Fall 2025 Courses

Seeing Confusion as Wisdom

Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 7-9 PM

at The Aligned Center, One Bridge Street, Suite 64, Irvington, NY

How could confusion arise as wisdom? Confusion arises as wisdom when we shift our relationship to confusion by relaxing our instinctual fixation on our self. That aborts the habitual self-protective mechanisms of aggression, attachment and stubbornness and releases the natural openness, kindness and generosity that is our true nature. By cultivating that process deliberately over time it becomes spontaneous. We are able to experience ourselves and our world with steadiness and benevolence. Eventually, we realize that everything we experience is the radiance of the mind’s own nature.  By shifting our perception in that way, the roots of confusion are gradually severed, our mind stream is purified and our behavior transformed. 

Ringu Tulku is renowned for his gentleness, warmth and humor. His teachings shine with wisdom and practicality. In this talk, Rinpoche will explore the stages of understanding and the cultivation of meditation that leads to this transformation. We are honored to host Rinpoche for the sixth time. Please don’t miss this opportunity to experience someone who embodies this transformation in person. 

Ringu Tulku Rinpoche is a Tibetan Buddhist teacher of the Kagyu lineage. He was trained by many great teachers including H.H. the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa and Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. He received his formal education at Namgyal Institute of Tibetology and Sampurnananda Sanskrit University and has served as a Professor of Tibetology in Sikkim for many years. Since 1990 Rinpoche has been traveling and teaching Buddhism throughout the world. He has authored many books on Buddhism and founded Bodhicharya, an organization that coordinates activities to preserve and transmit Buddhist teachings and promote intercultural dialogues and educational projects. See www.bodhicharya.org for more information.

Program fee: $25

An Intermediate-level course based on 

The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One

Students are encouraged to obtain a copy of the book, The Profound Treasury of the Ocean of Dharma, Volume One

We will closely follow the text, exploring topics such as: the "frozen space of ego," the pain of samsara or cyclic existence, and the possibility of liberation through taking refuge and through the three trainings: discipline, meditation and insight. Our discussions will emphasize joining our understanding of the course material with our meditation practice.

We are committed to making our programs affordable to all, and we endeavor to set the course fee at a rate that covers necessary expenses. We rely on donations to cover additional program costs. Please consider offering an additional amount to offset program expenses. Thank you for your contribution.

Those with limited income please note the student/fixed income option.

A WMC advanced-level course based on The Bodhicaryavatara by Shantideva

Students are encouraged to obtain a copy of Pema Chodron’s Becoming Bodhisattvas: A Guidebook for Compassionate Action, which was also published as No Time to Lose: A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva in earlier editions. Either will do.

The text presents the highest ideal of the Mahayana tradition, the life of a bodhisattva; beginning with the recognition of the great potential within each of us, and outlining the cultivation of confidence, joyfulness and compassion. Together we will closely follow Shantideva's verses, along with Pema Chodron's expert commentary, which makes accessible the richness of this guide to Bodhisattva path. Practical meditation exercises enrich the text.

We are committed to making our programs affordable to all, and we endeavor to set the course fee at a rate that covers necessary expenses. We rely on donations to cover additional program costs. Please consider offering an additional amount to offset program expenses. Thank you for your contribution.

Those with limited income please note the student/fixed income option.