in bringing the Buddhist teachings to the Western World, presented the methodology of how to balance one’s spiritual life with one’s secular life, so as not to create a duality. This course will be based on those insights. Suggested Reading: The Heart of the Buddha by Chögyam Trungpa.
4 Sessions: $60

4. VIEW OF THE GREAT PERFECTION: AN INTRODUCTION TO DZOGCHEN
Acharya Samuel Bercholz
The great contemporary Tibetan Buddhism master, Thinley Norbu Rinpoche has created an original work entitled A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar which presents this enlightened vision. This course will introduce beginners and advanced students to the profound view of the primordially pure great emptiness nature and accompanying clear light vision of Dzogchen. These teachings show us how to train our mind to improve our life and those of humanity. This view informs our practice of meditative techniques, which brings us to an enlightened way of living our everyday life. The book presents an amazing overview of the path to enlightenment up to and including trekcho (cutting through) in the form of a ngondro commentary. Required Reading: A Cascading Waterfall of Nectar by Thinley Norbu.
4 Sessions: $60

Acharya Samuel Bercholz is a senior teacher of the Kagyu, Nyingma, and Shambhala lineages and teaches extensively throughout North America, Europe, and Australasia. He has studied under the tutelage of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Thinley Norbu Rinpoche. He has taught at the Buddhist Summer School for the last six years.

5. THE FOUR BRAHMAVIHARAS: REMEDIES FOR PAINFUL EMOTIONS
Venerable Sucinta Bhikkhuni
Having experienced how much pain destructive emotions like anger and jealousy can bring into our own and others’ lives, we aspire to cultivate their antidotes: loving kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy and equanimity. In the Theravada tradition these four healing qualities are called “divine abidings” (Brahmaviharas). We develop them in special forms of meditation, but practise and perfect them in daily life as well.

Venerable Sucinta Bhikkuni was born in Germany and worked as a psychologist. Since 1991 she has trained as a nun in the Theravada tradition at Amaravati Buddhist Monastery (England) and the Bhavana Society (USA). In 1998 she received Bhikkhuni ordination in Bodhgaya, India. By invitation from the Buddhist Society of Victoria she came to Australia in 2007 and started “Sanghamittarama”, a Bhikkhuni Residence in Melbourne.
4 Sessions: $44

6. INTRODUCING BUDDHIST PSYCHOLOGY: THEORY AND APPLICATIONS FOR COUNSELLING
Padmasiri de Silva
This course aims to make a coverage of the basic concepts and issues in Buddhist psychology: mind and body, cognition, motivation, emotion and the unconscious. The course will also introduce students to approaches in Contemplative Therapy and Buddhist Counselling, with a focus on stress and anger management, depression, alcoholic addiction; issues about grief, death and meaningful lives.

Background Reading: An Introduction to Buddhist Psychology, 4th edition, 2005, Padmasiri de Silva, Palgrave-Macmillan, London; Explorers of Inner Space,2007, Padmasiri de Silva, Vishvalekha. Publishers, Sri Lanka (selected chapters).

Padmasiri de Silva was formerly Professor & Head/Philosophy & Psychology Department of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He held Visiting Positions in USA, Singapore and New Zealand, and is currently a Research Fellow at the University of Monash, Clayton. He has a Ph.D. in Comparative Philosophy, University of Hawaii and an Advanced Diploma in counselling, Sophia College, Perth and is a clinical member of CAPAV. His publications include, An Introduction to Buddhist Psychology, Buddhist and Freudian Psychology, Buddhism Ethics and Society, Environmental Philosophy and Ethics in Buddhism, and most recent, Explorers of Inner Space.
4 Sessions: $48

7. BUDDHISM GOES TO THE MOVIES
Dr. Robert Miller
Starting from themes in popular movies in the book Philosophy Goes To The Movies, a philosopher explored the philosophical issues involved. This course will follow a similar model but with Buddhist concepts, such as no-self, interconnectedness, non- dualism, beauty, meditation, love. We will explore the following movies; Samsara, Run Lola Run, Total Recall, American Beauty, Adaption. It is recommended to watch the DVDs in connection with the course. (Fuller list of movies and topics is available in the preview on the KEBI website.)

Dr. Robert Miller was born and educated in Ayr, Scotland, before going to Edinburgh University where he did an MA on Philosophy. He did postgraduate research at Cambridge University on themes in Existentialism and Zen Buddhism and practised at the San Francisco Zen Centre. He came to Monash on a scholarship to do a PhD on themes in the Philosophy of Religion and Ethics. Since 1990 he has been teaching Philosophy at RMIT (main interests: Postmodernism, Existentialism, Buddhism, Ethics, and Philosophical Psychotherapy). Over the years he has given many talks at KEBI synthesising Eastern and Western ideas.

View the course preview notes (pdf file).

