Lopön Sonam Jamtsho will lead a study group upon Juliane Monlam Wangmo’s request on Lonchenpa’s “Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind”, from Dec 2023 to April 2024!

Course Content:
Longchenpa’s works have achieved the status of classics within the Nyingma tradition, and by extension, in the broader Tibetan Buddhist world. Among his corpus, the “Seven Treasuries” and the “Trilogy of Rest” hold a position of prominence.

Among the Seven Treasuries the “Treasury of Dhamadhatu” and the “Treasury of Reality,” elucidate the inherently pure nature of reality. The “Treasury of the Supreme Vehicle” and the “Treasury of the Meaning of Words” present the ground as a state of spontaneous presence. The “Wish Fulfilling Treasury,” the “Treasury of Instructions,” and the “Treasury of Philo- sophical Systems,” offer presentations on general Buddhist thoughts and practices.

The Trilogy of Rest are “Finding Rest in Illusion” provides a Dzogchen interpretation of eight classical examples of illusion, “Finding Rest in Meditation“ primarily focuses on teachings related to meditation and associated themes, and “Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind” is a comprehensive work that presents Buddhist teachings in the style of the Stages of the Path genre.

These works encompass the entire spectrum of Tibetan Buddhism, presenting the nine-vehicle perspective of the Nyingma school. Together, they offer a comprehensive exploration of Bud- dhist teachings, ranging from lessons onimpermanence to the most esoteric aspects of the Great Perfection.

In this course, we will study “Finding Rest in the Nature of Mind”. It will be presented as a Dharma teaching withregards to the general Buddhist teaching contained in this text. The part of this text that is on the Dzogchen, cannot be aDharma teaching and will be read together like normal reading class.

Pedagogy:
Lopön Sonam Jamtsho will provide contextual and interpretive explanations of the texts. Ample time will be allocated for discussions and Q&A.

Schedule:
Classes will be held almost every Saturday 8 to 9:30 (Berlin Time) from December 2nd 2023 to April 27th, 2024. There will be breaks during holidays such as Christmas and New Year.

2023 December 2nd, 9th, 16th
2024 January 6, 13, 20, 27; February 3, 10,17, 24; March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; April 6, 13, 20, 27

Registration:
Please send your registration request to guenter.bauer@posteo.de

Venue:
The course will be conducted online via Zoom. The respective link will be provided after registration.

Donation:
You can choose the amount according to your capacities and wishes. Since some of you may ask for a reference point, 10-20 Euro per session is a good orientation. In case your financial situation is difficult at the moment, please know, that there is never a too small donation.

For more information, please contact: Dr. Guenter Bauer guenter.bauer@posteo.de

Lopön Sonam Jamtsho’s Biography

Lopön Sonam Jamtsho hails from a semi-nomadic family in the picturesque region of Bumthang, Bhutan, a place where the eminent Longchenpa resided for nearly a decade. Surrounded by the rich tapestry of Buddhist legends featuring luminaries like Guru Rinpoche, Longchenpa, and Drukpa Kuenley, he grew up in a world steeped in spirituality and natural beauty. Longchenpa himself penned a moving ode to the people of this valley and the breathtaking landscapes that surrounded them. From Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, Sonam Jamtsho received complete transmissions of Longchenpa’s works and associated empowerment. He was also advised and encouraged by Dzongsar Khyenntse Rinpoche to embark on a path dedicated to preserving and disseminating the wisdom and works of Longchenpa.

Lopön Sonam’s educational journey took him from high school in Bhutan, where he was introduced to the English language from a young age to a traditional monastic education, first in Nepal. After a decade of intensive study, he graduated with honours from the prestigious Dzongsar Shedra in India. His pursuit of knowledge was not confined to one lineage; inspired by the life and works of Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, he sought wisdom from scholars and teachers representing all denominations of Tibetan Buddhism. Currently, he is a doctoral candidate in Tibetan andBuddhist Studies at the University of Hamburg. His dedication to the preservation of Tibetan Buddhism extends beyond academia, as he actively contributes to the Khyentse Vision Project and serves as an interpreter for Tibetan teachers. Additionally, he shares his experience and knowledge through regular courses conducted at various Dharma Centers in Germany.