7 Thursdays : Oct 10 - Nov 21, 2019
Lojong practice was developed in the 12th century by the Bengali master and founder of Tibetan Kadampa lineage, Atisha. It reflects on 59 slogans which are grouped into the “7 Points of Mind Training” to develop compassion, equanimity and joy for oneself and others. Lojong mind training includes contemplation of the slogans, meditation, and the practice of Tonglen (sending and receiving on the breath).
The 59 pithy, penetrating slogans have been commented on by many great Buddhist masters. Their aim can perhaps best be characterized as a method for transforming our mind by turning away from self-centeredness and instead cultivating the mental habits that generate bodhicitta, the awakened mind that puts the benefit of others above all else.
Practicing with these slogans helps us release sticking points in our hearts and minds, leading to tranquility, insight, and the capacity to relate skillfully to fear and suffering from within and without. In this 7-week class we will focus on practicing the slogans in our daily lives while reading selected teachings from a variety of Zen and Tibetan teachers.
Registration by October 8th is requested to save your space as a participant.
Program Fees: $75 members/$100 nonmembers
As always, AZC is committed to making the teachings available to everyone. To request financial assistance from our Scholarship Fund, or if you would like to donate to the Fund for others to be able to participate, please call AZC Administrator Julie Strahan at 512-452-5777.
Recommended texts include:
- Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on Lojong, by Zoketsu Norman Fischer
- Training The Mind and Cultivating Loving Kindness, by Chogyam Trungpa
- Start Where You Are, by Pema Chodron
Doshin Mako Voelkel began an early practice of transcendental meditation in 1986 but turned to Zen in 1997 when she began sitting at the San Francisco Zen Center. In 2002, she ended a Philosophy teaching position at City College of San Francisco to become a full-time monastic resident at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, where she lived and worked for ten years as a Zen student. Priest-ordained by Ryushin Paul Haller in 2004 and Shuso (Head Monk) in 2009, Mako served in many temple positions, including Work Leader, Head Cook, Fire Marshal, Head of the Meditation Hall and Director. In 2013 she came to the Austin Zen Center to serve as Head of Practice, and became Head Teacher of the Austin Zen Center in 2017. Mako received Dharma Transmission in April, 2019.