Tibetan Language Class
“Rely on the teaching, not the person
Rely on the meaning, not the words.
Rely on the definitive meaning, not the provisional meaning.
Rely on wisdom, not on consciousness.”
– the Four Reliances, quoted from Rebel Buddha, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
Learning a language is a bit like taking a little, big adventure—exciting, puzzling, and illuminating all at the same time.
Going Beyond the Words
In one sense, language is just convention: functional but also capable of obscuring reality when we lose ourselves in conceptual thinking. Yet language can also open our minds and hearts, pointing beyond words to what truly is and what truly liberates us.
At Karmapa Center 16, we study Tibetan not just as a language, but as a gateway to the Buddha’s teachings and the wisdom of the great Tibetan masters. Through exploring the Dharma in its original language, we reflect on the meaning behind the words, supporting each other on the path to freedom and compassion.
Explore this page:
- Sunday Tibetan Language Class
- Accomplishing Shared Aspirations
- How We Learn Together
- Registration & Offerings
Sunday Tibetan Language Class
Every Sunday Evening
Every Sunday evening, we gather online to study Tibetan language through dharma texts and conversations. Currently, we are exploring Basic Dharma Discourses, learning to read and discuss fundamental teachings in Tibetan while developing skills to translate them into our native languages.
Our approach mirrors the teachings shared in our Sunday Meditation for All: Dharma Talks & Practice series, allowing us to deepen our understanding both through practice and through the original language of the scriptures.
Details:
- What: Tibetan Language Class: Basic Dharma Discourses
- When: Every Sunday, 7:00–8:30 PM Central Time (Chicago, USA)
- Where: Online on Zoom (recordings available for registered participants)
- Prerequisites: Some knowledge of Tibetan, or willingness to study the basics (especially the alphabet and pronunciation) with support and additional resources
Accomplishing Shared Aspirations
Whether you aspire to read scriptures from the Kangyur and Tengyur, wish to understand teachings in Tibetan from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa or other teachers, recite traditional sadhanas in Tibetan, or be able to have basic conversations with native Tibetan speakers, you are welcome to join our Tibetan Language Class.
Reading dharma texts in their original language brings us closer to the authors’ intent and the precise meanings that sometimes shift or fade in translation. By developing these skills, we can deepen our own practice and help make these precious teachings accessible to others who don’t know Tibetan.
As His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa taught, we always seek to benefit the teachings and all beings. Learning Tibetan is one way to honor the lineage and continue this work.
How We Learn Together
- Structured Learning – We read together in class, discuss some grammar, work on vocabulary, and often review what we’ve learned
- Dharma-Centered Topics – Together with colloquial Tibetan, we particularly look at terms and conversations in connection with the Dharma
- Translation Practice – We develop the skill of conveying the meaning and intent behind the words in our own language, especially English
- Supportive Community – Join live or catch up with recordings; questions are always welcome, and we create an informal space to share insights and learning experiences together
- Personal Guidance – Facilitated by Karma Ösung, a novice monk of the Karma Kagyü lineage guided by our resident teacher, Acharya Lhakpa Tshering, who studied Tibetan mainly at Sarah College in India along with basic teachings of the Karmapa tradition
Registration and Offerings
Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our Tibetan Language Class. You can join for free by selecting a ‘free ticket’. If you would like to make a donation to support the stūpa project or the facilitation of this class, please choose an option below.
Language on the Path
After selecting a ‘free ticket’ or making an offering below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email.
Recordings will be made available to all registered participants, allowing you to review lessons or catch up when you can’t join live.
If you have any questions about the class, please email communications[at]karmapacenter16.org
We warmly invite you to join us on this journey of studying, contemplating, and discussing the dharma through its original language—for the benefit of all.
Karmapa Khyenno!
Monthly Guru Yoga
“Kind guru, embodiment of all refuges, I supplicate you.
Grant your blessing that the darkness of ignorance,
My own and that of all beings, be pacified.
Please cause the dawning of unborn luminosity.”
– Supplication verse from the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Guru Yoga, Rainfall of Nectar
To find happiness and support on the path to full awakening for the benefit of the world, we need to rely on spiritual friends. The practice of guru yoga is, therefore, a profound method to connect with the heart of our teacher and lineage of dharma masters, to receive blessings and help us move away from negative qualities, and cultivate positive qualities in terms of body, speech, and mind.
