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Dr John Powers lectures held at Kagyu
E-Vam Buddhist Institute |
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Contacts
@ Kagyu E-Vam Buddhist Institute | Return to Tapelist | |
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Contacts
@ Maitripa Contemplative Centre Suellen Fuller 528 Myers Creek Road, Healesville Victoria, 37777. Phone: 61-3-5962 6167 |
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Biodata: |
| The Buddhist Perspective
on Truth July 4 2002 2 tapes One of the most important Buddhist teachings is the notion that there are two fundamental different ways of seeing the world known as the two truths - relative truth and absolute truth. This talk will explore the idea of truth as it is presented within Buddhism. How can there be two truths and how, if at all, are they related to each other? |
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Buddhist Ethics Buddhist teachings proclaim the idea of shunyata or the emptiness of substantial existence of all things, even with regard to moral or ethical principles. Yet the Buddhist tradition contains a treasury of teachings relating to moral conduct (shila). This talk looks at the relationship between ethics and wisdom (prajna) within Buddhist practice and thought. |
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Explorations in the Madhyamakalamkara
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Yogacara and Its Tibetan Interpreters Yogacara, along with Madhyamaka, was one of the two main philosophical traditions of Indian Buddhism. When Buddhism traveled to Tibet, Yogacara texts and ideas exerted a profound influence on the philosophical thought of Tibet, as well as on tantric practice lineages. In this seminar, Dr. John Powers will look at some of the important ideas and thinkers of Indian Yogacara, and will then focus on how Yogacara was interpreted and integrated in Tibetan Buddhism. Of central concern will be important issues of textual and doctrinal interpretation, and the problems that confronted Tibetans in making sense of the plethora of doctrines, practices, and lineages they inherited from India. |
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| The Influence of Mongolia
on Tibetan Religion and Culture October 19 - 2001 2 tapes Discussions of the spread of Tibetan Buddhism generally mention the profound impact of Tibetan Buddhism and Tibetan culture on Mongolia, but the fact that Mongolia also influenced Tibet is often overlooked. In his talk, Dr. John Powers will look at how Tibetan Buddhism came to Mongolia, and will then focus on the mutual influence of the two countries, with particular emphasis on the current period. |
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The Life and Times of The Dalai
Lamas Why, out of all the traditions of Buddhism, was Tibet the only country that developed the notion of reincarnating lamas? What factors have caused it to persist and develop? Dr. John Powers will discuss the history of the Dalai Lama reincarnational line, beginning with the historical and political situation in which it arose. He will focus on how the tradition has developed and how it relates to Tibetan ideas of reincarnation and the bodhisattva path. There will be a short biography of each Dalai lama, along with a discussion of their respective contributions to Tibetan religion and culture. |
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YOGACARA/MADHYAMIKA PHILOSOPHY (lectures) |
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| BUDDHIST ETHICS IN
THE MODERN WORLD (public talk) June 2 2000 1 tape Is traditional Buddhist ethics viable in the modern world? In a post-theological society, can development of compassion serve as a basis for acting morally? What sort of reasons might one have for undertaking Buddhist moral training? These are some of the questions DR Powers looks at in considering the possible applicability of Buddhist ethics to the modern world, a world that is very different from the one in which Buddhism first arose. Can these ancient notions inform modern Westerners seeking a basis from moral development? Is "engaged Buddhism" a possible version of such a response? Can activism be reconciled with the traditional Buddhist emphasis on contemplation? The tone of the talk is informal. |
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| COMPASSION IN BUDDHISM
VERSUS AGAPE (public talk) June 1 2000 1 tape DR Powers discusses Buddhist ideas of the cultivation of love and compassion in relation to the Western notion of "agape" (selfless love) in order to explore congruencies and differences between these two approaches to living a moral life. The talk focuses particularly on the bodhisattva path and the cultivation of the six "perfections" (paramita), and asks whether this simply involves an attitude of goodwill, or whether or not an active involvement in the world is necessary in order to manifest "great compassion". |
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| YOGACARA: THE THREE
NATURES AND THE STATUS OF EXTERNAL OBJECTS (lectures) March 14 1998 3 tapes This is an advanced set of lectures, which is primarily intended for people who attended DR Power's previous lectures on Yogacara. These talks look at specific issues relating to the 'three natures' (trisvabhaava) - a concept that has been widely influential in Indian, Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism - and at the ongoing debate over the status of external objects in Yogacara. Do external objects exist, or are all of our perceptions merely productions of mind generated from the 'seeds' (bija) left over from previous perceptions? Or are perceptions really impressions of concretely existing external objects, but coloured by preconceived ideas, conceptions about reality and language? These are some of the fundamental questions of Indian Buddhist philosophy, and are still debated today by both traditional Buddhists and modern scholars. |
