SPIRITUAL: Special Class

In Buddhism, the Spiritual Teacher is considered the root of the path. Without a teacher who can explain the essence of the teachings and help us understand the mind and our habits, it's very difficult to progress on the path to enlightenment. In the practice of tantra, the relationship of the student and teacher (Guru) is at the heart of the practices.

For the first half of the class, we'll learn in general about the relationship between the student and spiritual teacher, and is open to students of all levels. There will be a break, then the second half of the class is restricted to students who have a Highest Yoga Tantra initiation (i.e. Chittamani Tara, Guhyasamaja, Kalachakra, Yamantaka, etc.). If you are unsure about your initiation, please email the Spiritual Program Coordinator with your questions. 

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

From the recent article "Can You Love without Attachment?" by Venerable Robina Courtin on this topic:

First of all, we assume that love and attachment mean the same thing. But the Buddhist way of understanding our emotions is that attachment is the neurotic, needy, dissatisfied part of us that yearns for someone out there, believing that when we get him, we’ll be happy. Love, on the other hand, is referring to an altruistic part of our being – a connection with others, wish that they be happy, and delight in their wellbeing. We have both of these, of course, but it’s so hard to see the difference. They’re like milk and water mixed together.

Special guest teacher Ven. Robina is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. Spend the evening checking up to see if it's true whether love and attachment are separate, the same, or completely intertwined, and how through understanding this we can improve all our relationships.

For more about Ven. Robina's biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page. Read the full article by visiting the website for Ven. Robina.

According to the Buddhist teachings, the root of all our suffering and problems comes from not seeing reality as it actually exists, and that if we realize emptiness, we eliminate the fundamental ignorance that creates all our suffering. The two truths addresses how we relate to phenomena - there is a convential truth how they exist, but the ultimate truth, the one we don't yet see, is that they are also empty of inherent existence. Understanding these two truths correctly, how they support each other, is Lama Tsong Khapa's teaching on the Middle Way, so this fundamental part study and practice in our tradition will be explained. 

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says that something we all need to do is to develop a kind heart. To do this, we need to learn about compassion and how grow this feeling in our heart towards others. In Buddhism, a bodhisattva has developed compassion to include all sentient beings, and we can use the tools and advice of the bodhisattvas to develop our own kind heart. We all have the potential, and can learn these practices and use them in our everyday life.

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

To give an opportunity to discuss the teachings and treat the day like a retreat, students are encouraged to stay for the vegetarian potluck lunch and bring a dish to share. A dish or beverage that serves 4-6 people is typically a good portion, although larger entrees are always helpful. If your dish is dairy, nut, or gluten free, please make sure it's labeled so people with dietary issues can enjoy them. We don't have facilities for storing and reheating food, so hot dishes should come in a crockpot and cold dishes in a small cooler or coolerbag. 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama says, “All human beings want the same thing -- we want to be happy.” The challenge is where to look for that happiness. The things we might think bring happiness - consumerism, relationships, security, chocolate cake - all have the characteristic of change and impermanence. Happiness just comes and goes. So what might bring a more stable, unending happiness? To answer that question, we have to look at the deeper cause of our experiences - karma, or cause and effect. While the term karma has become very commonly used, what's not as widely known is how karma works. Learn more about the Buddhist definition and properties of karma, and how we can affect our karma to live a happier life.

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.

To give an opportunity to discuss the teachings and treat the day like a retreat, students are encouraged to stay for the vegetarian potluck lunch and bring a dish to share. A dish or beverage that serves 4-6 people is typically a good portion, although larger entrees are always helpful. If your dish is dairy, nut, or gluten free, please make sure it's labeled so people with dietary issues can enjoy them. We don't have facilities for storing and reheating food, so hot dishes should come in a crockpot and cold dishes in a small cooler or coolerbag. 

We usually talk about depression as a symptom of outside conditions, for example a broken relationship, holiday blues, getting bad news, even cold and gray weather! Learn how depression can be seen as an inner state of mind, coming instead from how we think, and that with the proper tools and practice it can be countered and transformed into happiness.

Special guest teacher Venerable Robina Courtin is known for her easy to understand and dynamic presentation of Buddhism, understanding our mind and emotions. For more about her biography, visit, and sponsorship opportunities, please go to our Visiting Teacher page.