Category Archives: Student Notes from Geshelas talks

These are student notes taken during Geshe-la’s talks. They are not checked by Geshe-la and any views and opinions expressed are those of the individual author. As we are always advised – don’t assume what is presented is correct. Check, check and check.

Verses from Nagarjuna to help understand dependent origination

Posted on Wed 12 Aug by robm

Here are the four verses Geshe Sonam quoted from Arya Nagarjuna’s Precious Garland (Ratnavali) – on Sunday August 9. These verses are recommended for us to better understand dependant origination – because motivated by compassion the degree to which we … Continue reading →

Posted in Mind training like rays of the sun, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on Verses from Nagarjuna to help understand dependent origination

The Eight Wordly Dharmas

Posted on Thu 20 Nov by robm

Hello to all of you in blog land. It’s been a while but it’s equally taken me ages to go over my notes from Geshelas teaching on the eight worldly dharmas a few weeks ago. Have a read – there … Continue reading →

Posted in Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on The Eight Wordly Dharmas

The teaching of the buddha, in four lines

Posted on Sat 21 Jun by robm

Here are my notes from an excerpt from Geshe-la's teaching on Wed June 11, a four line summary of the buddha's teaching – through this you can glimpse the depth of Geshe-la's understanding that enables him to unpack the entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Presenting the path, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on The teaching of the buddha, in four lines

How the notion of a soul or atman arose

Posted on Thu 19 Jun by Denis Charron

At Geshe Sonam's Tuesday evening "Insight Teaching", he explained, among other things, how the notion of a soul (Christian traditions) or atman (Hindu traditions) probably arose. Then he compared that notion with the Buddhist view that an independent, permanent, unitary … Continue reading →

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on How the notion of a soul or atman arose

Does the Soul Really Exist?

Posted on Thu 5 Jun by Denis Charron

On 27 May 2014, Geshe Sonam continued his teachings on ‘Insight’ or ‘The Realization of Emptiness’. To reach the lesser nirvana of liberation or the greater nirvana of enlightenment, an understanding of – and in fact a direct realization of … Continue reading →

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on Does the Soul Really Exist?

The foundation of all practice

Posted on Sat 24 May by robm

A timely reminder by Geshe-la last Sunday May 19, that the foundation to all buddhist practice is the commitment to follow a code of behaviour. This may be in the form of vows or in a secular form whereby one … Continue reading →

Posted in 37 practices notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on The foundation of all practice

Shaking Your Belief in Solid, Truly Existing Objects

Posted on Sat 26 Apr by Denis Charron

Geshe Sonam: "Unanalyzed, people do come and go. But on analysis, the object totally disappears!" At his 'Insight' teaching on Tuesday 22 April, Geshe Sonam shook our belief in solid, truly existing objects.

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on Shaking Your Belief in Solid, Truly Existing Objects

Advanced Methods of Reasoning Explained

Posted on Tue 15 Apr by Denis Charron

On Tuesday 8 April 2014, Geshe Sonam continued his commentary on the insight chapters of Lama Tsongkhapa's middle-length lam-rim. The ' wisdom of hearing' has to be backed up by the 'wisdom of reflection and analysis'. But we need to … Continue reading →

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Advanced Methods of Reasoning Explained

Geshe-la’s Insight Teachings: 1 Apr 2014

Posted on Sun 6 Apr by Denis Charron

On Tuesday evenings, Geshe-la gives an in-depth commentary on Tsongkhapa's middle-length lam-rim. He started this in 2012! Last week, he spoke about diffferent aspects of dependent arising, especially 'subtle dependent arising' or the insight that all phenomena are 'merely labelled … Continue reading →

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on Geshe-la’s Insight Teachings: 1 Apr 2014

Comment on The Three Gates

Posted on Wed 5 Mar by Denis Charron

Over the past few months, at the Tuesday evening Insight teachings, Geshe-la has been starting the evening by giving a commentary on many different aspects of Atisha's Refguge and Bodhicitta Prayer, the one we normally use. One night, he also … Continue reading →

Posted in Insight notes, Student Notes from Geshelas talks | Comments Off on Comment on The Three Gates