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| YOGACARA AND MADHYAMAKA:
AN INTRODUCTION (public talk) March 13 1998 1 tape Yogacara and Madhyamaka are the two most influential schools of Indian Buddhism, and continue to be important in contemporary Buddhism. Often opposed to each other philosophically, their debate led to significant advance in Buddhist thought and practice. In this lecture DR Powers gives an overview of the history and doctrines of these two schools, as well as discussions of some of the major texts and thinkers of Indian Yogacara and Madhyamaka. These are essential topics for anyone interested in more than a superficial understanding of Buddhism in Tibet, and most contemporary Tibetan Buddhist masters explicitly identify with Madhyamaka and perceive it as the supreme of all Buddhist philosophical systems, and see Yogacara as the second most profound of all Buddhist tenet systems. |
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| UNDER SEIGE BUT HARD
TO KILL THE TIBETAN TULKU SYSTEM TODAY (lecture) March 12 1998 1 tape The system of reincarnate lamas (tulkus) is one of the unique innovations of Tibetan Buddhism. Originally developed in the 14th century, it is currently undergoing significant challenges and modifications. In this lecture, DR John Powers looks at the history of the tulku system, its early manifestations and context, how it developed over the centuries and how it functions today in the Tibetan Buddhist exile community. The recent and controversial recognition of Steven Segal, star of violent action movies, as the reincarnation of a Tibetan "treasure-finder" (terton) is examined, and how this reflects important aspects of the system that have been in place since its inception. |
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| TIBETAN BUDDHISM: LINEAGES
AND PRACTICES (lectures) Buddhist Summer School '97 6 tapes DR Powers directs this course at both beginners and more advanced students. The central text for the course is his Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism (Ithaca: Snow Lion, 1995). The course begins with the basic doctrines of Tibetan Buddhism that were inherited from India, and then explores some of the most important schools and lineages of Tibetan doctrines and practices they share in common. A significant portion of the course is devoted to the historical development of Tibetan Buddhism as understood by its practitioners and how this relates to the self-understanding of Tibetan Buddhists. |
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| YOGACARA SCHOOL OF
BUDDHISM: TEXTS AND DOCTRINES (lectures) July 10 1996 2 tapes This three-part lecture series focuses on the major texts of the Yogacara school, one of the two most historically important philosophical traditions of Indian Buddhism. This school focuses on meditative practice, and it made important contributions to the development of Buddhist philosophy and psychology. DR Powers, one of the leading authorities on Yogacara, begins with a discussion of the Samdhinirmocana-sutra, the most influential scriptural source for Yogacara, and then traces the development of some of its key doctrines in the works of Vasubandu and Asanga, the two most important Yogacara masters. The central focus is the Yogacara analysis of consciousness, particularly mental afflictions and their antidotes, which profoundly influenced the development of Mahayana philosophy of mind and was also influential in the development of tantric meditation. |
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| THE FOUR SCHOOLS OF
BUDDHISM (lecture) July 5 1996 1 tape Teachers of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism - Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Geluk - tend to emphasise their differences from each other, but when one looks beyond the sectarian emphases of these teachers, it is clear that they share a great deal. In this lecture DR Powers outlines the most influential lineages of each tradition and discusses their respective self-understandings. The bulk of the talk looks at the distinctive practices of each school, and concludes with an outline of their shared views, practices and lineages. |
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| THE PRACTICE OF MEDITATION
IN TIBETAN BUDDHIST TANTRA (lectures) February 24 1996 4 tapes This seminar begins with an overview of the historial context of the dawn of tantra in India, the main lineages that were imported to Tibet, and the basic tenets of the system in relation to Hinayana and Mahayana forms of meditation. We will then explore some core aspects of the tantric path, particularly the preliminary practices and the role of guru yoga, deity yoga, and the generation and completion stages. The goal of the seminar is to gain an understanding of the most important elements of the tantric path and how these can be integrated into daily life. |
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| TIBETAN PERSPECTIVES
ON DEATH AND DYING (lectures) February 22 1996 2 tapes According to Tibetan Buddhism, the time of death presents unique opportunities for spiritual progress, but knowledge of these opportunities is considered essential for those who wish to take advantage of them. These two lectures outline the stages of the death process, the opportunities and pitfalls presented by the moment of death and by the bardo, or intermediate state between lives. Theoretical points are interspersed with practical discussions of Tibetan perspectives on bereavement and how death can constitute an important part of the path to Buddhahood. |