Lineage Training

MSB LINEAGE TRAINING COURSE REGISTRATION LINK

The Mangala Shri Bhuti Lineage Training Program provides systematic and progressive training for those embarking on the path of the Longchen Nyingtik lineage under the guidance of Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche. The program consists of sequential practice courses through which one progresses under the individual guidance of a senior MSB student called a Study and Practice Representative (SPR). Since this training program is self-paced and accommodates distance learning, one need not wait for a scheduled class, or live near an MSB center, to get started.

INDEPENDENT STUDY COURSES

The program is divided into independent study courses focusing on specific themes. While the courses should be studied in order, starting with the first one, it is not mandatory to continue through all the courses, and a student may focus on a single course theme for any length of time.

MSB TRAINING COURSES

Course 1: Self-Reflection and Shamatha Meditation

Course 2: Four Immeasurables and Shamatha Meditation

Course 3: Refuge Vow

Course 4: Bodhisattva Vow

Course 5: Mangala Shri Bhuti Lineage Ceremony

Course 6: Pre-Sessions

Course 7: Post-Sessions

Course 8: Ngondro

Course 9: Sadhana

COURSE FORMAT

Each course is made up of several classes, each with four components: study, contemplation, meditation, and interaction. To get the full benefit from a course, students are encouraged to move through the classes in order, engaging fully with each component, before moving on to the next course. The materials required for each course are listed at the beginning of the course syllabus.

Study and Practice Representatives (SPR)

Course Registration

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDhwOGptakc0bmdtUElsQTRpVUkxUmc6MQ

Study

Each class includes a series of written teachings and audio recordings that pertain to a specific class theme. Materials include mp3 audio recordings, PDF documents, and published books. The audio recordings and PDF documents are available as free downloads.

Contemplation

Writing about what we study helps us to understand the teachings on a deeper level. As part of the overall program, students should keep a Dharma journal (either on paper or electronically), making entries in response to their study assignments.

Dharma journal entries should be divided into two parts:

Part 1: Determining Importance

From your perspective, what are the most important ideas or themes that you gleaned from these teachings? Create a brief outline, web, or summary to reflect your ideas.

Part 2: Personal Reflection

Write a personal reflection on the important themes that you summarized in Part 1 of your entry. You may want to choose one or more of the following techniques to frame your writing:

· Make a personal connection with the teachings by relating them to your own experience, other teachings you've received or studied, or past and current world events.

· Record questions about an idea (e.g., topic, detail, vocabulary term) that arose for you before, during, or after your studies. If you answered a question through your own contemplations, record your answer as well.

· Make an inference by combining your understanding of the teachings with your own knowledge to form a unique interpretation, share an insight, draw a conclusion, and so forth.

· Create an artistic representation (e.g., drawing, painting) to represent a topic or idea from your studies.

Meditation

Students are highly encouraged to practice formal meditation each day. Each course syllabus lists specific meditation instructions related to the topic of the course. Students are also highly encouraged to fill out Practice, Study, and Service records, which can be downloaded at: https://sites.google.com/site/msbstudypractice/records. Before submitting these records to Rinpoche, students are encouraged to share them with their SPR.

Interaction

Study and Practice Representatives (SPRs) are senior MSB students who serve as mentors for those participating in an independent study course. Working with an SPR is an essential component of this program. Please contact us at khenchungbob@mangalashribhuti.org to be an assigned an SPR. For each class, share some or all of your journal entries with your SPR. Interactions with SPRs can happen in any form: in person, over the phone, through email or Skype. If you have a question directly related to the course material, please note the page or audio track number to help your SPR locate it.

Some of the courses also include a blog as way to offer an opportunity to interact with other students who are taking the same course. Your individual course syllabus will indicate if a blog is included as part of your curriculum.

Course Completion

The amount of time spent on a course will vary from individual to individual. When you feel ready to move on to the next course, please fill out the online course completion form at:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dFdEU2t2M1p4MThLYnNrWXhOMlZ5WGc6MQ

Senior MSB Students

MSB students who have already participated in the MSB Lineage Ceremony prior to the establishment of the MSB Lineage Training program are encouraged to gradually take all of the program courses over time, either in or out of sequence. Consequently, this means that even a senior MSB student will need to be assigned an SPR and regularly relate to this person as part of the interaction component of the program courses.