Lama Yeshe Ling in Hamilton, Ontario will host the return visit of Geshe Sherab for a workshop and commentary on Shantideva’s Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life. “A Bodhisattva in The Bodhisattva’s Way of Life is someone who is striving for Bodhi (wisdom of the ultimate nature of reality) as a remedy for the suffering of all beings.” The workshop focuses on cultivating both compassion and wisdom — and counter-acting their opposites: self centredness and disturbing emotions.

• For an interview with Geshe Sherab in Buddha Weekly, please see>>

Central and crucial to Mahayana Buddhism is Bodhichitta — the compassionate goal to gain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. Bodhi — which can translate as “wisdom understanding the true nature of reality” is also central to the Bodhisattva. Sattva can be translated as “quality of goodness, positivity, truth, wholesomeness, serenity, wholeness, creativity, balance, confidence, peacefulness and virtuousness.” [1]

Geshe Sherab teaching (previous teaching):

One of the Dalai Lama’s favorite prayers comes from Shantideva’s text:

As long as space remains,
As long as living beings remain,
Unil then may I too remain
To dispel the suffering of the world.

Teacher Geshe Sherab

Geshe Sherab feels it is important to preserve traditional ways, while skillfully teaching with an understanding of Western Culture:

“We also need to understand Western culture and psychology so that we, as Geshes, can be more effective and bring more benefit. However, we should not take too many liberties in changing the traditional ways of doing things, just because it doesn’t suit the Westerners’ way or because they don’t like it. We should always think of the long-term benefit as opposed to simply short-term results.”

Lama Sherab “was born in 1967 in a very small village in the western part of Nepal.” Geshe Sherab studied with some of the great Geshes and Lamas: “like Geshe Jampa Gyatso and Geshe Doga who came to Kopan to teach, as well as the late Geshe Jampa, and of course Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Lhundrup and Geshe Lama Konchog, as well as H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Losang Tsering, H.E. Jangtse Choje Rinpoche Losang Tenzin and H.E. Khensur Rinpoche Losang Delek.. They are my main root gurus, and I have great respect for them; they were role models for me and inspired me to study.”

Event Details

March 2: The Way to Wise and Compassionate Living – Public Talk

Mark this special public talk on your calendars. More details at the Eventbrite site>>

Date and Time

Location

March 3: The Way to Wise and Compassionate Living – Workshop

Mark this special workshop on your calendars if you will be anywhere near Ontario, Canada. More details at the Eventbrite site>>

Date and Time

Location

NOTES

[1] Gerald James Larson (2001). Classical Sāṃkhya: An Interpretation of Its History and Meaning. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 10–18, 49, 163. ISBN 978-81-208-0503-3.