The study of Dharma is the examination of your own nature. It is, therefore, a life-long process. The Great Middle Way View, Meditation, and Conduct Online Mentoring introduces the basic concepts and methods of Buddhist Dharma in a simple, graduated sequence. The perspective adopted is that taught and practiced in the New Jonang Community, the Sangha of those who study and practice the Great Middle Way (dbu ma chenpo) tradition. The New Jonang Community is affiliated with Suddha Dharma Sangha, a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization registered in the United States.
If you are new to Buddhism, you will find here everything you need in order to develop a thorough understanding of the basic teachings. Mentoring takes you step by step from broad concepts and simple practices toward more subtle points and advanced methods, culminating in the Six-branch Vajrayoga.
The New Jonang approach draws upon the main texts and oral instructions of Great Middle Way Buddhism, in the lineage of Buddha Shakyamuni, Buddha Maitreya, Arya Nagarjuna, Arya Asanga, Arya Vasubandu, the Omniscient Dolpopa, and Jetsun Taranatha. The contributions of recent and contemporary Masters of the Rime (non-sectarian) movement, such as Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye, Ju Mipham, Patrul Rinpoche, Lama Shabkar, and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche are acknowledged and incorporated.
Buddhist View, Meditation, and Conduct is an individually-paced mentoring process. You determine how slowly or rapidly you wish to correspond, and which topics you would like to explore. There are no minimum or maximum time frames. The special quality of this approach is that Tashi Nyima draws upon the depth of Buddhist philosophy to show how the Dharma can make a real difference to the way we live our lives today.
Mentoring is offered at no cost. If you would like to make a financial contribution, please do so by supporting the New Jonang Community through our website or by making a donation through the mail. However, you are under no obligation. We offer free mentoring to share the blessings and benefits of Great Middle Way Buddhism.
If you find the fiscussions interesting enough to warrant in-depth study of particular texts (such as Maitreya’s Changeless Continuum of the True Entity, and The Middle Beyond Extremes; Nagarjuna’s Letter to a Friend and In Praise of the Dharmadhatu; Vasubandhu’s Twenty and Thirty Verses; Shantideva’s The Conduct of the Bodhisattva; Patrul Rinpoche’s Heart Essence of the Enlightened Ones; and the Omniscient Dolpopa’s General Commentary on the Doctrine, The Fourth Council, and Mountain Dharma: Ocean of Definitive Meaning), or want to be involved with the New Jonang Community in other ways, you are most welcome. Just drop us a line.
Mentoring Description
Although we will discuss concepts from various Buddhist traditions, it is important to understand that we present Buddhist thought from a Mahayana Buddhist perspective, and from amongst the Mahayana schools, from the Great Middle Way (Jonang) standpoint.
Mentoring includes not only an exchange of correspondence, but also recommendations for active study, and time for reflection, meditation, and practice. We will explore the basis of the Buddhist View (the First, Second, and Third Noble Truths), and Buddhist Practice (the Fourth Noble Truth).
Your active discussion with the mentor will bring these topics to life.
The Mentor
Tashi Nyima is a preceptor in the New Jonang Community, renowned for his warmth, humor, and ability to make the most profound Buddhist philosophical teachings accessible to all.
Born and raised in the West, Tashi Nyima received his early education with the Christian monks and fathers of the Dominican and Jesuit Orders. He has travelled extensively and lived in North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and sat at the feet of respected Teachers of various Dharma traditions, including Srimata Ganga Devi Sen-Gupta, Swami Hariharananda Giri, Swami Narasimha, Swami Tirtha, Lama Tsering Ngodup, HH the Dalai Lama, Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche, HH the Sakya Trizin, and HE Tashi Gyaltsan Rinpoche. He is the heart-son of Kyabje Tashi Norbu Rinpoche, from whom he received the full transmission of the Great Middle Way view, meditation, and conduct.
Tashi Nyima conducts an extensive program at New Jonang that includes discussion of traditional texts, instruction on meditation, and mentoring, along with classes for students who are newer to Buddhism.
If you would like to proceed, please contact Tashi Nyima at GreatMiddleWay@gmail.com to begin the mentoring process.
mangalam
I would love to participate in your online course.
On this auspicious day, I received in the post, a copy of Taranatha’s Essence of Ambrosia.
For the past 10 days or more I have added Samaya Tara recitation to my evening practice
Dear Venerable Tashi Nyima,
I read your entry regarding how to manage afflicted emotions. Do you have a recommendation as to what to read to understand these methods better and to help put these into practice.
Thank you,
Sara
Dear Sara,
The information is not all in one place.
I would suggest starting with the practice of renunciation. The basic instruction is to contemplate (consider with one-pointed attention) an antidote. The antidote of desire is to contemplate all the negative qualities and outcomes associated with the object of desire. The antidote of aversion is to contemplate gratitude toward the object of aversion. And so on, as in the post. It is a systematic consideration of the view that diametrically opposes the one we hold at the moment.
The transformation techniques involve specific visualizations, although one can also recite mantras. The recognition techniques require strong confidence in the certainty of emptiness and Buddha essence. Both sets of techniques are usually consulted with a mentor.
Dear Tashi, you have inspired me to start a Zen blog. Do you mind if I re-blog some of your posts, there and there, as I find them enlightening ?
Lou (from Talesafromthelou) but here’s where I would post your re-blogs: http://zenflash.wordpress.com/
Of course, I would give you all credit and maintain the posts’ integrity and links, etc. . Thank you, Lou
Thank you, Lou. You are welcome to repost anything. Credit is not necessary, but if you do make changes, please acknowledge them as your own. Tashi
Wonderful. Thank you Tashi. I will credit you when I do it. Peace.