Geshe Graham Woodhouse in Scotland 3-5 April 2020 Venerable Tenzin Losel
Our Brilliant Mental Potential
Public Talk Friday 3 April 7.30pm 2020
This event was cancelled due to Covid-19
Stream of awareness in a handful of dust. Does that begin to describe us? These two elements that make us up are together in an unstable combination though. How long we shall stay here in this life? That is thoroughly unpredictable and whatever time we personally have hastens away. Global human society and the living, renewing world of nature we depend on are now under threat as never before. Nevertheless this fleeting life offers enormous opportunities. So say the wise ones of the Buddhist tradition. Don’t let us be put off by those who say that there is no meaning or purpose in life, that matter is the only kind of substance in the universe, which is ruled by physics alone, and that the gratification of Desire is life’s sole satisfaction. This is just completely underestimating our brilliant mental potential, and that is where our fundamental source of happiness lies— within, in our minds. In this talk hear how universal altruistic love makes the greatest sense, and the path of wisdom lies open before us. Pick up an inkling at least of our mind’s altogether special energy-potential!
Praise for Dependent Relativity Weekend
Weekend teachings: 4+5 April 2020
In this warming world, for those whose hearts are drawn to the spiritual quest, one cool stream still runs clear. It has the utterly pure taste of voidness. We find ourselves born, indeed born again and again, into a world shot through with suffering. Buddha teaches that this is fundamentally because our vagrant minds are distorted by ignorance and distracted by the toxic negative emotions that follow. Buddha also taught the antidote to ignorance and suffering – opening the mind to emptiness: an unsurpassable realization that nourishes, heals and brings relief. Join us for a weekend of study, reflection and meditation on Praise for Dependent Relativity, the poem that Je Tsongkhapa, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s foremost scholar-saints, wrote on the very morning that he entered into the ultimate view of voidness, the state of perfect peace where fabrications are stilled. The chantable translation of the verses by Geshe Tenzin Losel can be downloaded.
The poem may look intriguing or it may look difficult. Don’t be put off. The Tibetan masters wrote their verses this way, highly condensed. In either case, there will be plenty of explanation for people of most levels of understanding, so come along!
Further reading:
The book of commentary by my late teacher, edited by me, for people who want to know more than we can fit in a weekend, is Tsongkhapa’s Praise for Dependent Relativity by Losang Gyatso and Graham Woodhouse, Wisdom Publications.
About Geshe Tenzin Losel (Geshe Graham Woodhouse)
I was born in the middle of Britain just a couple of months after Elizabeth II became queen. The Unitarian church was my spiritual shelter from my earliest days. I added on Buddhism when I learned about emptiness, love and the mind’s brilliant potential from Tibetan teachers sent to the UK by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. I studied English at university and taught it in Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Saudi Arabia. I studied Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India, from 1990 to 2009.
Full ordination: 1994, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Geshe degree: Drepung Loseling Monastery 2006.
In 2009 I returned to England to steer my parents along through their last years until 2016. Presently I have made my own private ‘British exit’ and, dependent once again on the enormous kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, I have arrived in Nalanda Monastery, France. There Indian masters of the Middle Way School are a focus for me and I am struggling to pick up some Sanskrit with a fading memory.
Our excessive demands on the biosphere, the increasing pace of climate heating— I wonder how easy will it be to find a rebirth so seemingly favourable for Dharma study and practice in the future.
Publications:
Details
Venue: Sunshine Room, 505 East Whins, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TH
Fri. 3 April: 7.30-9pm
Sat. 4 April: 9.30am-6pm, Sun. 5 April: 9.30am-5pm
Suggested donations: Whole weekend, including Fri. night £135 /£90 /£65 (Tiered pricing)
We recognise that what is affordable for some can be a financial stretch for others and offer a tiered pricing structure. When you book, please select the price that feels appropriate for you.
£130 Pay it Forward Price covers the cost of your retreat and helps us to sustain our Buddhist group organising the next event.
£90 Sustainable Price covers the cost of your retreat.
£65 Supported Price reflects a partial bursary toward the cost of your retreat and is intended for those with minor financial need.
Several options for meals are available.
Accommodation: check local B+B list
For our cancellation policy please see togmesangpo.org.uk/cancellation-policy
Public Talk Friday night only, no need to book, just show up. Suggested donation: £20 /£10/ £7 (sliding scale)
Bookings for weekend:
Please copy and paste the following, and email it to togmesangpo37@gmail.com
I wish to book the weekend retreat Praise for Dependent Relativity with Geshe Graham Woodhouse
Fri. 3 April: 7.30-9pm
Sat. 4 April: 9.30am-6pm, Sun. 5 April: 9.30am-5pm
venue: Sunshine Room, 505 East Whins, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TH
Name:
I wish to pay £130/£90/£65 (please delete as appropriate)
◯ I have paid in full
◯ I have sent a deposit of £30 to the account of Togme Sangpo, and will pay the rest by 6 March 2020.
Details for a bank transfer are:
Togme Sangpo Study Group
Account: 65549768
Sort code: 089299
Please give YOUR NAME as reference.
Please let us know when you make the transfer.
Or if you prefer, you can send a cheque. Make it out to Togme Sangpo Study Group and send to:
Togme Sangpo Study group
23 Birkenhillock Road
Forres IV36 1FH
I wish to join the Togme Sangpo mailing list yes/no
Public Talk Friday 3 April 7.30pm 2020
This event was cancelled due to Covid-19
Stream of awareness in a handful of dust. Does that begin to describe us? These two elements that make us up are together in an unstable combination though. How long we shall stay here in this life? That is thoroughly unpredictable and whatever time we personally have hastens away. Global human society and the living, renewing world of nature we depend on are now under threat as never before. Nevertheless this fleeting life offers enormous opportunities. So say the wise ones of the Buddhist tradition. Don’t let us be put off by those who say that there is no meaning or purpose in life, that matter is the only kind of substance in the universe, which is ruled by physics alone, and that the gratification of Desire is life’s sole satisfaction. This is just completely underestimating our brilliant mental potential, and that is where our fundamental source of happiness lies— within, in our minds. In this talk hear how universal altruistic love makes the greatest sense, and the path of wisdom lies open before us. Pick up an inkling at least of our mind’s altogether special energy-potential!
