The Complete Teachings on the Stages of The Path to Enlightenment from Theravada, Mahayana, Tantra, Mahamudra and Dzogchen Traditions

The School of the Elders (Theravada) teachings are the heart of Buddhist philosophy and meditation. This course offers the primary practices and teachings of Buddhism that help develop a foundational meditation practice, acquire philosophical wisdom, accept emotional responsibility and cultivate loving kindness and compassion.

The Stages to Enlightenment Course is an excellent overview of the entire Buddhist path. This Course is based upon the ancient Buddhist method to attain Awakening brought from India to Tibet almost 1000 years ago by the Indian Master Atisha with modern commentary by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

The Ornament of Clear Realization — is one of the five treatises of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) on the hidden meaning of the Prajñaparamita Sutras (Perfection of Wisdom teachings)  In this course we will describe the entire journey of the bodhisattva, from the generation of bodhichitta to the attainment of complete Enlightenment.

In this course series we will explore the realms of existence, the conditions of life which beings experience from moment to moment. Sometimes these realms are interpreted as external planes of existence, and sometimes as states of mind. This class invites us to look directly, to see and to explore the potential of each realm to reveal all of the others.

This Course is based upon the ancient texts Compendium on Valid Perception (Pramana Samuchaya) by the Buddhist Master Dignaga (440 AD), the Commentary on Valid Perception (Pramana Varttika) by the Buddhist Master Dharmakirti (630 AD). Includes topics like past and future lives, what is a valid perception and how limitless compassion is cultivated.

The Buddhist teaching on karma is nothing other than the Buddha's compassionate explanation of the way things are: our thoughts and actions determine our future, and therefore we are largely responsible for the way our lives unfold. 

In this course we will cut through the persistent illusions about karma and explain what it really is - the mechanics of why we suffer and how we can make our suffering end. We will explain how a realistic understanding of karma is indispensable for meditation practice, life, and how it provides a foundation for an ethical life, and how an understanding of it could have a transformative effect on the way we relate to our thoughts, feelings and to those around us.

This Mahamudra meditation course which explores the nature of mind - thoughts, emotions, identity and consciousness itself. These instructions are the exact method used to gain liberation from suffering or enlightenment for the last several thousand years in the Buddhist tradition and has been my primary meditation practice for the last twenty years including the instructions taught during three year retreat in Tibet.

The Way of the Bodhisattva: (Bodhicaryavatara) by Shantideva. This course on Shantideva’s masterpiece shows the way to transcend the limitations of selfishness and realize the boundless compassion of the Bodhisattva, whose only concern is the benefit of others. One of the greatest exemplars of the Bodhisattva’s way is His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who credits The Guide as his chief inspiration.

The Practices of a Bodhisattva is a 12 Week Course with teachings, meditation and contemplations.

We will be referring to Geshe Sonam Rinchen's text, The Thirty-Seven Practices of Bodhisattvas in the fourteenth century. His succinct and simple verses of advice summarize the quintessence of the Mahayana path to perfection.

This ancient and profound sutra will be our course study, meditation and contemplation for 12 weeks. The benefits of the Diamond Sutra include its ability to attract external, internal, and secret auspiciousness. Most importantly, it enables you to realize emptiness. 

This course offers teachings and meditation series on the classic Buddhist text, “A Guide to the Bodhisattvas Way of Life,” by Master Shantideva. Subjects include teachings and meditations on the Perfection of Generosity, Ethical Conduct, Patience, Joyful Effort, Concentration and Wisdom with a special emphasis on how to apply these principles to the crisis we face as individuals and a society as a whole.

This course is a continuation of A Guide to the Bodhisattvas Way of Life: The Wisdom Chapter led by Lama Michael. Teachings, contemplations and meditations on Emptiness and Compassion.

The course offers teachings and meditations on the Mahayana practice of lojong, or ‘mind training’, emphasizes practices based on cultivating bodhicitta, ‘the mind intent on attaining enlightenment for the benefit others.’ The root text is 8 Verses of Training the Mind by Geshe Langri Thangpa. 

This advanced Dharma series on provisional reality and ultimate reality (commonly referred to as the Two Truths (Sanskrit: dvasatya; Tibetan: བདེན་པ་གཉིས་, denpa nyi) and what constitutes valid cognition and valid perception within these two scopes.

This course provides a clear understanding of the mind based on Distinguishing Consciousness from Wisdom, a treatise by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, which describes the eight consciousnesses in great detail, how to transcend ego and transform these consciousnesses into the five enlightened wisdoms. 

The Six Yogas or correctly the Six Dharmas of Nāropa, are a set of advanced Tibetan Buddhist tantric practices compiled by the Indian mahasiddhas Tilopa and Nāropa and passed on to the Tibetan translator-yogi Marpa Lotsawa. This course offers the rare and precious opportunity to discover compassionate and blissful awakening through the embodies practices of Tibetan Yoga.

The 12 Week Dzogchen Foundations course and subsequent classes are offered to provide a much-needed corrective to the many misconceptions and wrong views being attributed to Dzogchen. Offering meditative and experiential pointing out instructions by a variety of qualified Lamas who have agreed to assist practitioners along their respective journeys, these practices offered are direct and clear teachings and pointing out meditations.

The transformative and significant practice of Khordé Rushen. The ultimate essence of Atiyoga practice is abiding in primordial awareness. In the beginning, for the authentic state of contemplation to arise, it is indispensable to "separate" or distinguish mind from the state of pure instant presence, the nature of mind.

It is presented in three forms: outer, inner, and secret In this course with clear and lucid teaching.

This 12 Week Course will explore the transformative and significant practice of Spontaneous Presence and Thogal. Clear and lucid teaching, contemplations and meditations will be offered in this rarified teaching. 

Rare teachings and meditations on the nature of the subtle body and subtle most nature of mind, the cause of delusion, what delusion creates, and how delusion is corrected. Explanations and meditations will be offered of the Vajrayana niruttara tantras, with a special focus on the structure and functioning of the body. Just as sugatagarbha, or buddha nature, is the nature of our mind, the potential for awakening lies within our body.

Discover the profound wisdom of Dzogchen, the pinnacle of Tibetan Buddhist meditation. In this course, we will delve into the transformative practices of Tsa Lung Trulkhor, Trekcho, and Thogal, guided by the seminal root text Semde Tantra, "The All Creating King" (Tibetan: Kunjyed Gyalpo). It is a journey of self-realization and transcendence like no other.

This comprehensive 12-week course offers a unique opportunity to learn and practice these profound meditation techniques in the space of your own practice environment, alongside other serious long-term practitioners.

The Course, "The King of Infinite Space and The Vajra Bridge" delves into the profound world of the Great Perfection, also known as Atiyoga or Dzogchen, a tradition of esoteric Buddhism that unveils the path to instantaneous enlightenment.

Led by Lama Michael Gregory this program offers a unique opportunity to learn and practice these profound and rare teachings and meditations in the space of your own practice environment with other serious long-term practitioners.

Join us for an transformative 12-week online course that delves into Mahamudra, a revered Buddhist meditation practice. Under the guidance of Lama Michael Gregory, you will explore the profound teachings that have been a cornerstone of Buddhist enlightenment for centuries. This course is designed for those who aspire to deepen their understanding of the non-dual, co-emergent wisdom tradition known as Mahamudra, providing both a thorough introduction and in-depth insights into advanced practices. The course begins at 4pm PST on Tuesday January 9th and will be offered every Tuesday for 12 weeks, you may also watch recordings later if you are on a different timezone.