Mipham Academy

Mipham Academy 2010

With Khenpo Gawang

September 13 - 24, 2010

Registration and details: http://www.karmecholing.org/registration.php?src=1&program_id=4250&action=view-program-details

This year is an ideal time to join the Mipham Academy, as we will be beginning with the first verses of Mipham the Great’s commentary on Shantarakshita’s Ornament to the Middle Way. This profound and vast text explicates the view of emptiness and mind and unifies the most important schools of the Mahayana into a single stream. The commentary ultimately interweaves the view of the Great Perfection with the Mahayana schools of Madhyamaka and Yogacara. It is therefore a profound text to prepare for Vajrayana practice and Scorpion Seal training.

Any person with a passion for studying, clarifying, and embodying the ultimate view is encouraged to join us. In the Mipham Academy we are are seeking to cultivate a community of Shambhalians who long to engage in detailed study, contemplation, and practice as a personal path and way of life.

Program Prerequisites:
Open to all to all graduates of Shambhala Sutrayana Seminary.

The Adornment of the Middle Way offers a powerful view of the full breadth of Mahayana teachings. In addition, Mipham’s commentary is widely recognized to be one of his masterpieces, fully displaying his creative genius.

Shantarakshita is renowned for his role in spreading the dharma to Tibet. He was invited to Tibet by King Trisongdetsen in the late 8th century. There, he founded Samye, the first monastery, and ordained the first monks. His text, The Adornment of the Middle Way, brings together the path-oriented view of the mind-only school and the absolute view of emptiness. It proclaims the inseparability of Madhyamaka and Chittamatra, the profound view of Nagarjuna and the vast activity of Asanga. According to Mipham Rinpoche, this text presents a refined synthesis of the Svatantrika and Prasangika views of how to properly present the truth of emptiness.

An English translation of The Adornment of the Middle Way, together with Mipham’s commentary, is available from Shambhala Publications.

About Khenpo Gawang:

Khenpo Gawang was born in Kham, Tibet. He escaped at a very young age to India, and enrolled at Nomdroling monastery, which is the seat of His Holiness Penor Rinpoche. Khenpo Gawang and Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche studied together at Namdroling, and Khenpo Gawang became the best debater in the shedra. His Holiness Penor Rinpoche requested him to support the Sakyong in propagating the Shambhala teachings and explaining their relationship with the more traditional teachings of Dzogchen. Khenpo Gawang began traveling with Rinpoche in 2003. The two are dear friends.