May 12-July 28, 2008 (Mondays), 7-9pm, Kuntse Rinpoche will teach and lead a study of Shantideva's 37 Practices of a Bodhisattva, "guidebook to a Bodhisattva¡¦s way of life, written by the great Indian Scholar Shantideva. Bodhisattvas are beings who, having generated great compassion, vow to attain enlightenment in order to benefit to all sentient beings. This text describes a Bodhisattva¡¦s conduct." A continuation from last year, the class is designed such that students who missed earlier classes will still get something out of the later classes. Kuntse Rinpoche was born in Tibet and was recognized as an incarnate lama at the age of five. He was sent to Dharamsala for his formal education at the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics where he was at the top of his Geshe class. Suggested Donation: $5 per class. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Place: Bodhi Tree Center. 5403 SE Center Street, Portland, OR 97206 (near SE Foster and 54th Ave., just behind Day's Music). For more information about the Shakymuni Tibetan Buddhist Center call (503) 788-6465, send email to "info" @ stbcportland.org" or visit http://www.stbcportland.org.

Tuesday evenings, 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of the Month, 6:30-8:00 pm, the Shakyamuni Tibetan Buddhist Center of Portland holds Tonglen Practice. Literally "sending and taking", Tonglen is the Buddhist practice of giving away all that is positive and good, and taking in all that is negative and harmful. Powerful in practice, Tonglen is used as a meditation technique for deveoping equanimity, compassion, and healing. See the Tonglen prayers book that is used as part of the practice. Contact Linda Marshall, group leader, for more information. Place: Bodhi Tree Center. 5403 SE Center Street, Portland, OR 97206 (near SE Foster and 54th Ave., just behind Day's Music). For more information about the Shakymuni Tibetan Buddhist Center call (503) 788-6465, send email to "info" @ stbcportland.org" or visit http://www.stbcportland.org.

May 14-July 30, 2008 (Wednesdays), 7-9pm, Kuntse Rinpoche will teach from and explain Nagarjuna Bodhisattva's The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, "This text was composed by the great second-century Indian Scholar Nagarjuna, one of the most influential Buddhist Scholars of all times. It presents an understanding of the Buddhist doctrine of the two truths, or two levels of reality." Kuntse Rinpoche was born in Tibet and was recognized as an incarnate lama at the age of five. He was sent to Dharamsala for his formal education at the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics where he placed at the top of his Geshe class. Suggested Donation: $5 per class. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Place: Bodhi Tree Center. 5403 SE Center Street, Portland, OR 97206 (near SE Foster and 54th Ave., just behind Day's Music). For more information about the Shakymuni Tibetan Buddhist Center call (503) 788-6465, send email to "info" @ stbcportland.org" or visit http://www.stbcportland.org.

May 18-July 27, 2008 (Sundays), 3-5pm, Kuntse Rinpoche will lead a class on Lama Chopa Commentary and Ritual Instruction. "The Lama Chopa, or Guru Puja, is one of the most precious practices of Tibetan Buddhist tradition. It helps purify karmic obscurations, as well as re-establish and strengthen the connection with our precious Teachers. Rinpoche will give commentary on this profound text & instruction on its mudras & rituals." Kuntse Rinpoche was born in Tibet and was recognized as an incarnate lama at the age of five. He was sent to Dharamsala for his formal education at the Institute for Buddhist Dialectics where he placed at the top of his Geshe class. Suggested Donation: $5 per class. (No one will be turned away for lack of funds.) Place: Bodhi Tree Center. 5403 SE Center Street, Portland, OR 97206 (near SE Foster and 54th Ave., just behind Day's Music). For more information about the Shakymuni Tibetan Buddhist Center call (503) 788-6465, send email to "info" @ stbcportland.org" or visit http://www.stbcportland.org.

Venerable Geshe Kalsang Damdul studied at the Central School for Tibetans in Mussoorie, India. In 1973, he continued his education at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala where he studied all the major Buddhist texts. He received his Master of Prajnaparamita (Perfection of Wisdom Sutra) degree and was also awarded the Master of Mahdyamika degree. Since 1987, he has served as Assistant Director for the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics under the direct administration of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. In 1995, he received his geshe degree from Drepung Loseling Monastery in South India.