Tibetan Language Bön Prayers: Session III
2019-10-20 09:00 - 2019-11-17 10:00 (America/Chicago) | TX, United States
The Invocation of Tapihritsa with Geshe Denma Gyaltsen
October 20, 2019 – November 17, 2019
The five-week session begins October 20, 2019, studying approximately four verses of Tibetan text for each class. The live class through Zoom video-conference occurs Sunday mornings at 9:00 am (Central Standard Time, Houston).
The Tibetan Language Bön Prayers Program is pleased to announce a new course taught by Geshe Denma Gyaltsen, the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas: Session III: The Invocation of Tapihritsa. The course focuses on the Invocation of Tapihritsa, a marvelous twenty-three verse prayer spontaneously composed by Nangzher Lopo upon recognizing Tapihritsa who manifested in the sky above him as a radiant Buddha of white light. Following this supreme encounter, Nangzher Lopo, the renowned 8th-century scholar and practitioner, was the first to set in writing the Zhang Zhung Nyen Gyüd (the Oral Transmission of Zhang Zhung), one of the most revered series of Bön dzogchen teachings. The Invocation of Tapihritsa beautifully communicates the unbounded wholeness of Bön dzogchen, sacred narrative, and religious art.
Guided by Geshe Denma’s lively teaching, students will learn Tibetan letter recognition, correct pronunciation and melody of the invocation, and encounter its meaning through Tibetan stories, prominent thangka paintings, and Bön philosophy.
There are no prerequisites for the course. No prior knowledge of Tibetan is needed. Whether one took Geshe-la’s previous courses on Tibetan Language Daily Prayers or is starting brand new, the class is a great opportunity. The teachings are vast, and the connection is fresh and lively.

Course materials include:
Tibetan Study Edition of the Invocation including Tibetan script, Wylie transliteration, phonetic transliteration, word-by-word translation, and full English translation
Tibetan Language Learning Materials to introduce the reading of Tibetan language including the alphabet with Wylie transliteration and the formation of Tibetan syllables with prefixes, superscripts, subscripts, suffixes, and secondary suffixes.
Audio recording of the Invocation of Tapihritsa
New for Session III: Video recording of the line-by-line Tibetan spelling, pronunciation, and word meanings of the Invocation of Tapihritsa. Based in student-feedback, this should enhance the opportunity for self-paced study and increase the time during the live classes to encounter the warmth of Geshe-la’s teaching.
The course implements a blended approach to online learning with both self-paced study and a weekly class. Class materials and discussion forums are hosted on the Ligmincha Learning course page, and the weekly live-class (60 minutes) occurs through Zoom video-conference which will also be recorded. The course is co-designed with Geshe Denma as the lead teacher and Bob Clark, an English teacher and longtime student of Tenzin Rinpoche, as teaching-assistant.

Zoom On Line Course Dates: October 20 – Nov 17, 2019
Cost: $125
Registration is now open.
Frequently Asked Questions

Opening the Door to Bön - The 9 Breathings of Purification
2019-10-27 11:30 - 13:30 | Ligmincha Texas, Inc., 5316 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX, 77402, United States
Practice Description

This Sunday, we will explore the practice of the Nine Breathings of Purification.
The View of the wisdom tradition of Bön Buddhism is that the nature of our mind is clear and open, like a cloudless dessert sky. What causes our suffering, is our disconnection from our true nature. The practice of these cleansing breaths, help us to clear what obscures our recognition of our true nature.
There is no fee for this session but a suggested donation of $10 to the Center is gratefully appreciated.

Contract Information

Leslie Abuso

leslieabuso@ligminchatexas.org

Tsa Lung Breathing & Ma Tri
2019-10-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Houston, United States
Please join us at Yoga Haven in Galveston for this practice.
The ultimate goal of the meditation is to learn to abide with stability in clear, open awareness. You can enhance your ability to connect with and rest in this naturally joyful state by alleviating any physical distractions, emotional blocks and disturbances to your practice.
These five Tsa Lung exercises are a step by step means for identifying and clearing these obstacles.
The 3 heart mantras are said to be the essence enlightenment in sound and energy. Geshe Denma will lead a practice with these 3 mantras. Come and experience the vibration from these sacred sounds.
To register, please visit the Yoga Haven website https://theyogahaven.net/apps/mindbody/enrollments

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Geshe Denma Gyaltsen is the resident lama of Ligmincha Texas. He arrived in Houston in January 2016 to serve as Ligmincha Texas’s first resident lama.
Geshe Denma was born in northern Nepal. His father brought him to Menri Monastery, India, regarded as the mother Bon monastery in exile, in 1981 to begin his program of study toward the Geshe degree. He received all the Bon teachings, initiations and transmissions in sutra, tantra and dzogchen from His Holiness Lungtok Tenpai Nyima Rinpoche, the 33rd Menri Trizin, and His Eminence Yongdzin Tenzin Namdak Rinpoche.
When he became a senior student, he was asked to teach philosophy to younger students. He successfully completed this degree program in 1996 and was awarded the Geshe certificate, which is considered equivalent to a Ph.D. in Bön Buddhist philosophy and religion.
Geshe Denma was an accomplished teacher and in 1998 was appointed, with the approval of the Tibetan government in exile, first abbot of Zhu Rishing Yungdrung Kundak-Ling Monastery, a Bon Monastery in Sikkim, India by His Holiness. He served two terms in this capacity until 2003. In addition, from the time he graduated until 2008, Geshe Denma also was active in assisting Geshe Nyima Dakpa with the Bon Children’s Home, which houses many children in Dolanji, India, providing them with food, healthcare and free education.
