Introduction to two-days Buddhist teachings


Teachings and Empowerment

It is a great honor for us that His Holiness will give teachings and confer a Medicine Buddha Empowerment as listed below:

  • The Heart Sutra (Sherab Nyingpo)
  • Atisha's Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment (Jangchub Lamdron)
  • The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses - Instructions on the View of the Middle (Tatri Drenpa Shiden) by the 7th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso
  • Medicine Buddha Empowerment (Sangye Menlai Jenang)

The Heart Sutra

The Heart Sutra was taught by the power of blessings directly by Buddha Shakyamuni to a great sangha of many hundreds of bikshus and bodhisattvas. The sutra was taught at Vulture Peak in Rajagriha, the supreme holy place of India, the land of noble beings.

The Heart Sutra consists of few words, but has a vast and profound topic. It shows the complete meaning of the essence of practice which one needs to become enlightened. These days, there are many Buddhist followers in the world who recite this sutra and practice its meaning on a daily basis. It is one of the most famous sutras.

The sutra teaches the view of emptiness, which is the quintessence of the path for attaining liberation and the state of omniscience. Furthermore, it clearly and sequentially explains how to progress along the five paths: the path of accumulation, the path of preparation, the path of seeing, the path of meditation, and the path of no more learning.

There are great benefits to listening to this sutra, reciting it, teaching it to others, or meditating upon its meaning. These benefits include accumulating countless merit, progressing step by step on the five paths, and ultimately, attaining Buddhahood.

The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment

The Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment is a supreme text written by Jowo Atisha in the 10th century while he was staying in Tibet. It is a highly renowned text, as it includes all of the most important points of sutra and tantra. The essence of the content of this text is the direct teachings of all of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. It includes what Shakyamuni Buddha actually taught, the levels of emptiness, as well as its hidden meaning, all levels of clear realization. It clearly shows the sequence of the paths on which a person progresses to Buddhahood.

This text explains the quintessence of all the teachings of the Buddha. It teaches what is needed for humanity and society: good conduct, how to observe ethical discipline, how to become familiar with love and compassion, and how to develop an altruistic attitude towards others.

When one listens to, reflects, meditates, and practices the meaning of this text, it is like listening to, reflecting on, and putting into practice all of the teachings of the Buddha. Through this, peace and happiness are generated within human society. Furthermore, through practicing the perfect and unmistaken path, there is no doubt that one will attain liberation and complete enlightenment.

The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses

The Song of the Four Mindfulnesses - Instructions on the View of the Middle is a text composed by the 7th Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Kelsang Gyatso in the 18th Century. It consists of few words and is easy to put into everyday practice. This spiritual transmission was given by Jetsun Manjushri, the Buddha of Wisdom, to the Dharmaraja, the Great Tsongkhapa, and later on to the Supreme Conquerer, Gyalwa Kelsang Gyatso, who composed this song in verse form.

The content of this text is the four mindfulnesses. The first is to be mindful of how to rely on a spiritual teacher. The second is to be mindful of how to meditate on compassion towards all sentient beings. The third is to be mindful of how to meditate on one's personal deity. The fourth is to be mindful of how to meditate on ultimate reality. The text explains how one should regularly practice the quintessence of the sutra and tantra through these four mindfulnessnes.

Medicine Buddha Empowerment

The Medicine Buddha empowerment was given by Buddha Shakyamuni in the manifestation of Medicine Buddha and is the most powerful blessing to heal illnesses of body and mind. By receiving this empowerment and engaging in this practice, one receives special blessings from Medicine Buddha, which pacify one’s delusions and bring inner calm and peace. From the Buddhist perspective there are also benefits such as not getting ill and in case of getting ill, one will recover easier. Furthermore the medicine one takes gets blessed so that it has a greater effect. Ultimately one will attain the state of Medicine Buddha.

One can take the Medicine Buddha empowerment as a blessing for health, long life and enlightenment, or one can also receive it with the commitment to engage in regular spiritual practice in order to enhance health or develop happiness with the aim to reach Buddhahood. In order to take the empowerment one has to be Buddhist or become Buddhist during the event. However, one can also participate in the empowerment without taking it. As participant you can just sit there or meditate and watch the empowerment if you plan to attend the two days Buddhist teachings in Klagenfurt.

Medicine Buddha is painted dark blue, the color of healing. The Medicine Buddha’s right hand is extended, the palm outward over the right knee in the gesture of generosity, and holds a sprig of the Myrobalan plant. The Medicine Buddha’s left hand rests in the lap, palm upward in the gesture of meditation and holds a bowl containing fruit from the Myrobalan plant. The Myrobalan plant and fruit are believed to have great healing power and holding the medicinal Myrobalan plant and its fruit symbolizes the power of eliminating all diseases.

Detailled Schedule

Friday, 18 May 2012
Morning session: 9.30 am - 11.30 am (Teaching)
Lunch break: 11.30 am - 1.30 pm
Afternoon session: 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm (Teaching)

Saturday, 19 May 2012
Morning session: 9.30 am - 11.30 am (Teaching and Medicine Buddha Empowerment)
Lunch break: 11.30 am - 1.30 pm
Afternoon session: 1.30 pm - 3.30 pm (Teaching)

Location: Klagenfurt Fair (Messe), Hall 1 (Kärntenhalle)

Language: His Holiness will speak Tibetan/English, with consecutive translation into German. There will also be a translation into English via headphones.
Furthermore we will do our best to provide any other additional translations as long as there are enough registrations requesting these languages. For this reason it is very important that you state your preferred language in the confirmation e-mail that you will receive after your ticket purchase!
In case there are not enough registrations for a particular language, we are sorry to say that we cannot provide a particular translation for a very small number of people.
However, if you are not confident that you will get translation into your language and you want to organize your own group with your own translator, then we will try to support you in any way needed.

Admission: Please be aware that the organizers have to insist on strict security measures for the safety of His Holiness and the audience and also have to take care that everybody has entered the hall in time for the teachings. Therefore it is strongly recommended that you come to the teachings at the stated admission time 7.30 am, in order to allow enough time for ticket and security checks, picking up headphones for translation, etc.! Thank you for your understanding.


Please take note:
The beginning and ending times of the teachings might be subject to minor changes, and the topics of the teachings might be changed on short notice on a well-founded decision of His Holiness. In order to receive the latest information please check this website again before your visit.