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At any level of practice, insight (prajñā or jñāna) into the nature of mind and into the nature of reality plays a crucial role. But if so:

  • What do we really mean here by prajña and jñāna?
  • What is the difference between prajña and jñana?
  • How are prajñā or jñāna experienced, practiced, and realized both in meditation and in post-meditation?

Furthermore, in some Mahayana texts and many Vajrayana practices and commentaries, the five wisdoms (jñāna) are of utmost importance. But if this is the case, it seems to be especially important to develop a clear and intimate understanding of them. For example:

  • What do we really mean by the five wisdoms and what are their distinctive features?
  • Why do we seem to need five of them? Would one not be enough?
  • What is their specific nature?
  • What is their specific function?
  • What is their specific object?
  • When are they meant to be realized?
  • How do they deal with kleshas, obscurations, etc.?

This course will address these questions based on the Buddhabhumisutra — the classical Mahayana text on this subject. The discussion will address the five wisdoms both in the context of meditation and in post-meditation and daily life.

Who can attend: The class will be restricted to Tantrikas and Sadhakas who have received the pointing-out instruction from a recognized vajrayana lineage holder.
Host: KCCL and Ocean.
Cost  US $80

About the Instructors

Lodrö is a student of the late Ven. Trungpa Rinpoche and of Dzogchen Pönlop Rinpoche. Born 1952 in Germany, he received his first ordination in the Karma Kagyü Sangha in 1984, France, and then moved to Gampo Abbey, Canada. From 1985–2002 he served as Secretary of International Kagyü Sangha Association of Buddhist Monks and Nuns and published its magazine The Profound Path of Peace. He completed the traditional three year retreat in 1996 and a four year study retreat in 2003. He also served for a few years as Acting Director of Gampo Abbey, was one of the co-founders of Nitartha Institute and served as chair of Vidyadhara Institute, the monastic college of Gampo Abbey, since its inception. His focus of study is in the systematic traditions of Buddhist Abhidharma. He has translated and published—under the supervision of Prof. Ernst Steinkellner —Erich Frauwallner’s The Philosophy of Buddhism (Motilal). He is the general editor and main translator of The Collected Works of Louis de La Vallée Poussin, of which Volume I: Abhidharmakośa-Bhāṣya of Vasubandhu, was published in 2012, and Volume II: Vijñapti-mātratā-siddhi. A Commentary (Cheng WishLun) on Vasubandhu’s Triṃśikā by Xuanzang, was published in 2017. He was also engaged for several years in translating the Collected Works of Prof. Lambert Schmithausen. As President of Karma Changchub Ling, he is presently engaged in establishing it as a monastic centre of the Karma Kagyü lineage.

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