SPRING SEMESTER CLASS SCHEDULE February 2, 2026 to May 1, 2026 Losar Break February 16-20, 2026

SPRING SEMESTER CLASS SCHEDULE

February 2, 2026 to May 1, 2026

Losar Break February 16-20, 2026

 Namgyal Zoom Classes: Namgyal will host all spring classes by Zoom.  Audio recordings of the Zoom session for a class will be available for download the next day after class.    

The cost for Zoom class access is $200.  To register for classes, contact office@namgyal.org.  Payments can be made by check or online through the Namgyal website.

Senior Citizen Discount: A discount of 15% will be granted to seniors (age 65 or older), applicable to full-time tuition or tuition for individual classes.

1. TOPIC: Buddhist Science and Philosophy:  The Physical World Volume 1 cont.

Instructor: Geshe Ngawang translation by Palden Oshoe

Date: Feb – 2, 9, 23 March 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 April 6, 13, 20, 27, 2026

Mondays 6:30 pm to 7:45pm

Tuition: $200 twelve-week semester (payable in full or in two $100.00 installments)

For over 25 years, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama has engaged in annual Mind-Life Conferences with Western scientist from various disciplines to explore the commonalities and differences in Buddhist and Western views on the nature of reality and the mind.  One outcome of these discussions is that His Holiness convened a group of renown Buddhist scholars (Geshes) to compile all the treatises from classical Indian Buddhists texts that provided discourses on Buddhist science and philosophy.  The first volume in this series provides a compilation and synthesis of teachings on the Indian Buddhist view of nature of the physical world.  During this semester we will discuss the essential points covered in Part 3 on Subtle Particles and Part 4 on Time.  Geshe la will also make these teachings more relevant and practical for students by connecting them with teachings on the grounds and paths of Buddhist practice.  Geshe la will also provide ample time for questions and discussion so that students can better understand these profound teachings.  This class provides a unique opportunity for students to gain understanding and have discussion about foundational concepts the classical Indian Buddhist views of the world. 

 Text: Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics Vol. 1:  The Physical World

Conceived and Introduced by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Edited by Thupten Jinpa

2. TOPIC: LAM RIM (Stages of the Path to Enlightenment): Practice of the Six Perfections

Instructor: Geshe Ngawang translation by Palden Oshoe

Date: Feb- 3, 10, 17, 24, March- 3, 10, 24, 31 April – 7, 14, 21, 28, 2026

Mondays 6:30pm to 7:45pm

Tuition: $200 for twelve-week semester (payable in full or in two $100.00 installments)

Bodhichitta is the altruistic intention to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. Cultivating this aspiration is considered essential for entering the Mahayana Path and achieving Buddhahood.  The practical application of bodhichitta in one’s daily life involves the practice of the six perfections: generosity, ethical discipline, patience, joyful effort, meditation and wisdom.  These are sometimes referred to as the six far-reaching attitudes because they are to be extended to all beings regardless of our relationship with them. Last semester Geshe-la covered the perfection of generosity and ethical discipline. This semester he will continue explanation and discussion on the practice of patience, joyful effort and meditative serenity.   

 Text: The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment Vol. 2 & 3 by Lama Tsongkhapa

3. TOPIC: Mind Training Text Study:  Chapter One of the Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life: The Benefits of the Mind of Awakening

Instructor: Geshe Ngawang Gyatso translation by Palden Oshoe

Date: Feb: 4, 11, 25 March – 4, 11, 18, 25 April: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 2026

Wednesdays 6:30 pm to 7:45pm

Tuition: $200 for twelve-week semester (payable in full or in two $100.00 installments)

 The Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life is considered one of the most important texts in Tibetan Buddhism.  The first chapter provides an overview of the benefits of the Mind of Awakening, which is the altruistic intention to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all beings.  This mind of awakening, also known as bodhichitta, provides the essential motivation for practitioners to engage in practices such as the six perfections and progress along the path to complete enlightenment.  For newcomers, this class will provide a strong foundation in one of the key elements of study and practice within Tibetan Buddhism.  And for more experienced students, the teachings will serve to strengthen their commitment to cultivating ever deeper levels of understanding and practice of bodhichitta.

 Text: Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life by Shantideva (there are several translations available) 

4. TOPIC: Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism:  In Praise of Great Compassion

Instructor: Deana Bodnar

Date:  Feb: 5, 12, 19, 26 March: 5, 12, 2026

Thursdays 6:30pm to 7:45pm

Tuition: $100 for Six -weeks 

 *** this class will only run for six weeks from February 5- March 12 straight through with no break during the week of Losar.  The instructor, Deana Bodnar, is not available for the rest of the semester.***

This course will introduce key points and practices in Buddhism.  The course will focus on reading and discussion of one of the books in the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series written by His Holiness 14^th Dalai Lama and an American Buddhist nun, Thubten Chodron.   Because His Holiness, on his 90^th birthday in June, designated this year as The Year of Compassion, we will go through Volume 5 of this series: In Praise of Great Compassion.  During the fall semester we covered Chapters 1-4.  This semester we will continue reading and discussing this book starting with the Chapter 5 on Becoming a Bodhisattva.  Then we will continue with the remaining chapter in the book on topics such as aspiring and engaging bodhichitta.  This text provides an excellent overview of important concepts and principles in Buddhism related to the cultivation of compassion and connects these to modern life for Westerners.  The goal of the course is to give students a basic framework for understanding different teachings and practices on compassion within Buddhism and explore how we can integrate them into our daily lives to support our spiritual development.  Each class will also provide time for questions and discussion about these topics as well as time for meditation practice.

Recommended Reading: In Praise of Great Compassion by His Holiness the 14th Dalia Lama and Thubten Chodron (Wisdom Publications)

Deana Bodnar has been a student and practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism at Namgyal Monastery for over 20 years.  She has previously taught classes on the Neurobiology of Meditation.