Tibetan queen and renowned yogini Yeshe Tsogyal experienced many obstacles and challenges on her path, some of them specifically because of her female birth and others connected to personal struggles everyone faces. Nevertheless, she was an unwavering dharma student, deeply practiced and committed to her teacher and consort, Guru Rinpoche. This course will explore Yeshe Tsogyal as a female exemplar, enlightened teacher, and fierce protector for all dharma practitioners. The course includes dharma talks, ritual practices, stories and discussions about the importance of Yeshe Tsogyal for contemporary times.
Prerequisites: This course is open to all practioners.
Course Topics
Class 1 - Yeshe Tsogyal, Embodiment of Feminine Principle
An introduction to Yeshe Tsogyal, with outer, inner, and secret aspects of who she is and why she is so important in Tibetan Buddhism.
Class 2 - Yeshe Tsogyal, Tibetan Noblewoman Becomes a Yogini
An overview of Yeshe Tsogyal’s life and journey, with selected themes that inspire our practice.
Class 3 - Yeshe Tsogyal Dakini Iconography
An exploration of Yeshe Tsogyal as woman, deity, and dakini from Tibetan Buddhist practice, with reference to contemporary pilgrimage sites associated with her journey.
Class 4 - Yeshe Tsogyal the Mother of Tibetan Buddhism
Tracing her timeless relevance for practice, how Yeshe Tsogyal awakens authentic devotion, realization, and protection.
Class 5 - Community Ritual for Mother Yesehe Tsogyal
A celebration of Yeshe Tsogyal through her ritual drawn from “Sunshine for a Pauper,” composed by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.
Course Readings
Lady of the Lotus Born by Gyalwa Changchub and Namkhai Nyingpo
The Life and Visions of Yeshé Tsogyal: The Autobiography of the Great Wisdom Queen by The Terton Drime Kunga, Yeshe Tsogyal and Chonyi Drolma
About the Teacher
Judith Simmer-Brown, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor of Contemplative and Religious Studies Emeritx at Naropa University, where she has taught for over 40 years. Simmer-Brown is a compassion trainer for the Compassion Initiative at Naropa. She is author of Dakini’s Warm Breath: The Feminine Principle in Tibetan Buddhism (Shambhala) and editor, with Fran Grace, of Meditation and the Classroom: Contemplative Pedagogy for Religious Studies (SUNY). She teaches Shambhala Training levels, Mahayana and Vajrayana topics, with a special love of White Tara, feminine principle, working with emotions, compassion and social engagement.