ACI IX: Ethics with John Stilwell, Tuesdays 7-9pm, beginning Sept 20

Why do ethics matter? What's the point in taking vows; what are they, what do they do? Why do all spiritual traditions emphasize ethics? This course explains the role of Buddhist ethics in achieving enlightenment—why living an ethical life is the secret key to deep meditation, experiencing ultimate reality, and paradise. Every happiness and success stems from ethical living, and we explore methods to train in ethics, keep vows from being damaged, and clean past negativity.

One day vows, lifetime lay vows, freedom vows, along with the three trainings and an outline of novice, intermediate, and fully ordained monastic vows are included based upon the Sutra on Vowed Morality (Vinaya Sutra) by Master Gunaprabha (500 AD), with a commentary from The Essence of the Ocean of Vinaya (Dulwa Gyatsoy Nyingpo) by Je Tsongkapa (1357-1419).

John Stilwell is a former director of the Asian Classics Institute (ACI), Godstow Retreat Center, and was General Manger of Land of Medicine Buddha. He is an executive and father who began teaching yoga 20 years ago, and has taught Buddhist sutra and tantra in the tradition of Je Tsongkapa for 15 years with a contemporary perspective highly relevant to daily life. John received transmission of the 18 Courses from Arya Sumati Dharmadhara, Geshe Michael Roach.

Weekend Meditation Retreat with Venerable Thupten Jinpa • Sept 17 – 18

Saturday, September 17, 11 – 5pm

Sunday, September 18, 10 – 4pm

With commitment and willingness to learn, NYC Dharma students can steadily progress from short to long term retreats.

In this requested 2-day teaching, Venerable Jinpa will help prepare students for short and long-term meditation retreats.

· Learn how to meditate happily and free of guilt despite your busy schedule

· Understand what to meditate on and how, for retreats both short (1 – 4 weeks) and long (1 – 6 months)

· Know what to avoid and what may come up for you

Venerable Jinpa is a student of Khen Rinpoche Geshe Lobsang Tharchin with more than four years’ solitary retreat experience.

Renunciation without Aversion with Venerable Thupten Jinpa • Wednesday, Sept 14, 7:30pm

Please join us tonight with a very special teaching by a beloved teacher. Renunciation doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy life. Find out how the opposite is true from a being who emanates pure joy.

Yoga Gives Back • Saturday, Sept 17 • All Day Yoga Fundraiser

YOGA GIVES BACK UNITES GLOBAL YOGA COMMUNITY
TO SAY “THANK YOU MOTHER INDIA”
FUNDRAISER ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2011
Unprecedented Global Yoga Event to Give Back to India,
the Birthplace of Yoga

Please join us for a full day of yoga classes where all donations will to the Yoga Gives Back organization who helps support impoverished women and children in India.

Yoga Gives Back (YGB) is a grassroots organization set up to raise funds through donation yoga classes to support impoverished women and children in India, with an expanding team of volunteers and supporters across the US and the world. Yoga is a gift from ancient India, embraced by the West. But 76% of India’s population lives below the poverty line, while $ 6 billion is spent on yoga in the U.S. alone each year.

The Day’s Teaching Schedule is as follows:

9:00 - 10:30 Maura Nolan
10:30 - 12:00 Heather Hughes
12:15 - 1:45 John Son
2:00 - 3:30 Shanna Honkomp
3:30 – 5:00 Marina Garde

“Thank You Mother India” started as a local fundraiser for Yoga Gives Back organized by YGB Ambassador Jorgen Christiansson of Omkar108 Yoga in Los Angeles alongside MahaMondo.com, in October 2010. For its second year, YGB is expanding the event into a fundraiser with global presence. Joining to support this event are YGB Ambassadors Kino Macgregor, Sophie Herbert, and Eddie Stern of Ashtanga Yoga New York. As of today, nearly 50 yoga studios from 10 countries, many across the US as well as in the UK, Hong Kong, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Netherlands, Sweden, Japan and Australia, are planning to host special events on this day.

The Devil Debates an Angel: An Ancient Tibetan Teaching to End War • Sept 9 & 10 • Scottsdale, AZ

(Postponed)Tibetan Heart Yoga with Anatole Nguyen // Thursday, Sept 1

Please join us for a special evening of Tibetan Heart Yoga with Anatole Nguyen, this Thursday, September 1st at Three Jewels. Come enjoy a beautiful mix of dharma and yoga as Anatole leads us through a special series of asanas to open our hearts and reach enlightenment.

Everyone is welcome, $20 suggested donation

Anatole Nguyen is a devoted student of Sri Dharma Mittra, Geshe Michael Roach, and Lama Christie McNally. A certified yoga teacher and martial artist for seventeen years, he teaches the inner and outer methods of yoga and Buddhism, and has offered classes extensively in New York City, Arizona, and around the world.

Tibetan Heart Yoga developed over the centuries in the Gelukpa traditions of the Dalai Lamas. Created by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally, Tibetan Heart Yoga is a unique program for yoga on the physical and spiritual levels.

