The Path of Individual Liberation: The Heart of Wakefulness

WMC Intermediate-level course based on The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Two

by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Wednesdays 7–8:45 PM

September 16 - December 16, 2026

Meets in person at The Aligned Center (with Zoom option).

Led by Tom Pantaleoni, Warner Dick, Erich Kramer, and Dorian Burden

Suggested Offering: $180

In this course, we embark on the true heart of the Buddhist journey in the Tibetan Mahayana tradition, the bodhisattva path. We will begin our in-depth study of The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion, (Volume Two of Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma), in which Trungpa Rinpoche presents the totality of the Mahayana vision—the union of profound wisdom and vast compassionate activity. 

We will start the Fall semester with a review of the foundation of the Hinayana path, with its strong emphasis on the practice of shamatha-vipashyana meditation and a deeper understanding of the Four Noble Truths. Volume Two begins with a surprisingly practical explanation of buddha nature, which Trungpa Rinpoche describes as “wakefulness itself … what makes the veils and obscurations only temporary obstacles ..." We will then study the basic conceptual framework of the Mahayana: bodhicitta (the heart of awakening), maitri (loving-kindness), compassion and skillful means. The embodied ideal of the Mahayana path is the bodhisattva; one who has taken the profound vow to liberate all beings from the turmoil of samsara. We will conclude the semester by exploring the meaning of this aspiration and of making such a commitment. 

Each class consists of group meditation practice followed by a presentation on the assigned reading and a group discussion. To participate, please obtain a copy of the text, The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume Two: The Bodhisattva Path of Wisdom and Compassion by Chogyam Trungpa. All classes are recorded for those who miss the class or want to review it again. 

If you have questions about attending this course, please contact derek@westchestermeditationcenter.org or tom@westchestermeditationcenter.org

“Bodhicitta is the sovereign remedy that perfectly allays all maladies. It is the tree that gives relief to those who wander wearily the pathways of existence. It is the universal bridge that saves all wandering beings from the states of loss, the rising moon of the enlightened mind that soothes the sorrows born of the afflictions. It is the mighty sun that utterly dispels the misty ignorance of wandering beings, the creamy butter, rich and full, that’s churned from milk of holy teaching.” 

Shantideva, The Way of the Bodhisattva

*WMC maintains a policy of making our programs affordable to all.

Those with limited income, please note our student/fixed income rate on the registration page.