Most people never realize that all of us here shall one day perish. But those who do realize that truth settle their quarrels peacefully.
Dhammapada 6
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What is a Geshe?
In a recent Tricycle article, Lama Losang Samten was referred to as Geshe Losang Samten, which prompted some of us to ask, what exactly is the difference between a Lama and a Geshe? Losang was kind enough to provide his insight below!
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Lama Losang, what does the title of "Geshe" mean?
 The title of a Geshe originally means a person who is very knowledgeable. The word geshe literally means 'virtue master' or 'virtue friends'. It started from Atisha's lineage called Jo Kadampa after the 10th century. For example, the text we have been studying..."8 Verses for Training the Mind" is composed by Geshe Togme Zangpo. Referring to him as a Geshe does not mean that Togme Zangpo received a geshe degree. But later on, Lama Tsongkapsa's monasteries : Ganden, Sera, Drepung started the tradition of giving the title of geshe for a monk who completed the studies on the five major treatises on Buddhist philosophical texts :
1) The Perfection of Wisdom
2) Madhyamaka
3) Compendium on Valid Cognition
4) Abhidharmakosha
5) Vinaya
Within the geshe degree, there are 4 different types of a geshe degree.
All the Gelug monasteries do not necessarily use the "geshe" title. One such example is the monastery called Tashi Lhungpo which was established by the 1st Dalai Lama (Gunden Drup) in the 14th century. Tashi Lhungpo later became the Pachen Lama's monastery, which is another major Gelug monastery in Tibet. Although this monastery is an important Gelug monastery, they do not have the geshe title tradition. Instead, they use the title of "Kajen". The Namgyal Monastery, where I studied........because we study both sutra and tantra and also is a very non-sectarian monastery, His Holiness decided to use the title "Master of Sutra and Tantra" as opposed to the "Geshe" or "Kajen" titles which refers only to the study of Sutra. My monastery education started in 1969 and I graduated in 1985 with the Masters of Sutra and Tantra degrees which is equivalent to the Geshe, Kajen. or PHD degrees in the west. In the general public, an ordinary Tibetan would greet a monk as a "geshe la"....especially an older monk for out of respect even though the monk does not have any degrees.
And now in the present day......the buddhist nuns are also able to study for the geshe degrees. Upon completion for the geshe degree, the nuns are called "Geshema". In the present time, there are number of great Geshemas in exile.
Lama: "Lama" is a Tibetan word meaning "spiritual teacher". This translates to 'Guru" in Hindi. When I meet with His Holiness these days, he calls me "Lama Losang Samten", even though I do not like to have titles. So it is ok for people to call me "Lama" since my teacher, His Holiness, calls me that too.
Generally, students can call their teachers with any titles as they wish.... "lamas", "tulkus", "rinpoches", and many other titles, as long as the students feel that kind of connection towards him or her. For example......when someone loves someone dearly, there are many different words that you call the loved ones. Such as....my darling, my soulmate, honey, sweetheart, etc. You do not have to receive this kind of titles from the city hall nor have to be married.
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Thank you Lama Losang for sharing your knowledge!
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SUNDAY DHARMA
Sundays 9:30a-11:30a
Join us every Sunday for meditation and Dharma teachings.
October 6, 13, 20* & 27: Lama Losang Samten will lead services.
*On October 20 there will be a special presentation about Tibetan medicine 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Free parking available behind the center. Please park to the Southern side to allow church attendants to park near the church.
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SUNDAYS WITH SANGHA
Join us Sundays around 12 p.m. following our morning meditation and dharma teaching service for continued activities to connect further with Sangha members!
October 6, 2019 12 p.m.: Climate Change Made Easy
Humanity’s unwillingness to stop burning fossil fuels and our obliviousness to really knowing the inter-dependence of all living beings is a catastrophe unfolding in our lifetime. If we don’t understand how the earth has always warmed, what a feedback loop is, what the albedo effect is, what specific sectors emit carbon, then we won’t understand what we have to do and how to become an effective activist.
As part of my meditations on turning 80, I decided that researching global warming/climate change and then bringing this information to my peers, in very simple terms, is a necessary first step if we are to turn this catastrophe around for ourselves and our children. I brought this idea to Joy and she said, “You know, I don’t really understand what a carbon footprint is”. And our collaboration was on.
This presentation is for all ages as we cover the science of global warming, the consequences, and what we can do about it, with a deep science that everyone can understand.
October 13, 2019, 12 p.m: Children's Meditation Workshop - The Four Harmonious Friends
 On Sunday, October 13 from 12:00-1:30, Rachel Katz, Sister Vernice Meylong Tungba-Ma, Jen Jaynes and Tony Boris will host a meditation workshop on friendship and respect for children ages 10 and younger. The program begins with storytelling of the Four Harmonious Friends accompanied by live music. The story is about Rabbit, Monkey, Elephant and Bird, who discuss friendship and respect as they determine which friend should rest under and eat the fruit from the large tree. From our story, the children will then participate in a guided meditation where they’ll get to imagine being one of the Four Friends. There will be a coloring activity, as well as singing and dancing to more live music!