"You must have the karma to hear this method, you won't find it anywhere else. This is the easy, fun method to reach enlightenment in one lifetime; it doesn't have to take eons." - Anatole Nguyen

On the Finer Points of Wisdom: Mahamudra and the 6 Flavors of Emptiness

The Three Jewels is open Monday August 29th at 5:30pm
Don't Miss this Workshop with John Elliott Oyzon
Monday August 29th and Tuesday August 30th at 7:30 pm



Monday, August 29, 7 - 9pm
Tuesday, August 30, 7 - 9pm

A lecture on how to transform and create your world, based on a presentation of mahamudra and the six flavors of emptiness as taught by Geshe Michael Roach.

John Elliott Oyzon is a graduate of Diamond Mountain University under Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally. He is a physical theater performer and has been seen in Disney's Tarzan, De La Guarda, and Stomp. He is currently in the process of founding the Diamond Mountain Arts Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.

Please register with threejewels.nyc@gmail.com.

Laughing Yoga with Jenny Mac • Tuesday August 23, 7:30 - 9pm

“Religion should be fun...and it should lead to the FUNNEST...practice happiness...there is no bodhisattva of depression.”
—Lama Marut

Inspired by the teachings of Lama Marut, the effervescent Jenny Mac leads the funnest dharma workshop this side of bodhichitta. The event will begin with a straight-faced, traditional Buddhist discussion on karma and emptiness, followed by a serious discourse on laughing as medicine that will lead into a practicum in which you will laugh like you've never laughed before (we are not liable for any shedding of tears of joy or peeing in pants). The evening will conclude with some grounding Qi Gong practices.

Suggested donation is $20. All proceeds go to the The Three Jewels NYC.

Please register at jennifer@jennifermacfarlane.com.

Yin Yoga with Cecile Roubaud • Aug 6, 12 - 2pm, Aug 7, 12 - 3pm

Please join us this Saturday and Sunday with a very special yoga experience led by renowned yogini Cecile Roubaud.

Yin Yoga was created by Paul and Suzie Grilley, it is inspired by the Chinese medicine and use the poses of Indian hatha yoga.

The practice aims at working on « Yin » tissues (tendons, ligaments, connective tissues , bones) in a « Yin » way (poses are hold long time, 3 to 5 minutes, with the muscle relaxed).

It can be a practice by itself or complementary to the « Yang » styles, all other, that works on « Yang « tissues » meaning the muscles.

On an energetic level, Yin Yoga also affect the lower meridian of energy located below the navel. Releasing the blockages of « Chi » at the origin of illness and tiredness.

Workshop Cost
$30.00 for Saturday/$40.00 for Sunday
$70.00 for both days, save $10.00 if you register in advance at threejewels.nyc@gmail.com.

ACI II: Refuge with Hector Marcel • Thursdays, 7:30 - 9:30pm

Every living being on this planet seeks some level of protection; from the elements, from each other, from disease, hurt or harm.

But what really has the power to protect? Can we evolve into a state of being where we never feel a single moment’s fear? Can we find true protection? This course dives into the ancient Tibetan Buddhist teachings on ultimate Refuge and the practices that develop this very state of being.

Hector Marcel is a Change management consultant helping executives drive transformational change in their organizations through an emphasis on culture, people and service. He applies ancient Buddhist teachings to his consulting work around the globe. Hector has been a student of Geshe Michael Roach & Tibetan Buddhist philosophy since1995.

Energy Retreat with Geshe Michael Roach • August 12 – 21, 2011 • Prescott, AZ

Do you feel like you need more energy in your life, your work, your relationships? This beautiful 10-day silent meditation retreat with Geshe Michael Roach in the pristine pine forest of Prescott, AZ, will bring out your inner energy through the following techniques:

• Meditation and Yoga
• Tibetan Buddhist Teachings
• New ideas on food
• Special ancient ceremonies from the Tibetan tradition for increasing energy and overcoming fatigue
• The continuation of Pabongka Rinpoche’s famous lam-rim

To register and for more information, please visit www.aciphx.org.

Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine : Detox and Weight Control • June 25, 11 - 6pm

It’s Summer. Time to get in shape for the beaches. Come join us at the 3 Jewels this Saturday between 11 am - 6 pm for detox and weight control with Daoist exercise, Chinese herbal diet consultation and acupuncture.

1/2 hour free exercise class starts at 11 am
Sample a variety of herbal drinks for detox and weight control

Book your 1 hr acupuncture session ($30) to:

Help re-balance your feedback system to curb cravings
Improve digestion to increase metabolic rate, burn more calories, and get rid of that stored fat
Improve kidney functions to excrete waste products
Hasten colon motility to get rid of stagnate waste products
Improve circulation to help power muscles optimal performance
Increase serotonin secretion for overall well-being
Get a dietetic and herbal prescription to help you with your weight loss goals.

PLEASE EMAIL RESERVATIONS TO: AcupunctureOutreach@yahoo.com

We are looking forward to seeing you!

Lai San & Judy

The Dao of Qin: Music and Culture of a Meditative Instrument • Saturday, June 18 • 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Come join the New York Qin Society for an evening of meditative music and discussion. Stephen Dydo, Peiyou Chang, and others will perform ancient pieces for qin, using traditional instruments, along with other qin players TBA. We will also have special performances on another instrument associated with meditation, the shakuhachi, by special guest Glenn Swann.