5 Sessions: $55

8. REDISCOVERING THE DHARMA: WESTERN ENCOUNTERS WITH BUDDHISM IN 19TH CENTURY SOUTH ASIA
Peter Friedlander
In the four sessions of this course we will look at the following topics.
1. Rediscovering the Buddha: follow the footsteps of Alexander Cunningham as he locates the sacred sites of the Buddha’s life.
2. Rediscovering the Dhamma: journey to 19th century Ceylon and join scholars, missionaries and officials as they translate Buddhist sacred texts.
3. Rediscovering the Sangha: join the explorations of scholars and colonial officials as they encounter the living Buddhist traditions of Tibet and Burma.
4. Rediscovering refuge: witness how early 19th century missionary opposition to Buddhism transforms into Westerners themselves becoming Buddhists.
Peter Friedlander has been studying Buddhism and South Asian religions since the mid 1970s and has been an insight meditation practitioner since the mid 1980s. After living in India from 1977 to 1982 he studied South Asian Religious traditions at London University and currently teaches Buddhist Studies and Hindi at La Trobe University. His recent publications include a chapter on ‘Buddhism and Politics’, in The Politics of Religion(Haynes, J. (ed.), Routledge: London and New York, 2006).
4 Sessions: $40

9. BODY BREATH AND MIND
Felicity Lodro
In this course we will look at the intimate relationship between the physical body, the breath and the mind. You will be introduced to breathing exercises designed to compliment meditative equipoise. Regulating the breath using traditional Pranayama (breathing) techniques can help to relax the body and focus and relax the mind and thus enhance one’s meditative equipoise. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.
2 Sessions: $24

10. YOGA AND KUM NYE FOR MEDITATION
Felicity Lodro
Kum Nye is a form of Tibetan Yoga. It combines gentle yoga exercises and movement with visual techniques to promote mental and physical well being. Kum Nye exercise developed from the Hatha Yoga tradition that originated in India. These two forms of yoga practice are extremely complimentary and assist in the deepening of one’s meditative experience.

Felicity Lodro received her yoga teaching qualifications from the International Yoga Teachers Association in 1986. She has been a student of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche for over 20 years and has a degree in Empirical Psychology from Swinburne University. Please wear loose, comfortable clothing.
4 Sessions: $48

11A. & 11B. BUDDHIST MEDITATION
Garrie O’Toole
Meditation is often considered to be the heart of Buddhist practice. Along with the supporting practices of listening to the dharma and contemplating its meaning, meditation is a cornerstone of the spiritual path. It is through meditation that this path can become a living experience and the value of
‘taming the mind’ is experienced directly and personally.

The course provides an overview of the practice of meditation within the Buddhist tradition. It covers different types of meditation (the meditation of tranquility, or samantha and insight meditation or vipashyana) as well as practical instructions on posture, objects of meditation, common difficulties and suggested solutions to these difficulties.

This will be a very practical course with time for meditation practice, discussion and questions. It will be useful for those new to Buddhist meditation as well as providing a valuable revision for those who already have some experience.

Garrie O’Toole has been involved in Buddhist practice and study since 1978. He has been a student of Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche since 1984 and is a meditation instructor at Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute. He has completed a Master of Arts Degree in Buddhist Studies.
3 Sessions: $36

OPENING AND CLOSING FORUMS
A forum, as a situation where a variety of views can be presented, offers a unique opportunity for participants to teach and to learn from each other. Teachers involved in the Summer School will take part in the discussions and will encourage audience participation. These events are free of charge and are not restricted to those who have enrolled in the Summer School, but are open to all.

TIMETABLE & REGISTRATION

Course 11A and 11B are the same course repeated.

REGISTRATION
Each course has a corresponding number in the timetable above. Use this timetable to organise your registration. Complete the registration form (see last page of Summer School brochure) and send together with payment (read Payment Details below).

PAYMENT, DISCOUNTS AND REFUND POLICY

PAYMENT
• Credit card payments and enrolments can be made by phone on 03 9387 0422.
• Cheques and money orders should be made payable to Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute Inc.
• All registrations will be confirmed by mail.
• Eftpos facilities are available at KEBI Office, 673 Lygon Street, Carlton North, 10am-5pm Monday to Friday.

*Individual sessions can be attended at a proportional cost of the course and can only be booked at the Summer School venue on the day of the respective session.

DISCOUNTS
A 10% discount is available under the following conditions: Full and Associate Members of Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute, pensioners, students or unemployed, upon production of appropriate proof.

REFUND POLICY
Course cancellations must be received in writing by Tuesday January 8, 2008. A $10 Administration fee will be charged. Please note that refunds will take up to 21 days to be processed. No other refunds will be granted once courses commence.

COURSE CAPACITY
Where the number of registrations for a course exceeds capacity, preference will be given to the earliest enrolments. Full course fees will be refunded in such cases.

LOCATION
The Buddhist Summer School is conducted at University College, Parkville, which is bordered by College Crescent, Cemetery Road West and Royal Parade.
Melways Reference: 2B C3
Tram No. 19, alight at corner of Royal Pde & College Cresc.

SALE OF AUDIO TAPES, CD AND MP3
Most courses at Buddhist Summer School 2008, as at previous Summer Schools, are recorded and can be purchased at the event or at a later date from the Institute.

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Copyright 2006
Created: December 28, 2005
Last Updated: December 8, 2007
Authorised by: Traleg Kyabgon Rinpoche