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Activities & Projects—2007
- Karl Brunnhölzl has completed translation and editing of Nagarjuna’s Buddha Nature text “Praise of the Dharmadhatu”. It has been submitted to Snow Lion and is scheduled for publication in the Nitartha Institute series this fall.
- Tyler Dewar has completed translation and editing of the 9th Karmapa’s commentary to the Madhyamakavatara. The book is scheduled to be published by Snow Lion in the Nitartha Institute series in Spring of 2008.
- “Mind and Its World” (tentative title), the book based on the Lorik teachings of The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche and edited by Scott Wellenbach, is in the final stages of editing. Scott traveled to Seattle in 2006 and met with Rinpoche to resolve various thorny issues. Scott subsequently incorporated the changes and has submitted the manuscript to Rinpoche for final approval.
- A major revision of a text on the Mind Only tenet system, written by Ponlop Rinpoche for Nitartha Institute, has been produced by Acharya Tenpa Gyaltsen. The work has seen the text expanded by 50%. This work is a major contribution to the lineage by Nitartha as there has been no such text extant in the tradition since the diaspora.
- A revision of a text by Acharya Tenpa Gyaltsen on the Hinayana Tenets according to the Tibetan tradition (Vaibashika and Sautrantika) has been produced by Acharya Kelsang Wangdi.
- Tashi Wangmo, publications manager and Stephanie Johnston, graphic designer, have produced revisions of the beautiful sourcebooks for the Mind & Its World 1, 2 and Clear Thinking courses.
- Translator Tim Walton has been directed by Ponlop Rinpoche to create a glossary in both Tibetan and English of all the terms used in courses taught at Nitartha. He has completed terminology for all Mind and Its World, Madhyamaka and Buddha Nature materials.
- Managing Director Steve Seely’s activities have included in part:
- Creation, production and distribution of promotional materials: Website, E-newsletter, brochure and ads; direct marketing (phone, email)
- Organizing and teaching the Summer, 9 Day and Weekend programs
- Promotional travel
- Organizational and pedagogical conference management
Future Plans
- Ponlop Rinpoche would like to continue the work of translating and teaching all the great texts of both the Kagyu and Nyingma lineages as expeditiously as possible. Projects for 2007 include:
- Rinpoche has directed Tyler Dewar to begin work on translating the Ocean of Reasoning by the 7th Karmapa, the definitive Kagyu commentary on Dignaga and Dharmakirti’s work on valid cognition. Rinpoche and/or one of our Acharyas will likely teach from this work in the future at the Institute.
- Rinpoche has directed Tim Walton to continue his work with an expansion of the glossary that would bring this project closer to a full-fledged dictionary envisioned by Rinpoche. This will be a valuable tool for current translators, as well as a great resource for the training of future translators.
- As funding is available, Rinpoche has a number of projects that he would like to complete:
- Patsab Lotsawa’s notes on madhyamaka
- A text on Shentong by the Eighth Karmapa
- The Vinaya, with commentary by the Eighth Karmapa
- We anticipate that the manual on progressive analytical meditation by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen (edited by Carmen Rumbaut, Tashi Wangmo and Meg Miller) will have a completed draft by the end of fall, 2007.
- To continue the ongoing educational programs presented around the continent, consisting of the 9 Day, Regional Weekend and annual Summer programs. Specifically to:
- Provide scholarships to students that would otherwise not be able to attend Nitartha programs.
- Continue our programs to train new Western teachers and Tibetan translators
- Continue developing Nitartha’s support of the Menla Health and Healing curriculum at the Institute.
- Tashi Wangmo will continue to upgrade and develop published materials. Anticipated projects include:
- Produce Mind & Its World 3 & 4 Sourcebooks
- Produce a Debate Workbook
- A petsam or text retreat is a high priority for Rinpoche, so that further planning and decisions can take place around curriculum and textbook development. With the news of Khenpo Rinpoche’s and possibly even His Holiness Karmapa’s imminent arrivals, however, we will have to see when Rinpoche will be able to do this.
- Support for our umbrella organization, Nitartha International, is an ongoing priority for the Institute, which can include lending our administrative and fundraising expertise to help with educationally related projects, such as a major compendium to be compiled by the great scholar Zenkar Rinpoche.
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