The Buddhist Path of Awakening Course
Tuesdays 7-9 PM ET via Zoom
Course Overview
Live-streamed every Tuesday at 7 - 9 PM ET via Zoom, class begins after 30-minute group meditation (optional)
Recommended Readings
Zoom recordings: Review chapter readings and links to class recordings on YouTube
Course resources: Books and videos mentioned in class, and a special offer from Shambhala Publications
Learn more about the Kagyü Lineage of Vajrayana
Join our ongoing Tuesday Buddhist Path of Awakening Course discussing chapters from the book Mind at Ease by Traleg Kyabgon. We begin with 30 minutes of meditation starting at 7 PM ET followed by a talk and discussion. Drop-ins welcomed!
Missed a class or would like to review it again? See below for the Zoom recordings.
The recommended readings for each week is also sent in our weekly newsletter).
Zoom Class Recordings & Readings
In the spring of 2023, we began reading the book Mind at Ease: Self-Liberation through Mahamudra Meditation by Traleg Kyabgon. Review the class recordings below.
April 11, 2023: Chapter 1, "What is Mahamudra," pages 3-14, https://youtu.be/26yB0MerLEo
April 18, 2023: Chapter 2, “The Importance of Correct View and Chapter 1, Pages 14-21, https://youtu.be/GoKokGUu5OQ
April 25, 2023: The last part of Chapter 3, “The Spiritual Path," pages 44-50 and Chapter 4, “Deluded Mind, Enlightened Mind,” pages 51-59, https://youtu.be/VEZy_ub1vbY
May 2, 2023: Chapter 5, “The Four Preliminaries," pages 60-69. Chapter 5, The Four Preliminaries, pages 60-69 are available Part 1 at https://youtu.be/Y2bZlpVvmgM and Part 2 at https://youtu.be/OjNB0HbbmSs
May 9, 2023; Chapter 5 pages 69-91 treating the 3rd and 4th Preliminaries, #3 The Unsatisfactoriness of Samsara and #4 Karmic Cause and Effect, https://youtu.be/mwnkkKRCSAI
May 16, 2023; Chapter 6, “The Four Immeasurables," pages 92-117, https://youtu.be/b2NuRZmqS_E
May 23, 2023; Chapter 7, “Buddha-Nature," pages 121-140.
May 30, 2023: The first part of Chapter 8, Tranquillity Meditation, pages pp. 143-157. Two-part recording https://youtu.be/XEf8dzITmdM (Part 1) and at https://youtu.be/cMF4-dzWM2c (Part 2)
June 6, 2023: Second part of Chapter 8, "Tranquillity Meditation," pages 157-167 https://youtu.be/yTkGV4ypD9s
June 13, 2023: Chapter 9 "Insight Meditation," first part pp.168-179 https://youtu.be/2DWJTElYMu8
June 20, 2023: Chapter 9 “Insight Meditation” (Part 2 of 3) is available at https://youtu.be/ZKXaCgAYyJM
June 27: Chapter 9 “Insight Meditation” (Part 2 of 3 continued) is available at https://youtu.be/Lo5DeE6rfrw
July 2023: Summer break. Suggested for the month of July: Reread Mind at Ease by Traleg Rinpoche through chapter 9 if you have the time and interest, perhaps focusing on the following chapters in particular: Chapter 4, "Deluded Mind, Enlightened Mind;" Chapter 7, "Buddha-Nature," Chapter 8, "Tranquility Meditation;" and Chapter 9, "Insight Meditation." If you are short on time, just re-read the Ground and Path Mahamudra Chapters 7, 8, and 9. Also suggested: read these chapters either right before or right after a period of meditation practice, if possible.
August 1st, 2023: Chapter 10, “The Four Yogas of Mahamudra," pages 209-224; Chapter 11, “ On the Spiritual Journey,” pages 225-227; and Padma Karpo’s Precious Sun, Pages 229-235. https://youtu.be/MXLPLpluqas
August 8, 2023: Chapter 10, “The Four Yogas of Mahamudra," pages 217-224; Chapter 11, “ On the Spiritual Journey,” pages 225-227; and
Padma Karpo’s Precious Sun, Pages 229-235. https://youtu.be/6RUCPksDf3U
August 15, 2023: No class. This is to give you time to purchase the book for the next class on August 22nd from Shambhala Publications or Amazon - The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group - and read the “Introduction" and, if you wish, the “Foreward” and the “Preface."
