About the Institute

The Kagyu Institute of Buddhist Studies, established by VenerableShangpa Rinpoche was formally inaugurated by His Holiness ShamarRinpoche and His Holiness Kyabje Trulshik Rinpoche on 5 Dec 2004. Itaims to impart the authentic and pure teachings of the Buddha topractitioners who have a firm commitment to spiritual pursuits.

Situated in Kirtipur, a small town located along a ridge southwest ofKathmandu overlooking the Kathmandu Valley, the institute is aparticularly suitable place for retreat and study, and is highly conduciveto attaining a peaceful heart and a harmonious mind.

Instructions and advice on personal practice can be provided on anindividual basis upon request. Daily teaching and guided meditationpractice is also offered by our resident teacher every evening duringthe months when the courses are on-going.

“May the Buddha Dharma –

the sole medicine for all suffering and the

foundation of all joy –

be upheld, honoured and may it remain for a long time.

“As long as space endures,

As long as sentient beings remain,

Until then, may I too remain

And dispel the miseries of the world.”

- Shantideva

Certificate in Buddhist Studies 2008/09

(Year 4)Based on Uttara Tantra Shastra20 Nov 08- 05 Feb 09

Ven Shangpa Rinpoche envisioned and designed a 3-5 years Buddhiststudies course based on the sutra and tantra texts traditionally studiedin the Tibetan Buddhist Kagyu tradition. This course incorporates studywith lots of opportunities for discussion and meditation on what onehas learned.

The main subject for the 4th year study is on the Uttara Tantra Shastra,a treatise by Maitreya on Buddha Nature. This treatise clarifies thenature and qualities of Buddhahood along with the view which formsthe basis for Vajrayana and especially Mahamudra practice.

Taught by fully-qualified Khenpos (teachers) with translation intoEnglish by an experienced translator.

COURSE FEES

Please contact us for complete information on course fees andaccommodation.

REGISTRATION

• Registration must be made via the application form available on ourwebsite.

• Registration may be made personally at the institute, by mail or email.• Acceptance is on a first-come, first-served basis.

CLOSING DATE

Two weeks before the course begins, OR when the maximum numberof participants has enrolled.

ENQUIRIES

For further information, please contact us at:

Kagyu Institute for Buddhist StudiesG.P.O. Box 3157, Dev Dhoka,Ward No 2, Kirtipur,Kathmandu, NepalEmail : info@kirtipur.org /admin.kibs@gmail.comTel : (977) 1-433-1679Fax : (977) 1-433-2877website : http://kirtipur.org

Programme 2008/09

Course Date

20 Nov 08- 05 Feb 09Certificate in Buddhist Studies

(Year 4)(Based on Uttara Tantra Shastra)

16 Nov 08 - 24 Nov 08Nyungne Fasting Retreat

(19 Nov 08 Lha Bab Duchen- Merit Multiplying date)

1 month Intensive Course The Lamp on the Path to Enlightenment

The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra24 Nov 08 - 23 Dec 08

09 Feb 09 - 15 Feb 09The Essence of Dependent Origination

(Composed by Acharya Nagarjuna)

37 Practices of Bodhisattva(Composed by Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo) 16 Feb 09 - 22 Feb 09

The Stages of Meditation(7 Days Meditation Course)

5 Mar 09 - 11 Mar 09

HH Trulshik Rinpoche HH Shamar Rinpoche Ven Shangpa Rinpoche

One month Intensive Course24 Nov 08 – 23 Dec 08

This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of thefollowing two precious texts :

The Lamp of the Path to EnlightenmentBy Atisha Dipankara Shrijnana (982-1054)

This text established and formed the source for the graduated path toenlightenment of all schools of Vajrayana Buddhism. It was written atthe request of King Jangchub O, who wanted to re-establish and spreadthe Buddha Dharma in Tibet.

It integrates all the teachings of Buddha into a step-by-step practice andsets forth the entire Buddhist path in 68 four-lines verses, distilling theessence of all the teachings of the Buddha into a clear, progressivearrangement that makes it easy for any individual to understand andpractice the Dharma.

Listening, reflecting and meditating on this text dispels ignorance inone’s mind and gives realization and joy. Through it, many had realizedenlightenment in the past.

The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudraby H.H 3rd Gyalwa Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (b. 1284 - d. 1339)

The Karmapa, “he who carries out the activity of all the Buddhas” wasthe first recognized incarnate lama in Tibetan history.

