“My intention to teach here is to bring some spiritual benefits to the material world. Not for any other reason, not even to establish Buddhist communities or turn the people on to my way. Although still of course I teach meditation according to Buddha’s teachings, otherwise it wouldn’t help you if I teach something from my own ideas; because I am not an enlightened being. The teachings of the Enlightened One (Buddha) is proved by countless thousands of great scholars and enlightened beings. This the way to cultivate wisdom, compassion, and enlighten ourselves; this is the way that can bring us peace, happiness and freedom from suffering.”
– Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche
Founded in 2009 by Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche the Gampopa Center is located in the heart of historic downtown Annapolis. One of Maryland’s few Dharma Centers, the Gampopa Center is rooted in the Karma Kagyu School, but combines meditation practice and philosophical study in a manner that incorporates the teachings of numerous realized figures across many traditions and lineages.
Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche
Born to the Khoti family in 1973, Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche was raised by his mother and grandfather until the age of 12 when he was recognized as a tulku (a reincarnation) by monks from a neighboring monastery. The monks from Gangkar Monastery had recognized the young boy as the reincarnation of their recently deceased Tsatsa Khenpo Thubten. They asked his family to send him to study the Kagyu School at Gangkar, but as Lama Tashi’s family belonged to the nearby Sakya Monastery, they were reluctant to send their son away. Eventually his mother, recognizing the signs in her dreams, agreed to send her son to study with the Kagyu monks. After studying for some years Lama Tashi was sent too to Palpung Monastery’s college, where he studied grammar, poetry, astrology and Buddhist texts. After two years he moved to India to meditate and further study the Dharma with the most accomplished lamas. Lama Phurbu Tashi refused the title of tulku, recognizing that as a reincarnation he would inherently be of benefit to the Buddhist community regardless of his title. He continued his academic studies at Drepung Monastery in India, then moved for a short time to Nepal before returning to India to study English, Sanskrit, the Sutras, and Buddhist history under the direction of H.E. Gyaltsab Rinpoche. In 1999 Lama Tashi traveled to Switzerland, where he discovered the occidental Buddhist and exiled Tibetan communities in the west. Upon returning to Asia he embarked on a 3 year, 3 month and 3 week retreat under the guidance of V.V. Bokar Rinpoche. His Karma Kagyu Retreat began in 2000, and by the end of it, Bokar Rinpoche was so impressed by Lama Phurbu Tashi that he gave him the title Rinpoche (Precious One.)
He is a strong advocate for vegetarianism for all Buddhists and laments the destruction caused by the modern age. Many of his writings center on our addiction to modern distractions and the need to focus on the reality of the present moment. He asserts that focusing on the past or the future causes all our misery – the past is unchangeable and the future is just fantasy. By living by the magic word – “be present” (or “be alive”) – we can establish an awareness of the vitality of now, and develop a far greater sense of happiness and peace in our daily lives. He splits his time between Annapolis, Maryland and Jakarta, Indonesia, spreading the Dharma and encouraging his students to develop an awareness of life in the present moment.
Gampopa + Karma Kagyu
The ceter’s namesake Gampopa is one of the five founding masters of the Kagyu Lineage and is the most famous disciple of the great Milarepa. He was born in a village in Southern Tibet where he studied medicine and became a physician at a young age. After the early death of his wife and child, he renounced the household life and turned to the monastery. He took vows at age 25 and became a monk in the Kadampa tradition. Unsatisfied by the Kadampa practices, Gampopa felt drawn to the great yogi Milarepa. Under the tutelage of Milarepa, Gampopa was able to achieve complete realization and become a great yogi himself. It was his disciple Dusum Kheynpa who would become the first Karmapa Lama – the head of the Karma Kagyu tradition practiced by the Gampopa Center.
