Thubten Norbu Ling is delighted to welcome back Geshe Thubten Sherab! It has been two years since Geshe-la taught his students in New Mexico and we are anxious to benefit from his warm, kind and perfect teachings one again.

Geshe Sherab will be setting aside some time to meet individually with students. If you would like to speak with Geshe-la about your spiritual practice, or would like Dharma advice, please contact Judith Bailie for an appointment ([ email ] cell: 577.4988)

Heruka Vajrasattva Tsog Offering Tea & Cake Reception for Geshe Sherab
Wednesday, March 10, Vajrasattva Tsog: 6:30 - 7:30pm. Reception: 7:30 - 8:30pm
Geshe Sherab will be our Guest of Honor at this Heruka Vajrasattva Tsog, a ceremony specifically designed to be performed in conjunction with the highest yoga tantra aspect of Vajrasattva, although all are welcome to attend and take part in this puja. This practice entails not just making offerings to Guru Vajrasattva, the main deity employed for purification by all levels of practitioners, but also reciting his mantra to help remove the impurities of our body, speech and mind. All are welcome to attend the reception for Geshe-la immediately following the practice.

Teachings on Togme Sangpo's The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas
Friday, March 12 - Sunday, March 14
Friday: 7:00 - 9:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 11:30am & 1:00 - 3:30pm; Sunday: 9:00am - 11:30am & 2:00 - 4:00pm
Friday, March 19 - Saturday, March 20
Friday: 7:00 - 9:00pm; Saturday: 9:00am - 11:30 & 1:00 - 3:30pm
Geshe-la will teach on Togme Sangpo's The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas, a practical and inspiring guide for developing our ability to be truly happy and benefit others. The root text of thirty-seven short verses sets out the essential practices that lead one to attain enlightenment. The renowned Tibetan Bodhisattva Togme Sangpo (1295-1369) was revered for living according to the bodhisattva ideals and practices that he taught. He was an inspiration to not just his direct disciples but also to generations of practitioners up to the present day. Geshe Sherab will kindly impart his wisdom and experience on this inspiring text over the course of these eight sessions.

Refuge Ceremony and Conferral of Bodhisattva Vows
Sunday, March 21 - 9:00 - 11:30am
The ceremony for taking refuge in the Three Jewels of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha, marks one's formal commitment to enter the Buddhist path. As part of this ceremony, Geshe-la will also offer the opportunity for those who have taken refuge to take any or all of the five infividual liberation (pratimoksha) vows. We are also delighted that Geshe-la has agreed to confer the bodhisattva vows for those who would like to make a formal commitment to the Mahayana path. All are welcome to attend, whether to newly take commitments, to reestablish those vows or commitments one has already made, or to simply observe the ceremony.
PLEASE NOTE: If you are considering formaly taking refuge, the lay vows, or bodhisattva vows for the first time, it is very important that you contact [ Don Handrick ] prior to the event so that preparations can be made.

Lama Chöpa and Tsog Offering
Sunday, March 21 - 6:30 - 9:30pm
As a conclusion to the events with Geshe Sherab at Thubten Norbu Ling, Geshe-la will be our guest of honor at Lama Chöpa (Guru Puja), a practice of making offerings to, and requesting inspiration and guidance from, the spiritual teacher in the form of Lama Tsong Khapa. This is an especially powerful practice to unite one's mind with the holy mind of the spiritual teacher, who is considered to be the root and life-force of the spiritual path, in order to receive blessings and generate realizations on the path to enlightenment. Everyone is welcome to bring an offering, either of monetary offering to help offset the cost of the puja, or food, tea lights, or flowers for the altar.

16 Guidelines
Friday, April 30, 7:00 - 8:30 pm Introductory Talk Saturday May 1, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Day 1 of Workshop Sunday, May 2, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Day 2 of Workshop The 16 Guidelines Training Course is a participatory and experiential introduction to the 16 Guidelines and the four 'wisdom themes' that underlie them. They provide a simple yet robust framework for reflecting on the way we think, speak and act, and for creating the causes to experience lasting happiness and meaning both at home and in the workplace. The latest research being carried out by neuroscientists suggests that each of us has the potential to continue developing and transforming our minds, from birth right up until death. The 16 Guidelines show us how to do this in a way that will benefit both ourselves and others. Why the 16 Guidelines? When King Songtsen Gampo invited philosophical and spiritual teachers from neighboring India into Tibet in the 7th century CE, he began the process of transforming a warlike nation into a civilization noted for its peace and serenity. The 16 Guidelines for Life are based on the inspirational values and principles that he introduced to his people. The 16 Guidelines are a contemporary presentation of ancient wisdom. If we can learn to apply them to real-life situations, again and again they demonstrate their extraordinary capacity to transform our relationships, help us make wise decisions, and bring us peace of mind in even the most difficult of circumstances. Taught by Marion O’Dwyer, a certified 16 Guidelines instructor, the course is non-denominational, and open to professionals and non-professionals alike. It offers over 10 hours of classroom teaching and attendees receive a certificate of participation and completion at the end of the course. Click here for additional information and the registration form (pdf).
Nyung-Na Retreat
Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center is offering a week long Nyung Nä Retreat from May 23-30, 2010. The retreat will be held at Sangre de Cristo Retreat Center, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains outside of Santa Fe, NM. The Nyung Nä retreat focuses on Chenrezig, the Buddha of Compassion. This fasting retreat involves making extensive praises, offerings, and prostrations. It is a beautiful and powerful purification practice that deepens our compassion and love for all suffering beings. Ideally, one should have a Chenrezig Initiation to attend, but at minimum have taken refuge. The retreat will be led by Merry Colony who is a disciple of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. For the last ten years she has been the director of the Education Department at FPMT International Office. She has led over 90 Nyung Nä retreats since 1981 and since that time has put her primary emphasis on making this beautiful practice as enjoyable and inspiring as possible for all. The fee for the retreat is $550 for the whole week. The fee for Sangha is $250. Scholarships are available on a case by case basis. Fees cover the costs of the retreat, as well as housing and vegetarian meals. Personal offerings for the teacher are not included in the fee. 32 single occupancy rooms are available for the retreat (with communal bathrooms). Rooms will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. A deposit of $250 is due by April 1st, 2010. The balance is due upon arrival. PDFs versions of the short flier and longer information packet for the retreat are available here. Registration Packet Flier For more information contact us at (505) 670-7678 or [ nyungna@tnlsf.org ]