August 22, 2023: New reading assignment:
The Way of the Bodhisattva by Shantideva, translated by the Padmakara Translation Group, "The Introduction" pages 1-41. Optional Reading: “Forward," “Preface," and "The Text and the Translation."
Zoom class recordings can also be viewed on our YouTube Channel. Past recordings from this course series (beginning in Fall of 2019) can also be found here.
Buy Books from Shambhala Publications
Get a 40% discount on any and all of the volumes of The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma by Chögyam Trungpa and also on Mind at Ease by Traleg Kyabgon. Order at www.shambhala.com and use the discount code POA40 at checkout. Shambhala Publications is generously doing this to help with our study of the Buddha-dharma.
Course Resources
Previous course links
; The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Three
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism (review recordings of certain chapters from this book) Learn more
Shambhala, The Sacred Path of the Warrior. Listen to the book course here
Recommended readings, books, and videos mentioned in the course
Buy books online at Shambhala Publications, click here to buy
About the Kagyu School
The Kagyu school, also transliterated as Kagyü, or Kagyud (Tibetan: བཀའ་བརྒྱུད།, Wylie: bka' brgyud), which translates to "Oral Lineage" or "Whispered Transmission" school, is one of the main schools (chos lugs) of Tibetan (or Himalayan) Buddhism. The Kagyu lineages trace themselves back to the 11th century Indian Mahasiddhas Naropa, Maitripa and the yogini Niguma, via their student Marpa Lotsawa (1012–1097), who brought their teachings to Tibet. Marpa's student Milarepa was also an influential poet and teacher.
The Tibetan Kagyu tradition gave rise to a large number of independent sub-schools and lineages. The principal Kagyu lineages existing today as independent schools are those which stem from Milarepa's disciple, Gampopa (1079–1153), a monk who merged the Kagyu lineage with the Kadam tradition.[1] The Kagyu schools which survive as independent institutions are mainly the Karma Kagyu, Drikung Kagyu, Drukpa Lineage and the Taklung Kagyu.[2] The Karma Kagyu school is the largest of the sub-schools, and is headed by the Karmapa. Other lineages of Kagyu teachings, such as the Shangpa Kagyu, are preserved in other schools.
The main teachings of the Kagyus include Mahamudra and the Six Dharmas of Naropa.
*While there is no required fee for these classes (either course), the suggested donation is $10/class or $108/12 classes. You can also donate your practice and study in addition to or in lieu of money, as these are the most valuable donations you can make.
Online Tuesday Schedule
6:45 PM ET: Zoom room opens. Drop-ins welcomed! If new to this course and community, please join us at the beginning of class (see also below).
7 -7:30 PM ET: 30 minutes of meditation (optional, but recommended!)
7:35 PM ET: Class; a presentation of a chapter followed by 20 minutes of discussion at 8:40 PM ET.
Join us anytime!
Class Details
*Suggested donation: $10/class or $108 for 12 classes (donate here)
Drop-ins welcomed (join us anytime). If new to meditation and our online courses, see below for a foundational course on Thursdays.
Led by John Baker and others
*While there is no required fee for these online classes, the suggested donation is $10/class or $108/12 classes. You can also donate your practice and study in addition to or instead of money, as these are the most valuable donations you can make. Subscribe/Donate to class
New Participants
If new to our virtual community and online course please send us an email a few days prior, or join us at the start of the course; 6:45 PM ET to discuss your participation with one of our teachers
During class, please make sure to display your face and full name when entering the Zoom room. We have been "Zoom-bombed" in the past, hence these precautions. Learn how to change your name in Zoom here.
Class readings will be sent weekly to participants. If you want to join that mailing list, please email us here.
Watch previous class recordings below and if new to our meditation group, view meditation instruction videos here or join us live every morning at 9 AM ET for one-on-one meditation instruction.
We also offer a live-streamed foundational course on Thursdays studying chapters from The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Volume One, The Path of Individual Liberation. Learn more
By Donation ($10 per class)
If attending regularly, kindly consider a monthly sunscription. Learn more