Praise for Dependent Relativity Weekend
Weekend teachings: 4+5 April 2020
In this warming world, for those whose hearts are drawn to the spiritual quest, one cool stream still runs clear. It has the utterly pure taste of voidness. We find ourselves born, indeed born again and again, into a world shot through with suffering. Buddha teaches that this is fundamentally because our vagrant minds are distorted by ignorance and distracted by the toxic negative emotions that follow. Buddha also taught the antidote to ignorance and suffering – opening the mind to emptiness: an unsurpassable realization that nourishes, heals and brings relief. Join us for a weekend of study, reflection and meditation on Praise for Dependent Relativity, the poem that Je Tsongkhapa, one of Tibetan Buddhism’s foremost scholar-saints, wrote on the very morning that he entered into the ultimate view of voidness, the state of perfect peace where fabrications are stilled. The chantable translation of the verses by Geshe Tenzin Losel can be downloaded.
The poem may look intriguing or it may look difficult. Don’t be put off. The Tibetan masters wrote their verses this way, highly condensed. In either case, there will be plenty of explanation for people of most levels of understanding, so come along!
Further reading:
The book of commentary by my late teacher, edited by me, for people who want to know more than we can fit in a weekend, is Tsongkhapa’s Praise for Dependent Relativity by Losang Gyatso and Graham Woodhouse, Wisdom Publications.
About Geshe Tenzin Losel (Geshe Graham Woodhouse)
I was born in the middle of Britain just a couple of months after Elizabeth II became queen. The Unitarian church was my spiritual shelter from my earliest days. I added on Buddhism when I learned about emptiness, love and the mind’s brilliant potential from Tibetan teachers sent to the UK by Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. I studied English at university and taught it in Egypt, Sudan, South Sudan and Saudi Arabia. I studied Tibetan language and Buddhist philosophy at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, India, from 1990 to 2009.
Full ordination: 1994, His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Geshe degree: Drepung Loseling Monastery 2006.
In 2009 I returned to England to steer my parents along through their last years until 2016. Presently I have made my own private ‘British exit’ and, dependent once again on the enormous kindness of Lama Zopa Rinpoche, I have arrived in Nalanda Monastery, France. There Indian masters of the Middle Way School are a focus for me and I am struggling to pick up some Sanskrit with a fading memory.
Our excessive demands on the biosphere, the increasing pace of climate heating— I wonder how easy will it be to find a rebirth so seemingly favourable for Dharma study and practice in the future.
Publications:
- Translated/assisted in the preparation of Tibetan language teacher training textbooks at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.
- Annotated translations of Je Tsongkhapa’s short text on the getsul vows and His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s on the gelong vows.
- Editor and translator of the commentary on Tsongkhapa’s Praise for Dependent Relativity by Lobsang Gyatso, founder and principal of the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics.
- Annotated translation: A Glowing Light of Scripture and Reasoning, Lamp Illuminating the Essentials of the Four Seals that Authenticate the View by Gen Lamrimpa Ngawang Phuntsok. (2019).
- Translation: A Mirror Making All Things Clear, A Presentation of Signs and Reasonings by Geshe Tsultrim Namgyel. (2019)
Details
Venue: Sunshine Room, 505 East Whins, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TH
Fri. 3 April: 7.30-9pm
Sat. 4 April: 9.30am-6pm, Sun. 5 April: 9.30am-5pm
Suggested donations: Whole weekend, including Fri. night £135 /£90 /£65 (Tiered pricing)
We recognise that what is affordable for some can be a financial stretch for others and offer a tiered pricing structure. When you book, please select the price that feels appropriate for you.
£130 Pay it Forward Price covers the cost of your retreat and helps us to sustain our Buddhist group organising the next event.
£90 Sustainable Price covers the cost of your retreat.
£65 Supported Price reflects a partial bursary toward the cost of your retreat and is intended for those with minor financial need.
Several options for meals are available.
Accommodation: check local B+B list
For our cancellation policy please see togmesangpo.org.uk/cancellation-policy
Public Talk Friday night only, no need to book, just show up. Suggested donation: £20 /£10/ £7 (sliding scale)
Bookings for weekend:
Please copy and paste the following, and email it to togmesangpo37@gmail.com
I wish to book the weekend retreat Praise for Dependent Relativity with Geshe Graham Woodhouse
Fri. 3 April: 7.30-9pm
Sat. 4 April: 9.30am-6pm, Sun. 5 April: 9.30am-5pm
venue: Sunshine Room, 505 East Whins, The Park, Findhorn IV36 3TH
Name:
I wish to pay £130/£90/£65 (please delete as appropriate)
◯ I have paid in full
◯ I have sent a deposit of £30 to the account of Togme Sangpo, and will pay the rest by 6 March 2020.
Details for a bank transfer are:
Togme Sangpo Study Group
Account: 65549768
Sort code: 089299
Please give YOUR NAME as reference.
Please let us know when you make the transfer.
Or if you prefer, you can send a cheque. Make it out to Togme Sangpo Study Group and send to:
Togme Sangpo Study group
23 Birkenhillock Road
Forres IV36 1FH
I wish to join the Togme Sangpo mailing list yes/no