Bodhi Path Studies Program

presents

Khenpo Tsering’s Two-Week Program

August 28 to September 10, 2011

The First in a Four-Part Annual Series

At Natural Bridge, VA

The North American Bodhi Path Buddhist centers are pleased to announce a new Buddhist Studies program being offered in the U.S. With this program, the centers wish to provide a profound opportunity for those interested in learning more deeply the meaning of the Buddha dharma, in order to benefit themselves and also to help others. This particular program, taught by Khenpo Tsering Samdup, is similar to courses held at the institute known as KIBI, located in New Delhi, India, and was designed with the intention of helping students broaden their wisdom of dharma and gain perspective on how profound and vast the Buddha dharma actually is.

This program, consisting of annual two-week sessions over four years (for a total of eight weeks over four years), will provide teachings on four major philosophy treatises. Each annual session will draw from one major book of each treatise. Additionally, each year the program will offer teachings on important supplementary philosophy texts. The first two-week session will take place this year at the Bodhi Path Center in Natural Bridge, Virginia, August 28 - September 10, 2011. The program is scheduled for the same time each year, to coincide with the U.S. Labor Day holiday.

 

This year, Khenpo Tsering will give teachings on Madhyamakavatara (Entering the Middle Way) by Chandrakirti, and the additional philosophy texts The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and Gateway to Knowledge.

The following information is provided to help with your planning.

 

 

 

Khenpo Tsering Samdup’s summary biography:

Khenpo Tsering began his Buddhist training at the Shri Karma Nalanda Institute at Rumtek in Sikkim, a college of higher Buddhist studies founded by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa. After completing 9 years of study there, he received the degree of Acharya (Master of Philosophy) in 1990. Khenpo Tsering then continued as a teacher at Nalanda for one year before being sent by Shamar Rinpoche to teach at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi. Over the next 6 years, his time was spent teaching at KIBI and throughout Europe, Southeast Asia and the U.S. In 2002, Shamar Rinpoche appointed him Headmaster of Shri Diwakar Vihara Buddhist Institute in Kalimpong.  Over the past several years, Khenpo Tsering has taught hundreds of westerners in Buddhist centers throughout the U.S.

 

Sample Daily Schedule (subject to change):

9:00 - 11:00 am

First Class for Main Subject (Madhyamakavatara, sixth chapter)

[30-minute break]

11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Class for Additional Subject (The Jewel Ornament of Liberation, chapters 1-6)

1:00 am - 4:00 pm

Long break for lunch and self study

4:00 - 5:00 pm

Second Class for Main Subject (Madhyamakavatara, sixth chapter)

[30-minute break]

5:30 - 6:30 pm

Class for Additional Subject (Gateway to Knowledge, chapters 1-3)

 

General Information:

Location:

Bodhi Path Natural Bridge, located eight miles south of Lexington, Virginia, at the south end of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley.

Address: 12 Bodhi Path, Natural Bridge, VA, 24578.

 

Accommodations:

Please make your reservations directly with the establishment of choice as soon as possible. (Car needed for most.)

Hotel/motels:

South River Highlands, 540-463-2593. Lovely rustic cabins and dorm space options 15 miles from center, car necessary. Call directly for availability and discounts.  Mention “Bodhi Path event” when calling.  innkeepers@southriverhighlands.com

Budget Inn Natural Bridge, 540-291-2896. A modest motel, 1+ mile from the center. Special rate of $59.95-$69.99 for the “nothing fancy” crowd. Mention Bodhi Path.

Blacksmith Inn B&B, 540-291-4000. 3-mile drive from the center, or 1-mile cross-country hike. The inn is holding rooms through July 31, and special rates are available. Mention Bodhi Path.

Natural Bridge of Virginia Hotel, 800-533-1410. 5 miles from center.

Other options include: Best Western Lexington Inn (540) 458-3020; Country Inn & Suites (540) 464-9000; Holiday Inn Express (540) 463-7351; Days Inn Keydet General (540) 463-2143.

For other accommodations 10+ miles from the center, please visit the Lexington Visitors Center’s website at www.lexingtonvirginia.com.

Camping and Cabins:

Natural Bridge KOA. 540-291-2770. RV hook-ups, small cabins, tents. 2 miles from the center.

Shared Housing:

For possible shared housing options (car may be needed), please email studies@bodhipath.org.

Transportation:

The closest airport is in Roanoke, Virginia, about 45 miles from the Bodhi Path. Car rental available at airport.

Limo Service available from: Roanoke Airport Transportation Service, 540-345-7710, and Prestige Limousine, Inc., 540-342-8049. Price depends on number of people traveling together. Call for pricing. Make arrangements early to insure availability.

Lynchburg, Virginia, is a regional airport about one and a half hours from the center. This airport is often cheapest for those flying from the west.  You will need a rental car if you fly into this airport.

Washington DC airports, Dulles International or Reagan International, about 200 and 210 miles respectively. You will need a rental car if you fly into either of these airports.

Baltimore International Airport, about 240 miles from the center. You will need a rental car if you fly into this airport.

Some special deals:  For folks coming from Florida or points south, check Allegiant Air’s website for very cheap flights directly into Roanoke.  However, Allegiant only flies from Tampa/St. Petersburg or Orlando.  If you go on the site and sign up for their newsletter, they will let you know when they have the $9 sale to Roanoke!

From New York City, Delta Airlines has a $150 round trip ticket to Lewisburg, West Virginia, which is a 1.5 hour drive to Bodhi Path.

Accommodation and Ride Share Coordination:

Participants who would like to provide accommodation and ride share preferences for coordinating with others will be able to do so on a web document.  Specifics will be sent out with confirmation of registration.  For more information email studies@bodhipath.org

 

List of Books to Bring:  The specific books (available at Amazon.com) to be purchased ahead of time by participants:  

1) The Karmapa's Middle Way:  Feast for the Fortunate, A Commentary on Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara by Wangchuk Dorje (Author), Tyler Dewar (Translator); published by Snow Lion Publications;

2) The Jewel Ornament of LIberation:  The Wish-Fulfilling Gem of the Noble Teachings by Gampopa (Author), Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Rinpoche (Translator); published by Snow Lion Publications and

3) Gateway to Knowledge:  A Condensation of the Tripaka, Vol. 1 by Jamgon Rinpoche (Author), Kathy Morris (Editor), Erik Pema Kunsang (Translator), Mipham Rinpoche (Author); published by North Atlantic Books

Program Fees:

All fees include lunch on-site.

$490 for complete program, 14 days.

$250 for half of program, 7 days.

$40 daily rate.

Students are highly encouraged to attend the complete program if possible.

Space is limited. Advanced registration is important,and must be made, along with full payment, no later than August 15, 2011. Acceptance of registration after this date will be based on availability. We encourage you to make your lodging reservations as early as possible. (See Event Registration Cancellation Policy below.)

Reservation and Payment Deadline:

Advanced registration must be made, along with full payment, by August 15, 2011, and acceptance after this date is based on availability. You may register on line with a credit card.

 

Prior to August 15, 2011, your total program fee, minus a $40 per person registration fee, will be refunded upon cancellation. After August 15, no refunds will be made.

For Further Information:

Email: studies@bodhipath.org or visit our website: www.bodhipath.org.

 

Please note: Your registration will not be complete until you receive our confirmation that we have received your payment.