Friday, March 28, 2003 7:00 P.M.

Longlife Puja for Takster Rinpoche (Thubten J. Norbu)
Suggested donation $15.00 ($12.00 seniors/students/TCC members)

Sunday, March 30, 2003 7.00 P.M.

Teaching: "Four Contemplations that Transform the Mind"
Suggested donation $15.00 ($12.00 seniors/students/TCC members)

In Tibetan Buddhism, lamas teach "The Four Contemplations that Transform the Mind" in order to introduce the need to follow the Buddha's teaching. Through reflecting upon these teachings, a person is disillusioned about the vanities and shortcomings of wandering through life after life motivated by self-interest; perceives the need for compasionate activity, and is led to training in the spiritual disciplines of Buddhism.

The Four contemplations are: (1) The Presciousness of a Human Birth, (2) Death and Impermanance, (3) The Principles of Action and Causation (wholesome acts have pleasurable results, unwholsome acts have painful results), and (4) The Failings of Cyclic Existance (wandering through life after life).

Venerable Jigdal Dagchen Sakya Rinpoche

His Holiness Jigdal Dagchen Sakya, head lama of the Sakya order of Tibetan Buddhism, is a descendant of the powerful Tibetan Sakya lamas who established relationships with the Mongol Khans in central Asia in the 13 century. The relationships began with his forebearer, Sakya Pandita, who lived 1182-1251 and who made it possible for the Sakyas to rule Tibet for 100 years.

H.H.J.D. Sakya was born into the Phuntshog branch of the Khon lineage in Sakya, Tibet in 1929. He studied Buddhism with his father, His Holiness Trichen Ngawang Thutop Wangchuk, the last Great Sakya Throne-holder in Tibet, from whom he received teachings of the unbroken Knon lineage transmission: the Sakya Vajrakilaya, Hevajra, the complete Lamdre Tsogshe, "Path and Fruit" and other Sakya teachings.

Following the passing of his father, H.H.J.D. Sakya travelled to East Tibet to study in depth with two of this century's greatest masters, non-sectarian Dzongsar Khyentse Jamyang Chokyi Lodro and Nyingma master Dingo Khyentse Rabsel Dawa Rinpoch. From them, he received further teachings, which are the non-sectarian Tibetan Buddhist practices of the four main sects: Nyingma, Kagyu, Gelug, and Sakya.

After the Chinese Communist takeover of Tibet, H.H.J.D. Sakya, one of the two major lineage holders of the Sakya tradition, was forced to leave his homeland in 1959. He was invited to the United States by the Rockefeller Foundation as a Tibetan scholar on the faculty of the University of Washington in Seattle Washingotn, USA, where he has resided since 1960.

In 1974, H.H.J.D. Sakya and H.E. Dezhung Rinpoche founded Sakya Tegchen Choling Center for the Study of Tibetan Buddhism.

In 1984, H.H.J.D.Sakya purchased a First Sakya lineage in the West as well as a seat of cultural and religious learning. Bernardo Bertolucci's 1993 film, "Little Buddha" featured Sakya Monastery during remodeling.

Now that remodeling is nearing completion, the Monastery is directing it's attention to educational activities. To this end, in 1997, the Monastery founded the Virupa Ecumenical Institute. Ongoing Institute programs began in spring 1998.

H.H.J.D.Sakya gives extensive empowerments and teachings ithroughout the United states, Canada, Europe, Asia, and Taiwan. For more iformation about Sakya Monastery and their varied programs, please go to the website at http://www.sakya.org