Exploring Reality — Thursday Night Talks on the Buddhist View With Cortland Dahl

The Buddhist path to awakening transforms the way we see ourselves. Through the practice of meditation, we learn to examine our beliefs and assumptions and to explore our experience in the present moment. This exploration leads to a profound shift in perspective as we begin to see the unlimited potential of the mind and the spacious, fluid nature of perception.

In Tibetan Buddhism, the principles that guide this inner exploration are presented as the four systems of Buddhist thought. These four philosophical systems are practical in nature. They are roadmaps of the mind that can guide us in meditation and help us to undo the causes of confusion and suffering. For centuries, these four tenet systems have been taught, studied, and practiced in all of Tibet’s Buddhist lineages.

In this series of Thursday night talks, Tergar Instructor Cortland Dahl will cover the most important principles of these traditions and how to move from understanding to direct experience in meditation. Our journey will be based on important texts from the lineage and teachings from Mingyur Rinpoche on key points of study and practice.

The teachings offered in this series will follow Tergar’s online course: Exploring Reality, which includes videos and live webinars with Mingyur Rinpoche and Tergar Instructors, discussion forums, an extensive workbook to deepen understanding and experience, and a range of other resources for study and practice.

Date/Time:
Thursdays, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

September 6 – View, Meditation and Application
September 13 – The Buddhist Perspective
September 20 – Three Levels of Experience
September 27 - Transforming the Mind - Cancelled

[Public talk with Khenpo Kunga on October 4]
October 11 - The Three Turnings
October 18 - The Four Philosophical Schools
October 25 - Analytical Meditation

November 1 - Healthy Self, No Self
November 8 - Investigating the Self
November 15 - Elements of Experience: The Five Skandhas
[November 22 - Thanksgiving Holiday]
Nov 29 - No session — Community Meeting

Dec 6 - Mahayana 101
Dec 13 - Mind Only
Dec 20 - The Three Natures
Dec 27 - No session - Holiday break

Jan 3 - No session - Winter Retreat
Jan 10 - The Middle Way
Jan 17 - Middle Way Logic
Jan 24 - Two Forms of Emptiness
Jan 31 - Exploring Reality 

Suggested Donation:
$10 / Free to monthly donors

Cortland Dahl has practiced meditation for twenty-five years and has studied Buddhism around the world. He has spent time on retreat in monasteries and retreat centers throughout Japan, Burma, India, and Nepal, and for eight years lived in Tibetan refugee settlements near Kathmandu.

Cortland has a Ph.D. in Mind, Brain and Contemplative Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was mentored by renowned neuroscientist Dr. Richard Davidson. He also holds a master’s Degree in Buddhist Studies from Naropa University. In addition to his work as an Instructor for the Tergar community and Chairman and Co-Executive Director of Tergar International, Cortland serves as Research Scientist and Chief Contemplative Officer at UW-Madison’s Center for Healthy Minds.

Cortland is actively involved in scientific research and has published articles on the impact of meditation practices on the body, mind, and brain. He has also published twelve books of translations of classical texts on Buddhist philosophy and meditation.