Four Ways of Turning the Mind to Dharma (DVD)

Description

Khenpo Ugyen begins by providing profound teachings on the first section of Jamgon Kongtrul’s text which describes the vast study, contemplation, reasoning, and practice engaged in by students with genuine confidence in the teachings. These students have no need to study the Four Ways of Turning the Mind to Dharma. However, the Four Ways are essential for students whose practice is impacted by obstacles, such as difficulty understanding and applying the teachings. Khenpo Ugyen then explains that Jamgon Kongtrul’s presentation is more pervasive than standard teachings on the Four Reminders. Jamgon Kongtrul’s approach corresponds both with the essential meaning of the Four Dharmas of Gampopa and with the Four Essential Lines of Instruction of the Sakya Lineage. Jamgon Kongtruls Four Ways are: (1) turning the mind away from this life; (2) turning the mind away from cyclic existence; (3) turning the mind away from the serenity of the Shravakas; and (4) turning the mind away from dualistic fixation.

These four talks provide profound and detailed teachings on Jamgon Kongtrul’s Four Ways. Turning the mind away from this life means contemplating precious human birth and impermanence (including the process of death). Turning the mind away from cyclic existence means contemplating karma, cause and result (including four forms of karmic actions, magnified results, how actions ripen as results, and how actions are rendered powerful) and the suffering of samsara. In Talk four, Khenpo Ugyen concludes with teachings on Turning the Mind away from the serenity of the Shravakas and Turning the mind away from dualistic fixation. These teachings include Q&A. Talks 1-3 are translated by Jigme Nyima. Talk 4 is translated by Michele Martin. Four talks on four DVDs.

Note: Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin taught on Chapter 4 of Section 7 of the Treasury of Knowledge at the Hartford KTC twice (2006 & 2011). Khenpo Ugyen’s 2011 teaching was more thorough than the earlier presentation but was cut short after three talks due to an extreme snow storm. This set of DVDs combines these three talks from 2011 with Khenpo Ugyen’s fourth talk from 2006 to provide a complete teaching on Jamgon Kongtrul’s text.

Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin was enrolled in the first class of Karma Shri Nalanda Institute at Rumtek Dharma Chakra Center where he studied under Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche. He received the Acharya degree from Nalanda Institute and Sampumanand Sanskrit University, jointly, in 1991. As a khenpo, he taught at Nimalung Monastery in Bhutan. He served as senior abbot and principal teacher at Nalanda Institute at Rumtek from 1997 to 2002. In 2002, he returned to Bhutan to go into retreat . He left retreat, following the request of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, to serve as a resident teacher at Karma Triyana Dharmachakra, Woodstock, New York.

Translation was provided by Jigme Nyima. Jigme has been translating for KTD lamas since 2007, and in particular has traveled as the interpreter for Khenpo Ugyen Tenzin to KTD affiliate centers. Prior to coming to KTD, he worked and trained as a resident at Kagyu Thubten Choling, directed by Lama Norlha Rinpoche.

Features

Chapter Pointing on DVD video recordings
On this recording, chapter points have been set at each transition from Tibetan to English and from English to Tibetan. Because Khenpo sometimes speaks in Tibetan for long periods at a time, some viewers may wish to jump forward to the English translation (at any time) by using the Next Chapter button (>>|) on their DVD player’s remote control. Also, for those who primarily speak Tibetan, the same process works for jumping from the English to the Tibetan.