The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje had composed many important andprofound texts and Doha (songs which arose from his ownrealization), one of which is “The Aspiration Prayer of Mahamudra”.This prayer is one of the most famous meditation manuals of all times. In25 verses, the Third Karmapa presented the fundamental and essentialpoints of the entire Mahamudra path in terms of view, practice, andfruition. It clearly states the key points on the path to recognizing theBuddha nature within us.

If one wants an excellent overview of the profound method of Mahamudrameditation, this essential text is the ultimate transmission in therealization of our innate wisdom.

Short Course 1

The Essence of Dependent OriginationComposed by Acharya Nagarjuna (1st - 2nd century A.D.)

09 Feb 09 - 15 Feb 09

This teaching is based on one of the most precious texts by Nâgârjunathat discloses the 12 links of interdependent origination and itsessence.

Interdependent origination is the law of causality, which BuddhaShakyamuni discovered at his awakening. It revealed to him the wholetruth of existence, and in penetrating it, he became the Awakened One.

He saw how and why all beings throughout space are entangled insamsara for countless lives, as well as his own past lives in his progresstowards liberation.

Lord Buddha mentioned: “Whoever realizes the interdependentorigination sees the Dharma; and whoever sees the Dharma, sees theBuddha.”

Thus, this is an important text for all practitioners. It gives clear andsimple explanations on the profound reality so that even beginners inthe Dharma would be able to grasp and understand its essence.

Short Course 2

The 37 Practices of a BodhisattvaComposed by Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo (1295-1369 CE)

16 Feb 09 - 22 Feb 09

Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo wrote “The 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva” tofamiliarize himself and to acquaint others on the Mahayana practice ofdeveloping Bodhicitta and living one’s life as a Bodhisattva.

The root text gives the heart essence of a Bodhisattva’s conduct andclassifies the essential practices leading to enlightenment intothirty-seven main practices.

It serves as an essential, inspiring and practical guide for bothbeginning and advanced spiritual practitioners who are working ondeveloping an enlightened attitude to benefit others.

Ngülchu Thogme Zangpo, a renowned bodhisattva in Tibet is reveredfor living according to the bodhisattva’s ideals and practices that hetaught. He inspired not only his direct disciples but also generations ofpractitioners up to the present day.

7 Days Meditation Course

The Stages of MeditationComposed by Acharya Kamalashila (9th Century A.D)

5 Mar 09 – 11 Mar 09

This 7 days meditation teaching cum retreat program is based on a raretext, “Bhavanakrama” or “The Stages of Meditation”, written by AcharyaKamalashila, a great Indian scholar-yogi.

Acharya Kamalashila was invited to Tibet by King Trisong Detsen torectify certain Chinese misinterpretations about meditation throughdebate. To honor his victory, the King asked him to compose a text onthe stages of meditation that would clearly lay out the beginning andmore advanced methods of meditation that would ultimately lead toenlightenment. This text is a practical guide for the serious practitioners.

The course provides students with an in-depth understanding of thetext as well as of the proper meditation techniques.

4 Pairs of Nyungne Retreat

Nyungne Purification & Fasting Retreat16 Nov 08 - 24 Nov 08

Nyungne is based on the practice of the 1000-Armed Chenrezig. It isknown for its power in the purification of negative karma and theaccomplishment of enlightened qualities.

This practice originated from Gelongma Palmo, who through this specialpractice, recovered from leprosy. Having developed great dedicationand compassion for all beings, she became an enlightened guide tomany disciples to whom she passed down the practice of Nyungne.

This retreat focuses on keeping strict vows, generating the Bodhisattva’sattitude, prostrations, reciting the Mantra and the Sadhana of the 1000-Armed Chenrezig. A pair of Nyungne consists of taking the 8 preceptson the 1st day and abstinence from food, water and speech (apart fromprayers) on the 2nd day.

Nyungne not only helps to purify a lot of negative karma in a short timeand accumulate merits but also aids in healing illnesses and opening theheart to compassion. It is said that pure practice of one pair of Nyungnecloses the gates of rebirth in lower realms, and the pure completion ofeight pairs of Nyungne leads to rebirth in the Dewachen Pure Land.

* The second set of the retreat falls on one of the important date of the year, “Lah

Bab Duchen” and the effect of all actions will be multiplied many million times.