Rainfall of Nectar
The Guru Yoga Sadhana, “Rainfall of Nectar,” composed by the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa, Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, is elegantly concise and contains the essential pith instructions of the Vajrayana tradition.
Explore this page:
Monthly Guru Yoga Practices
Every First Saturday of the Month
Every first Saturday of the month, we will offer an opportunity to practice His Holiness the 16th Karmapa’s Guru Yoga together. Regardless of whether you are familiar with the practice and who you consider to be your personal teacher, this practice allows us to connect with the enlightened qualities of the Buddha, the nature of our own mind.
Recognizing our buddha nature or the essence of buddhahood, we can become the activity of the Karmapa – embodying the wisdom and compassion we can all find within ourselves.
Details
- What: 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Sadhana
- When: First Saturday of the Month, from 10:00 to 11:30 AM Central Time (Chicago, USA)
- Where: Online on Zoom and Onsite at KC16. (Liturgies will be screenshared)
How We Practice Together
Each session includes brief instructions on the practice, followed by the guru yoga sadhana itself, along with long-life supplications, dedication prayers, and verses of auspiciousness. Whether you’re joining for the first time or are familiar with the practice, you’ll be guided through each part of the session.
Registration and Offerings
Making an offering or donation is optional and is not required to register for our monthly 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Guru Yoga Practice. You can join for free by selecting a ‘free ticket’. If you would like to make a donation to support the stupa project or make an offering to our teachers and resident monastics, please choose an option below.
Fulfilling Our Aspirations
After selecting a ‘free ticket’ or making an offering below, the Zoom link and other practical information will be delivered in a confirmation email.
We warmly invite you to join us and together fulfill all aspirations for ourselves and others through our devotion and virtuous activities.
Karmapa Khyenno!
commissioned by Dilyak Drupon Rinpoche and Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche
密码保护：K16’s 2nd Guru Yoga Teaching Retreat – Recordings for Participants | KC16第二屆上師瑜伽法筵 – 影片回撥 （僅限報名參加者)
密码保护：44th Parinirvāṇa Anniversary Resource Page
密码保护：Resource Page Meditation for All: Dharma Talks & Practice
密码保护：Resource Page His Holiness the 16th Gyalwang Karmapa’s Monthly Guru Yoga Practice
PROGRAMS
以禅修得自在
“禅修的要点在于学习如何让心安住于自身之中。”——噶玛巴，《以禅修得自在》，dharmaebooks.org
我们的常驻导师阿阇黎拉帕策林每周日都会在第十六世噶玛巴纪念中心现场及线上提供指导禅修和简短的佛法开示。因为活动对所有人开放且无需任何修行经验，阿阇黎将每周日的课程称为“大众禅修”。
2024年11月17日，阿阇黎拉帕策林开始讲解《佛子行三十七颂》。在这里，我们提供他对这部珍贵经典的解释总结。这部经典由伟大的上师无著贤菩萨所著，逐句指引如何追随菩萨的无畏之道。
开示总结
《佛子行三十七颂》