Children will need to be accompanied by a parent and/or caregiver. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is not required. This workshop is free to CTBC members; a donation of $10.00 is requested for non-members.
Please contact Sue Passante (stpassante@gmail.com) with any questions. We hope you can join us for this very special event!
October 20, 2019 12 p.m.: Sangha Circle
Led by Tony Boris
With the wish to free all beings, I shall always go for refuge, to the Buddhas, the Dharma and the Sangha, until the attainment of full enlightenment.
TBC Sangha Circle is a space for sharing, connection and support for sangha and friends. The group meets twice a month on Sundays from 12 to 1pm, shortly after our Sunday Morning Sangha. Our format is borrowed from a number of beautiful, time honored traditions. After introducing ourselves, we begin with a short dharma reading or quotation to soften the heart and stimulate insight, followed by a brief silent meditation, and then open the space to personal sharing on anything of meaning All shares are confidential.
The intention is to allow our practice of dharma to extend beyond the mat, to become part of the way in which we understand, communicate, and move through our everyday lives. Also, to support our sangha jewel, which creates other benefits too numerous and vast in scope to even list.
October 27, 2019 12 p.m.: Gathering with Lama Losang
Join a few of us on Sunday October 27 for an informal dialog with Lama Losang. Bring your questions and connect with others in this precious offering! Space is limited, so please RSVP to chenrezigtbc@gmail.com.
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THURSDAY NIGHT MEDITATION
Join us Thursday nights from 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. for drop-in meditation. After sitting in meditation, each practice leader will then lead some discussion or a Q&A or even a reading from a book. Whether you are an advanced meditator or just beginning your interest in meditation, you will find sitting with a group will create a strong energy for your practice. This is an opportunity to deepen your commitment to yourself and through the support of others, begin to reduce the suffering in your life and in the lives of others. We look forward to having you join us.
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SPECIAL OFFERINGS
Anapanasati Workshop
Saturdays October 12, October 26 & November 9, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Led by Bill Stauffer
Register Now! Anapanasati is from the Pali Canon (Majjhima Nikaya # 118) and is the Buddha’s teaching on mindfulness of breathing. In the Pali tradition Anapanasati is considered to be one of the two most important teachings the Buddha gave on meditation. Indeed, many important Buddhist teachers, such as Thich Nhat Hahn and Bhikkhu Bodhi, say this is the practice the Buddha was using on the night of his awakening.
The purpose of this workshop is to help people who are familiar with breath meditation explore ways to take it deeper as taught by the Buddha in this famous sutra. We will explore the teaching in some depth over 3 Saturdays.
Prerequisites: This is an advanced teaching, qualification required. To qualify, a meditator should be able hold their focus on the breath comfortably for at least 10 minutes. If you have questions about this please check with the instructor. LEARN MORE.
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Tibetan Doctors from Men-Tsee-Kang
October 19 & October 20
Stay Tuned! Tibetan Doctors from Mentsee Kang will return to TBC this year for a presentation and private health consultations. Additional information will be available soon. Sign up required for health consultations. Sunday October 20 during Sunday Sangha from 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. there will be a presentation about Tibetan Medicine.
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Thank you to all who were able to join us for Peace Day Philly activities!
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TBC Members in Rittenhouse Square September 22, 2019 for Peace Day Philly.
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Community contributions are always open! Please submit materials (poetry, artwork, thoughts, music etc.) to ChenrezigTBC@gmail.com with "Community Corner Submission" in the subject line.
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Member Spotlight: Anna Murphey
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 Anna Murphey joined CTBC in the spring of 2019 after attending the annual weekend retreat at Pendle Hill. Looking for a new sangha after seven years of Buddhist practice, she felt a strong and immediate connection with this warm, caring community. Anna regularly attends Sunday morning sangha as well as other TBC programs, and facilitated a book discussion at the center in September. She enjoys getting to know and nurturing friendships with fellow practitioners.
Anna recently embarked on a new career path as a hospice social worker and end-of-life-doula. She is especially interested in how the Buddhist dharma and mindfulness can support a contemplative approach to living and dying. Anna is currently reading Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up by Koshin Paley Ellison, a Zen teacher and psychotherapist. In her free time, Anna enjoys singing with a community choir, cooking for friends and family, and hiking in the Wissahickon.
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Haiku Tara Toon from Sister Vernice Meylong Tungba-Ma.
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Community member Jeannine Baldomero's offering of a graphic representation of Lama Losang's teaching September 29!
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TBC Calendar integration for Google and iCal
In addition to the calendar maintained on the website, the monthly calendar can now be integrated into your own google calendar or iCal.
- The direct link to the Google calendar can be found here
- The direct link for iCal can be found here.
- The calendar can also be accessed HERE! on our website.
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Mandala Newsletter Compiled by Jen Jaynes, TBC Secretary.
For inquiries regarding any content please email ChenrezigTBC@gmail.com
www.tibetanbuddhist.org
954 N. Marshall Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123
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