Please RSVP to threejewels.nyc@gmail.com.

Outer and Inner Peace: How to Do Your Own 3-Day Solitary Retreat • Wed, June 8, 7 – 9:30pm

The vivacious and wise Jennifer MacFarlane leads this practical and inspiring retreat workshop for meditation practitioners who want to take it to the next level. The class will cover every little detail of what to do before, during and after your 3-day solitary retreat.

Retreat is a vital and integral process on our path to enlightenment. So what are you waiting for?

$20 suggested donation for the Three-Year Retreat for Peace.

Please register at threejewels.nyc@gmail.com.

The Debate of the Devil & the Angel • Phoenix, AZ • May 27 – May 29

Sometimes we hear a voice in our head telling us to do something that might not be so good to do. We tell it to go away, and then it surprises us by talking back. What’s worse, the voice is sometimes quite convincing.

400 years ago in Tibet there lived the First Panchen Lama, very much like the Dalai Lama. He wrote poetry, he knew dance, he was the greatest thinker of his time and also managed to stop a war single-handedly by walking out between the two armies.

But he also had his days arguing with the devil inside his own head. The Panchen Lama decided to record the conversation in a book, which he called The Devil Debates an Angel.

The Devil here is no slouch. Every time the Angel gives him a good answer, he comes back with a very persuasive reply.

What’s amazing is that—as we listen to the Devil and the Angel debating—we unexpectedly begin to get some new ideas about how the world around us works: why things happen to us the way they do, why we meet the people we do. By the end of the fight (we won’t tell you how it ends!), we have a lot of what we need to know to change our own life—to be happier, and make those around us happy.

This program is free of charge, and will include yoga classes at different levels, as well as guided meditation sessions, on Saturday and Sunday mornings. Participants will also receive a complimentary copy of an new translation of the original text.

This will be the first in a series of weekend programs throughout the year led by Geshe Michael Roach under the auspices of the Asian Classics Institute of Phoenix. Please register in advance so we can plan refreshments and enough space for yoga and other events.

Friday May 27th
7-9:30pm: First session of "The Devil debates an Angel"

Saturday May 28th
9:30-1pm: Meditation & yoga
2:30-5pm: Uma Chidun
7-9:30: Second session of "The Devil debates an Angel"

Sunday May 29th
9:30-1pm: Meditation & yoga
2:30-5pm: Third session of "The Devil debates an Angel"

Sneaking a Peak: How to Meditate on Emptiness • Sunday, May 29, 1 – 4:30pm

The teachings on emptiness were propounded by the Buddha on many different levels. Put together into a gradual approach, they are designed to conquer our delusions—from gross to increasingly subtle levels—of an independent, solid existence. But without meditative experience, “emptiness” becomes a much used and abused—empty—phrase. This workshop will take you through the progressively deeper levels of meditating on emptiness, allotting time for actual meditation.

$35 suggested donation

Please register with meganmook@gmail.com

Tibetan Heart Yoga with Anatole Nguyen // Thursday, Sept 1, 2011, 7:30pm

Please join us for a special evening of Tibetan Heart Yoga with Anatole Nguyen, this Thursday, September 1st at Three Jewels. Come enjoy a beautiful mix of dharma and yoga as Anatole leads us through a special series of asanas to open our hearts and reach enlightenment.

Everyone is welcome, $20 suggested donation

Anatole Nguyen is a devoted student of Sri Dharma Mittra, Geshe Michael Roach, and Lama Christie McNally. A certified yoga teacher and martial artist for seventeen years, he teaches the inner and outer methods of yoga and Buddhism, and has offered classes extensively in New York City, Arizona, and around the world.

Tibetan Heart Yoga developed over the centuries in the Gelukpa traditions of the Dalai Lamas. Created by Geshe Michael Roach and Lama Christie McNally, Tibetan Heart Yoga is a unique program for yoga on the physical and spiritual levels.

"You must have the karma to hear this method, you won't find it anywhere else. This is the easy, fun method to reach enlightenment in one lifetime; it doesn't have to take eons." - Anatole Nguyen

We look forward to seeing you!

The Lady Niguma Yoga Chakra Series // Sat, May 14 12 - 6pm and Sun, May 15 12 - 4:30pm

What are chakras and why would we want to open them? The short answer is HAPPINESS. The slightly longer answer is this beautiful immersion workshop with Nicole Vigna on Lady Niguma's Yoga Chakra series.

Lady Niguma lived a 1000 years ago and designed this series (the oldest recorded yoga series that we know of) to help people conquer the negative emotions responsible for both personal and global suffering and create a happy, joyful, productive life.

Open to all, workshop participants will practice the Lady Niguma series together, explore inner body theory, how yoga works (theory and practice), and learn methods to modify the series.

Please register with Venerable Akasha Prabha at ladynigumayoga@gmail.com.

What to bring: You and comfortable yoga clothes. Healthy food, snacks and drinks will be provided, but please bring your own lunch if you have special diet needs. You're welcome to have food delivered if that's more convenient!