Buddhist Philosophy

Phakchok Rinpoche and senior instructors offer regular audio, video, or written wisdom teachings. Philosophy represents the “inner science” or study of the mind. Many of these teachings include self-reflections or practice exercises to help you check your understanding. Browse by topic and level according to your interest.

Guru Rinpoche Day Teaching

Phakchok Rinpoche sends short email teachings to all students each Guru Rinpoche day. He chooses topics with the aspiration to inspire and encourage students. Rinpoche often uses these teachings to remind us of important topics such as devotion, motivation, and aspiration prayers.  These topics remind us to bring our minds home in the midst of our busy lives. Browse Samye’s archive of 10 years of these teachings.

Radically Happy

East meets West in this fresh, modern take on a timeless challenge: how to find contentment and meaning in life. Phachok Rinpoche and Erric Solomon introduce us to our minds and help us to cultivate a sense of deep well-being.  Learn how to manage your mind!

Medicine & Wellness

Wellness translates to a holistic balance–a steady mind in a healthy body. Learn how to integrate physical practices , nutrition, and breathwork with reflection and meditation.

Buddhist Arts

Students at great Buddhis universities in India and Tibet studied the science of fine arts and crafts (śilpa-karma-sthāna vidyā). Sculpture, architecture, painting, music, and dance all helped convey deep spiritual meanings throughout Buddhist history.

Grammar

By studying the science of language, we help preserve the Buddhist teachings and express core concepts. Tibetan Buddhist scholar-practitioners thought carefully as they developed a  Buddhist vocabulary. When we know the etymology and context, we discover multiple levels of meaning.  

Holistic Living

Regardless of our background, age, and way of life, all human beings long for true happiness, a sense of mental ease and well-being, and to be free from suffering. Here we share methods derived from 2,500 years of the Buddha’s teachings that can help us all to achieve spacious minds, a sense of ease, kind hearts, dignity, and deep contentment.

Path of Meditation

Meditation, on the relative level,  helps us develop a balanced and healthy life. And ultimately, we connect with our own basic goodness, our awakened Buddha-nature. Phakchok Rinpoche encourages students to take up the practice of Mahāmudrā meditation.

Nine Yanas

The Nine Yanas (vehicles) approach provides a structured framework with which to better understand and implement the Buddha’s precious teachings. By studying, contemplating, and meditating in stages like the levels of a staircase, we can gain realization more swiftly.

Vajrayana

Vajrayana, the “diamond” or “thunderbolt” vehicle was most commonly followed by the practitioners and great masters of the past in Tibet.  As Phakchok Rinpoche is a primary lineage holder of the New Treasures of Chokgyur Lingpa or Chokling Tersar, this path centers around these profound teachings and practices.

In the Footsteps of Bodhisattvas

Learn the view, meditation, and conduct of a bodhisattva and explore how bodhisattva training in its myriad forms lays the foundation for the dawning of genuine samadhi. This recent book by Phachok Rinpoche demonstrates how practices of the Samadhi Raja Sutra fit within the context of Vajrayana practice.

Senior Lama Teachings

Samye Institute is delighted to announce our Senior Lama Teachings series, a program of on-line teachings and question and answer sessions featuring our learned Druplas and Khenpos.