- 在修行之路上，每一个终点，都是新的起点：《佛子行三十七颂》问答作为本系列的最终一课，阿阇黎拉帕策林教导说：“我们通过学习来了解尚未理解的内容，透过思惟来消除疑惑，随后以禅修来获得实证，将佛法熟悉于心，并付诸实践，以期解救一切众生脱离苦海。”
- 行在正道: 大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十二期我们如何知道自己正走在菩萨道的正确方向上？在对最后几颂的讲解中，阿阇黎拉帕策林提供了一些指引，阐释了如何将无著贤菩萨所著的《佛子行三十七颂》运用于实修。
- 我们的心念状态如何？ 大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十一期在对无著贤菩萨《佛子行三十七颂》第三十四至三十七颂的讲解中，阿阇黎提醒我们慈悲之道的究竟目标，以及如何实现这一目标。
- 与佛法相契：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十期在贪执与嗔怒等烦恼的驱使下，我们往往只会伤害自己和他人。阿阇黎拉帕策林在讲解第三十一、三十二和三十三颂时指出，无著贤菩萨教导我们应如何防止伤害他人，并转而修持，利益一切众生。
- 寻找我们的解脱之路 ：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十九期在讲解无著贤菩萨所著《佛子行三十七颂》第二十九与第三十颂时，我们的常驻导师阿阇黎拉帕策林指出：禅修可以被视为令智慧生起的前行修法，而佛法修持的根本目的，则是证悟无我。
- 如果我们持续修行：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十八期鉴于一瞬间的嗔怒便能摧毁我们历经长久所积累的一切善德，且懈怠只会延长我们在轮回苦海中的停留时间，因此，我们必须以安忍来对治嗔怒，以精进来对治懈怠。
- 无望与无求：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十七期在本周日的大众禅修中，阿阇黎在讲解无著贤菩萨《佛子行三十七颂》第25与第26颂时开示道，大乘道的修行，完完全全可以由六度波罗蜜所涵摄。 他首先从修持布施与持戒谈起，开示我们如何将这两种修行理解为对治内心烦恼的一种方式，且随着修行的深入，所对治的烦恼也愈加微细。
- 心与无明：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十六期阿阇黎拉帕开示说：如果我们能够体悟到，那些看似“在外”的万物，或是在我们内心中浮现的一切，其实如虹似梦——如彩虹般虚幻，如梦境般无实，那么贪执与嗔恨便无法再左右我们。我们也不会执著于自己的快乐，或在面对痛苦与艰难时感到迷失。
- 将嗔心与贪执纳入修行之道：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十五期阿阇黎拉帕开示道：我们必须学习将嗔心与贪执纳入修行之道，将表面看来不利的境缘转化为有益之因，为一切有情众生带来利益。
- 一切尽在你我掌中：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十四期在讲解无著贤菩萨的《佛子行三十七颂》第十八和十九颂时，Karmapa Center 16的常住导师指出了发心的重要意义，以及正念与内省两种关键品质。
- 以爱与感恩作为回应：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十三期为何我们每次大众禅修课程都以禅修作为开场？在我们的日常开场祈请以及止禅练习后，阿阇黎拉帕策林对于禅修提出了一些思考。随后他继续针对无著贤菩萨所著《佛子行三十七颂》的第十六和十七颂进行了评论。这两颂讲的继续阅读“以爱与感恩作为回应：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十三期”
- 退一步思考：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十二期我们如何能够将贬低或批评纳入修行之道？尤其是在二十一世纪，阿阇黎拉帕策林解释道，我们需要学会在做出反应之前先后退一步，放慢脚步。
- 插曲五 何以息苦？大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示–内观和自他交换根据阿阇黎拉帕策林关于如何将一切带入修行道路的讲解，我们思考了菩萨道修行的艰难，并进行了自他交换法的练习。
- 一切皆为通向实现愿景之路：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十一期当他人做出或说出不利于你的言行时，你该如何应对？在我们的日常禅修练习后，阿阇黎拉帕策林对《佛子行三十七颂》的第十三和十四偈颂发表了他的见解。
- 修行勿待：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十期阿阇黎拉帕讲解，无著贤菩萨在第十二颂里教导地主要思想与修行，是我们应当放下我们所执着的，包含三世一切善德。他强调了为何我们不应该继续等待而是今天就开始修行。
- 布施之心：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第九期阿阇黎喇嘛滇巴嘉晨的指导下，我们思考了幸福与痛苦的原因。他指出，我们需要改变的是我们的思维方式。我们通过交换自己的幸福与他人的痛苦方式区扩展思维，开始想，“我要你快乐。”
- 插曲四 培养利他发愿与菩提心：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示如何培养利他愿心与菩提心？本观想借鉴了噶当派的七因果教授，旨在与众生建立真挚的连结。
- 插曲三：思考业力与轮回我们能不能在我们的身、语、意三业的行为中看到业力，因果正在发挥作用吗？难道在轮回——充满痛苦的世界和经历中，真没有永久的快乐吗？如果事实果真如此，对我们的修行以及在无畏的菩萨道上精进又有何意义呢？
- 在修行的道路上培养广阔的心灵和无限的悲心：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第八期昨天是我们过去生，今天是此生，明天是来生。以这种方式来思考我们的存在，我们便会意识到，自身的福祉完全依赖于无数其他众生。没有他们，我们甚至无法生存。
- 关于如何过舒适人生的一些忠告: 大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第七期在我们中的一些朋友怀有成就佛果的美好愿景，其他人可能满足于拥有普通人类的一生。他们会这样想：“我并不渴望成就佛果，也不想走那么远，我只想做一个普通人。” 如是思维，这对菩萨的修行有何意义?
