NOTES AND TRANSCRIPTS

The Nature of Reality and Compassion: Notes from comments made by His Holiness the Dalai Lama before giving a Shakyamuni Buddha Initiation in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 8, 1997.


Introduction to Buddhism in Four Lessons by Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen.  These notes were taken during Geshe Gyeltsen's visit to Colorado Springs in October, 1996 when he taught four sessions, each two hours in length. Geshe-la was not accompanied by a translator, therefore, his teachings were in English and less detailed and technical.  However, this simple approach was well suited to the basic nature of the his topic which was to serve as an introduction to Buddha's principle teachings for the many beginning students that were present.


Keys to Great Enlightenment by Geshe Tsultim Gyeltsen.
All of the material here is taken from a book written by Geshe Gyeltsen entitled Keys to Great Enlightenment. The book was drawn from two meditation courses taught by Geshe-la to the students of Thubten Dhargye Ling, the center that he established in Los Angeles. Two commentaries, one on the Eight Verses of Thought Training and the second on The Thirty-Seven Bodhisattva Practices are the principle focus of the book. Those complete commentaries (not reproduced here) are available in his book, now being distributed through Snow Lion Publications. With Geshe-la's permission, we have extracted the introductory material and topics that are preliminary to the commentaries. A description of the Tong-len practice is also provided. These selections are excellent material for anyone beginning or deepening their practice of Tibetan Buddhism.


A Small Dharma Dictionary - Common Terms and Phrases in Tibetan Buddhism