What is contemplative education? How does it relate to wisdom, to Buddha-Nature and to Ethical concerns? What is the place of sitting meditation? Are there other contemplative practices useful in this approach? And what could be the place of the sensory faculties and emotions within this form of education? These are some of the questions that we are going to discuss before opening up into a larger discussion.
Judith Simmer-Brown is a distinguished Professor of Contemplative and Religious Studies at Naropa University. She has expertise in Tibetan Buddhism, Women and Buddhism, Buddhist-Christian dialogue, Western Buddhism and Contemplative Education. She is an acharya — a senior Buddhist teacher — in the Shambhala Buddhist Tradition and was a senior student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. She is co-chair of the steering committee of the Contemplative Studies Unit of the American Academy of Religion. Previously she was a member of the Lilly Buddhist-Christian Theological Encounter.
Diane Denis is an assistant professor of the Rangjung Yehse Institute in Kathmandu. She holds an MFA from Naropa University and a Ph.D. in Religious Studies from Laval University. She has been a student of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche for over 25 years. She is an active translator, an artist, a philosopher, and a socially concerned individual. Her ‘contemplative’ approach to teaching is rooted in a Buddhist perspective - which comes from years of research on Indian and Tibetan Buddhist philosophical texts, in particular, the works of Maitreya (IVth c.) and particularly the Dharmdharmatāvibhāga. Her current research interest is Embodied Ethical Wisdom and the notion of support, basis or reliance as it is found in the Prajñāpāramitā literature. They spoke to students of RYI on 29th of March 2021.

Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown & Dr. Diane Denis - "Contemplative Education"

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel Rinpoche - an eminent teacher of the Karma Kagyu lineage who is currently lecturing on tantric views and practices at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery - has accepted Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche’s request to present and discuss Buddhism’s three yānas based on Kongtrul Lodrö Thaye’s Treasury of Knowledge and he spoke with students at RYI on Feb, 4, 5 & 6, 2016 and translated by Dr. Thomas Doctor. 

Khenpo Chödrak Tenphel Rinpoche - "The Three Vehicles" Part-II

A cover of a song I heard on a cd by Nawang Khechog, a Tibetan musician who plays flute very nicely.

“Peace Through Kindness" cover

Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI) has conducted study programs in Nepal for more than 25 years. Since 2002 RYI has partnered with Kathmandu University offering academic credit for those study programs. In 2009 RYI launched its online learning program. Our aim is to utilise our expertise and experience to enable students from around the world to study Buddhism and Himalayan Languages with us.

Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown & Dr. Diane Denis - "Contemplative Education"

Rangjung Yeshe Institute

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