The Karma Kagyu tradition is based in direct oral transmission. It is a subset of the Kagyu tradition, the lineage of which begins with Tilopa, who (according to some legends) received the Mahamudra directly from Vajradhara in the 10th century. Tilopa’s principal disciple was Naropa, to whom he passed the Mahamudra, along with 6 pieces of advice. Naropa codified the six teachings, creating what are now known as the 6 yogas (or dharmas) of Naropa. The Mahamudra was then transmitted to Marpa, who passed the meditation tradition on to his disciple Milarepa. Milarepa became one of Tibet’s most celebrated figures, as he achieved enlightenment within one lifetime. Gampopa was a disciple of Milarepa, and would eventually become his spiritual successor. Gampopa combined the Kadampa teachings of Atisa and the Mahamudra received from Milarepa. His disciple Dusum Kheynpa achieved enlightenment through the combined traditions and became the first Karmapa and the formal father of the Karma Kagyu tradition.
The Karma Kagyu tradition maintains its base in the combination of the Mahamudra and the Kadampa teachings. Mahamudra (Great Seal) is the highest form of meditation and a direct insight into the nature of the mind. It involves the 6 Yogas of Naropa and focuses on the manipulation of subtle energies. The Kadampa teachings focus on a more gradual approach to meditation, using the Dharma as a practical method for turning daily activities into steps on the path to enlightenment. The combination of these two traditions has continued under the leadership and teachings of the Karmapa’s 17 reincarnations. There is currently some contention among the Karma Kagyu school regarding the 17th Karmapa, as both Trinley Thaye Dorje and Ogyen Trinley Dorje have been recognized as the tulku.
While the practice of the Gampopa center is based in the Karma Kagyu tradition, it does not strictly rely on one single tradition. Lama Phurbu Tashi allows and encourages his students to explore many other facets of Tibetan Buddhism in their journey to a more peaceful and free lifestyle.
The Sangha
When Lama Phurbu Tashi Rinpoche moved to the United States, he found a job working as a cashier in a supermarket. He met his first student through his manager, a practicing Buddhist who was looking for a new teacher. He moved in with his student and began teaching out of her home. He quickly accumulated a large local student body and established the Gampopa Center. The center holds weekly classes in meditation, Buddhist philosophy, Tibetan language, Ngondro practice and Chenrezig practice. When Lama Phurbu Tashi is in Annapolis he leads the classes, but while he is away the classes are taught by members of the Sangha. Self classified as a “growing community of lay Dharma practitioners,” the Sangha’s “mission is to offer an authentic tradition and make it relevant to the lives of modern day people,” and to “enable others to receive direct insights into the teachings of the Buddha.” Although their practice is grounded in the Karma Kagyu tradition, they draw on influences from all other Tibetan traditions in order to experience a full practice. The Sangha focuses mainly on mindfulness and meditation, working within Lama Phurbu Tashi’s teachings to establish a happier, more connected lifestyle.
The Sangha has ties with the international network of non-profit organizations known as Live to Love. The network focuses on creating positive change in the areas of education, environmental protection, heritage preservation, medical services and relief aid. The Gampopa Center is currently working on establishing an Annapolis chapter of Live to Love.
The Gampopa Center
The Gampopa Center, located at 424 4th Street, Annapolis, MD, offers weekly scheduled classes and discussion groups as well as on open door policy. Friends and interested strangers are always welcome to come and go as they wish. The center offers the following classes
- Introduction to Buddhism – Sundays at 10:30. The Introduction to Buddhism Class is taught by Tree Marr and centers around the book The Essence of Buddhism: An Introduction to its Philosophy and Practice by Traleg Kyabgon
- Meditation – Sundays at 2:00 and Mondays at 7:00. This group meditation session includes guided and non-guided meditation and is accessible to both beginners and experienced practitioners.
- Buddhist Philosophy – Tuesday at 7:00. This class on Buddhist philosophy explores many different traditions within Tibetan Buddhism and serves as an introduction to the philosophy that forms the foundation for Buddhist practice.
- Chenzrig Practice – Wednesday at 7:00. This session is dedicated to Chenzrig – the Buddha of compassion – and the development of genuine compassion in our own lives.
- Ngondro Practice – Thursday at 7:00. This session focuses on taking refuge in the Three Jewels, cultivating bodhichitta, Vajrasattva purification, mandala offering and Guru Yoga.
All information mentioned above was gathered from the Gampopa Center’s website and the websites of the two potential current reincarnations of the Karmapa.
Websites Used
- http://www.gampopacenter.com
- http://www.kagyu.org/index.php
- http://www.karmapa.org