Inside Santa Fe’s Faith Communities: Breaking the Buddha Code: New Courses Begin at Center

By NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO

A three-month course on “Breaking the Buddha Code: Deciphering Buddhist Philosophy” will begin Jan. 10 at the Thubten Norbu Ling Buddhist Center of Santa Fe, 149 E. Alameda

St. The course will be held from

7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays through April 18.

Based on the understanding that the Buddha presented diverse teachings to different people in accord with their capacities, Tibetan scholars systematized the numerous trends in classic Indian Buddhism into the four schools of philosophical tenets. In this course, participants will study the progressively more profound philosophical beliefs of the various schools of Buddhist thought, culminating in the view of the most highly esteemed school of Madhyamika, the Middle Way.

With the guidance of a classic text from the Tibetan monastic tradition, the class will explore the various assertions on minds, objects, selflessness and the nature of attainment within each of the schools, thus developing an appreciation of the vast and profound theory that lies behind Buddhist practice.

Part 1 on the Hinayana Schools will take place from Jan. 10 through Feb. 21 and Part 2 on the Mahayana Schools will take place from March 7 through April 18.

The instructor will be Don Handrick, the resident teacher at the center. He recently completed the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition Masters Program of Buddhist Studies in Sutra and Tantra, a seven-year residential program in Italy taught by Geshe Jampa Gyatso at the Lama Tsongkhapa Institute.

There is no registration required for this course. Fees are on a donation basis with a suggested rate of $15 per class.

Another course, “Buddhist Meditation 101″ begins Jan. 9. The four- class course will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays through Jan. 30 at the center.

This course is a perfect primer for new meditators. Participants will be presented with methods that will help them learn how to meditate. They will be given basic instruction on using the breath to generate mindfulness and concentration. The course will also include some experience in visualization techniques, as well as practical advice on developing a personal daily mediation practice.

The instructor will be Joan Stigliani who has been practicing and studying Buddhism since 1982.

After practicing for many years in the Insight Meditation tradition and the Zen tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, she entered the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, following the teachings of HIs Holiness, the Dalai Lama, and many other Tibetan lamas in the Gelug lineage presented by the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition. She recently attended the FPMT Masters Program in Italy at the Lama Tsongkhapa Institute.

There is no registration required. Fees are on a donation basis with a suggested rate of $15 per class.

For more information on either course or on the center, visit the Web site at www.tnlsf.org, send an e-mail to tnlsf@yahoo.com or call

660-7056.

Winter practice

at Upaya Zen Center

Joan Halifax Roshi of the Upaya Zen Center is preparing a Winter Practice Period which allows for more study and practice time for those who participate. The practice period continues through February — with both public talks and private retreats at the center — at 1404 Cerro Gord Road.

Here is the schedule of events:

* New Year’s Eve with 108 bells, begins at 10 p.m. until midnight.

* Tuesday: At 7:30 p.m., the film

I’m Your Man.

* Wedneday: At 5:30 p.m., a public dharma talk with Halifax Roshi.

* Thursday: At 11 a.m., a seminar on Breath Sutra based on Larry Rosenberg’s book Breath by Breath.

* Jan. 6: From 6 a.m. to 8:10 p.m., Zazenkai

* Jan. 7: At 11 a.m., a seminar on Breath Sutra based on Larry Rosenberg’s book Breath by Breath.

* Jan. 9, at 7:30 p.m., the film Compassion in Exile.

* Jan. 10, at 5:30 p.m., a public dharma talk by Halifax Roshi.

* Jan. 11, at 11 a.m., a seminar on Denkoroku based on The Record of Transmitting the Light.

* Jan. 13: From 6 a.m. to 8:10 p.m., Zazenkai.

* Jan. 14-21: Teachings, practice and pilgrimage into the Indigenous Heart and Buddhism with Joan Halifax Roshi. Call for information on tuition, food and lodging.

* Jan. 23: At 7:30 p.m., the film

Zen Noir.

* Jan 24-30: Winter Sesshin on Dogen’s Natural World Poetry with Joan Halifaz Roshi and Kazuaki Tanahashi.

For more information and details, visit the Web site at www.upaya.org or send an e-mail to upaya@upaya.org or call 986- 8518.

Inside Santa Fe’s Faith Communities is compiled by the individual faith community and edited by the religion editor. All faith communities are welcome to submit an article — send an e-mail to service@sfnewmexican.com or send fax to 986-9147. For more information, call

986-3049.

(c) 2006 The Santa Fe New Mexican. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.