- 插曲二：领悟真正的佛法修持：观察与引导心念“当我结束这次修行后，在接下来的一天里，我会努力保持这种体验和心态的余韵。”——第十七世大宝法王噶玛巴邬金钦列多杰，《行走在慈悲之道》。我们将如何在一整天中真正的修持佛法？
- 插曲：追随第一世噶玛巴的足迹我们2025年国际新年的首次课程专门用于纪念第一世噶玛巴杜松虔巴的涅槃周年。2025年1月3日，尊胜的第十七世噶玛巴邬金钦列多杰在Facebook上分享了一首优美的偈颂。尽管要完全传达法王以藏文写作的继续阅读“插曲：追随第一世噶玛巴的足迹”
- 映照自身——发现外在与内在的皈依：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第六期我们的目标是什么？如何在道路上前进？谁是我们的同行者？阿阇黎拉帕策林对于无著贤菩萨所著《佛子行三十七颂》第七颂的讲解中指出，佛、法、僧三宝就是答案。我们外在皈依三宝，是为了在自身内心发现三宝的功德。
- 毒树与盈月：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第五期作为初学修行者，一旦我们远离了恶友，我们需要什么才能培养自己的积极品质，比如闻思修，以及慈爱和悲心？
- 拥抱无常：大众禅修 之《佛子行三十七颂》 开示 第四期阿阇黎指出，经文本身非常清晰易懂。最具挑战性的部分是如何将其付诸实践。“放下今生”的真正含义是什么？我们又该如何将这句经文内化于心？
- 舍离故乡，断除轮回干扰：大众禅修 之《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第三期菩萨道的修行者努力解脱自己和他人于轮回之中。为此，他们选择安住于寂静之地。那么，“安住于寂静之地”究竟意味着什么呢？
- 慈悲——无畏之道：大众禅修 之《佛子行三十七颂》 开示 第一期在我们一起修习止禅之后，阿阇黎开始讲授《佛子行三十七颂》。他首先介绍了这部根本论典的作者—— 一位伟大的学者和修行者，无著贤菩萨（也称无著菩萨，约1295—约1369年）。
- 把握机会，拥抱生命的意义：大众禅修 之《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二期认识到我们珍贵的人生是一次帮助自己和他人摆脱痛苦的机会，就意味着我们必须珍惜它。那么，我们应该怎样把握住这个机会呢？
37 Practices: Teaching Summaries
- 在修行之路上，每一个终点，都是新的起点：《佛子行三十七颂》问答作为本系列的最终一课，阿阇黎拉帕策林教导说：“我们通过学习来了解尚未理解的内容，透过思惟来消除疑惑，随后以禅修来获得实证，将佛法熟悉于心，并付诸实践，以期解救一切众生脱离苦海。”
- 行在正道: 大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十二期我们如何知道自己正走在菩萨道的正确方向上？在对最后几颂的讲解中，阿阇黎拉帕策林提供了一些指引，阐释了如何将无著贤菩萨所著的《佛子行三十七颂》运用于实修。
- 我们的心念状态如何？ 大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十一期在对无著贤菩萨《佛子行三十七颂》第三十四至三十七颂的讲解中，阿阇黎提醒我们慈悲之道的究竟目标，以及如何实现这一目标。
- 与佛法相契：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第二十期在贪执与嗔怒等烦恼的驱使下，我们往往只会伤害自己和他人。阿阇黎拉帕策林在讲解第三十一、三十二和三十三颂时指出，无著贤菩萨教导我们应如何防止伤害他人，并转而修持，利益一切众生。
- 寻找我们的解脱之路 ：大众禅修 之 《佛子行三十七颂》开示 第十九期在讲解无著贤菩萨所著《佛子行三十七颂》第二十九与第三十颂时，我们的常驻导师阿阇黎拉帕策林指出：禅修可以被视为令智慧生起的前行修法，而佛法修持的根本目的，则是证悟无我。