The 2023 Summer Institute

Union of Study and Mahamudra Meditation

Our first full onsite-online hybrid Summer Institute wrapped up on August 4, 2023. The Nitartha Summer Institute is an annual month-long intensive that uniquely joins study and Mahamudra meditation.

The 2023 program was excellently led by our Nitartha Institute Chancellor, Acharya Lama Tenpa Gylatsen and all our Western faculty. We also had the privilege of enjoying special talks by our founder and spiritual director, Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche.

Main Talk: The Distinction between Consciousness and Wisdom

Lama Tenpa taught on the distinction between consciousness and wisdom, based on a treatise composed by the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorge. He guided us through an exploration of how our minds are both the cause of our delusion and the basis for freedom from delusion.

Three Levels of Mahamudra and Study

We enjoyed three different levels of Mahamudra teachings and practice as well as Buddhist philosophy courses, including Mind and Its World, Madhyamaka, Yogacara and Buddha Nature. And students who have completed the Nitartha Institute study and debate curriculum were honored with a ceremony during which Lama Tenpa presented them with certificates.

Enhancement Activities

The Summer Institute also offered Tibetan language and enhancement courses, including debate practice, health and healing talks, lujong, thangka painting and space awareness, nicely rounding out the month with all five sciences.

Connecting with Friends and Faculty

And last but not least, having the good fortune to be on site again for the first time since 2019, we enjoyed chatting with faculty and other students over meals, informal gatherings and long walks with both old and new friends.

Thank you to all our faculty, translators, students, and our fantastic staff for having made this extraordinary experience possible.

Stay tuned for information about the 2024 Summer Institute. And in the meantime, please feel free to join us for our online semester courses or our self-paced online courses (SPOC).

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