Geshe-la in Austin

Picture

Wednesday September 17 - Friday 19, 2014: Dr. Zuniga will host Venerable Geshe Thupten Phelgye in Austin, Texas. In addition to being a Geshe (the highest level of monastic training in Tibetan Buddhism), he was a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile for 10 years. You can read about Geshe-la's last series of teachings in Austin here. You can learn more about Geshe-la's work and life via his website (and short and longer biographies). 

Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 2:30-4PM (CST) Geshe-la will speak at Texas State University in San Marcos. This event is entitled “A Conversation with Venerable Geshe Thupten Phelgye" and is free and open to both Texas State and the wider Central Texas community. Geshe-la will offer informal remarks on Buddhism and Tibet, with Q&A moderated by Dr. Zuniga. A map of the campus and sponsoring academic departments and a shareable poster is here.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014, 8PM (CST): The North Austin Muslim Community Center and Sheikh Islam Mossaad will host Geshe-la and Dr. Zuniga for a spiritual conversation entitled “The Twin Paralytics: Fear and Grief: An Exploration into the Sources and Remedies of Human Affliction.” NAMCC is located at 11900 North Lamar, Austin, and this event will be in NAMCC’s Multi-Purpose Hall. This event is free and open to the public. Directions and parking are available. Go to our Facebook Event page to sign up, share photos etc.

Thursday, September 18, 2014, 10-11:30AM (CST) Geshe-la will speak at Huston–Tillotson University, in Austin; hosted by Dr. James Kraft. Geshe-la’s talk, entitled "We are Interconnected: A Discussion of Buddhist Ethics Regarding other Religions and Species" will specifically explore 1. Buddhist ethics towards non-human sentient beings, and 2. Buddhist views towards non-Buddhist religions. Geshe-la's talk will be in the Agard-Lovinggood Admin Building (AL Auditorium; between Chalmers St. & the guard booth; see the campus map). This event is free and open to the public. Free parking available on Chalmers Street (campus map). A detailed description of the talk and questions that will be asked by Dr. Kraft is here.

Thursday, September 18, 2014, 1-2:30PM (CST) Geshe-la, Dr. Zuniga, Rev. Lisa Saunders (Rector of St. James' Episcopal Church), Rev. Cathy Boyd (Associate Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church), and Rev. Mary Wilson (Pastor of Church of the Savior) will be interviewed for a dialogue exploring the nature of religion and spirituality for Views and Brews, hosted and produced by Rebecca McInroy, on KUT (an Austin affiliate of National Public Radio). This will be an in-studio taping to be aired later, and a podcast will be available.

Thursday, September 18, 2014, 7PM (CST) Geshe-la will engage in a dialogue entitled “The Cross and the Lotus: Christian-Buddhist Dialogue" with Fr. Peter J. Walsh, CSC. Fr. Walsh is the Director of St. Edward's Campus Ministry and was involved in promoting interfaith dialogue while serving as a Chaplain at St. Thomas More Catholic Chapel and Center at Yale. This event will be at St. Edward’s University, in Jones Auditorium, in Austin, and is hosted by St. Edward's Health & Counseling Center, Campus Ministry, and Dr. Zuniga. This event is free but only available to the St. Edward’s community. A downloadable poster to share is here.

Friday, September 19, 2014, 9AM (CST) Geshe-la will visit Mariposa Montessori’s Elementary Class in Austin, Texas. This is a private event.

Friday, September 19, 2014, 2PM (CST) Geshe-la will have a private meeting with the Order Of Interbeing (ordained students of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh) from Plum Blossom Sangha.

Friday, September 19, 2014, 7-8:30PM (CST) Geshe-la will speak at Trinity United Methodist Church in Austin, Texas, on "Acting with Kindness: Stories and Lessons from a Life of Peacemaking." In addition, he will offer a brief, guided, multicultural meditation and Q&A. This event is hosted by Mariposa Sangha and Trinity UMC. It is free and open to the public. Trinity UMC is located at 4001 Speedway, Austin, 78751. You can park on the street or in lot across Speedway from the church (a map is here). The talk will be held in the sanctuary. Go to our Facebook Event page to sign up, share photos etc. A PDF to download and share is here.