Summer Course 2006

July 3rd to July 28, 2006

Deer Park Summer Course 2006 will be taught by Khensur Lobsang Tenzin Rinpoche, abbot emeritus of Gyume Tantric College.  Though Khensur Rinpoche now primarily resides and teaches at Sera Je Monastic University in Karnataka India, he also teaches at many centers around the world.  He is a most highly regarded teacher of both Sutrayana and Vajrayana and is a tutor for Cherok Lama and other tulkus.  Khensur Rinpoche is a former resident teacher at Deer Park and we always feel extremely fortunate and enthused whenever he is able to return and teach.

Khensur Rinpoche will be teaching Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen's The Seventy Topics (don bdun cu), a concise presentation of the 8 categories and 70 topics discussed in Maitreya's Ornament of Clear Realizations  (Sanskrit - Abhisamayalamkara, Tibetan - mNgon rtogs rgyan).  At Sera Je, The Seventy Topics is an essential prerequisite to the in-depth study of the Ornament of Clear Realizations.  To put this into perspective Ven. Geshe Sopa explains that the Prajnaparamita texts include both explicit teachings on the emptiness of inherent existence of phenomena, as well as hidden, or indirect, teachings on the path system that leads to the proper understanding and realization of emptiness. The Ornament of Clear Realizations "brings to the surface those hidden teachings" and explains the path system in its entirety.  In turn, The Seventy Topics provides the basis for studying and correctly understanding the Ornament of Clear Realizations.  Need we say more about the importance of the text we will study this summer?

Khensur Rinpoche will teach Monday through Friday, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM from Monday, July 3^rd to Friday, July 28^th.  We are considering having an evening session instead of a morning session if there is enough interest from people in Madison who cannot make daytime classes - Please let us know if this is the case for you.  The afternoon session would remain. Khensur Rinpoche will be taking questions the last half-hour of each day.

Khensur Rinpoche will be teaching in Tibetan with translation into English.  Although not necessary, a reading knowledge of Tibetan would be helpful.  We have access to an unpublished translation of the text. The course will end with a Guru Puja for Khensur Rinpoche during the last session on July 28^th. There will also be a Guru Puja on Saturday, July 29^th, in celebration of Wheel Turning Day.  The Long-life Puja for Ven. Geshe Sopa will be later in the summer.

Please read the rest of this announcement and the registration form carefully.

Housing:  With limited housing available for ordained sangha only, Deer Park is unable to provide accommodations for students. Please see the list provided for housing options in the Madison area. We ask that you please contact the establishments yourself and make arrangements.

Sangha Housing: Ordained monks should contact Ven. Lhundup Chowang (608-835-5572 or Lsherab@hotmail.com) at Deer Park to see if space is available. Ordained nuns should contact Ven. Lhundub Drolma (liane.nakamura@mail.mhcdc.org or 608-835-6990). To help cover the costs of the facilities, sangha staying at either of the Deer Park residences are asked to pay a per-night fee, with fundraising undertaken for those who need assistance**.  Ask about the rates when making arrangements.

Please send in a registration form even if you speak to someone at Deer Park regarding sangha housing or otherwise inform him or her of your intention to attend the course.

Meals: Please bring a bag lunch/dinner or enjoy meals from among the many and varied local restaurants.

**Donations for Sangha Needing Financial Assistance: As in the past we are soliciting donations from course attendees to help cover sangha expenses.  Donations received will first be used to help those sangha members most needing assistance in paying for housing at Deer Park and for food costs. Additional donations received will be used to defray those costs for the remaining sangha.

If you are arriving late, please indicate your estimated date of arrival on the registration form.

Please complete the registration form and mail it with your deposit*. Indicate on the check what the money is for; i.e., course donation, sangha donation, or other purpose. Checks should be made payable to Deer Park and mailed to:

* Sangha not sending any money can send the completed form via email.

* Laypeople from outside the U.S. can also email the form and pay on arrival. 

We hope that you will be able to join us.  Questions should be mailed to the address above or emailed to deerparkcourse@gmail.com or call Cathy Kennedy or Frank Barone at 608-233-6954. Updated information will also be available at Deer Park’s website: http://www.deerparkcenter.org.