Explore this recorded Shambhala Online course at your own pace.
In the Fall of 2004, the late Dr. Robin Kornman, an early student of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist scholar, and founding member of the Nalanda Translation Committee, gave a series of talks at Dorje Denma Ling entitled The Cycle of the Black Ashe.
The basic premise of Dr. Kornman’s exploration of Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s terma texts was that these texts can be best understood holistically rather than as a pedagogical sequence. In order to do so, he showed how a number of basic themes are woven throughout the entire terma cycle and how these teachings draw from a rich framework of Tibetan culture and shamanism, Taoism, and the Buddhist sutras and tantras.
This program will use Dr. Kornman’s talks as the basis for a larger discussion on the origins and development of the Shambhala teachings and why they are especially relevant today. Commentators are offering their own understanding of the material for contemplation and discussion. Dr. Kornman’s original talks are included alongside the recordings of the commentators talks and discussion for your study.
Links to the original recorded talks of The Cycle of the Black Ashe provided. Transcripts of the talks are available from the Nalanda Translation Committee click here to order.
Talk 1 — Introduction – Course overview by Richard Peisinger and Julia Sagebien including a video clip of Robin Kornman teaching an assembly.
Talk 2 — Terma and Rime with commentary by Holly Gayley
Talk 3 — Invocation for Raising Windhorse and the Kalachakra Tantra with commentary by Derek Kolleeny and Loppon Lodro Dorje
Talk 4 — Buddha Nature, Shentong, Dolpopa with commentary by Derek Kolleeny and Scott Wellenbach
Talk 5 — Golden Sun of the Great East, with commentary by Sarah Coleman and David Rome
Talk 6 — Letter of the Black Ashe, with commentary by Agness Au
Talk 7 — Golden Key, with commentary by Alice Haspray
Talk 8 — Gesar, with commentary by Mathias Pongracz, Jane Hawes, and David Shapiro
Talk 9 – Scorpion Seal of the Golden Sun, with commentary by Moh Hardin
Talk 10 — Concluding Comments by John Rockwell and Larry Mermelstein; feast offerings
*** BONUS SESSION (SS Lung Required).
Participants must have completed Warrior Assembly or Werma Assembly (or received all four terma and attended either Kalapa Assembly or Rigden Abhisheka) in order to participate in Modules 1 through 8 and 10.
Module 9, Scorpion Seal, will be restricted to only those students who have received the Scorpion Seal text through Scorpion Seal Assembly 1.