Sao Paulo, Brasil: Geshe Ngawang Phende, the resident teacher of the Drepung Loseling Institute in Atlanta, USA, visited Sao Paulo at the invitation of the Tibet House Brasil for a week from July 18 to 25. During his stay in Sao Paulo, Geshe Phende gave a series of lectures and course in Sao Paulo on Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology.
On the evening of July 18, Geshe Phende gave an opening lecture on “Fear and Overcoming Fear—A Buddhist Perspective”. Although the Tibet House Brasil has space for only 40 people, more than 80 people swarmed his opening lecture, occupying all the available space—sitting on the floor and on the stair or standing in the back throughout the two-hour lecture. Geshe Phende’s profound knowledge about the Buddhist Philosophy and Psychology as well as his skillful presentation captivated the attention of the audience despite all the discomfort due to overcrowding during the lecture on the day.
On the evening of July 19, he gave a lecture and practicum on “Shamatha Meditation Following the Asanga’s Tradition” and more than 35 people attended the lecture. Among the participants included a few non-Buddhist professionals—They were also completely attracted to his skillful and logical teaching. Several of them assured that they would like to join the regular meditation session of the Tibet House Brasil.
On the two-day weekend of July 20 and 21, Geshe Phende gave a course on “The Three Principle Aspects of the Path”, as written and taught by Je-Tsongkhapa in the 13th century and 35 people attended the two-day (with three sessions) course. Participants included some of the prominent local professionals and Buddhist blog writers and teachers.
On the afternoon of July 22, Geshe Phende gave a marathon 6-hour lecture on Asanga’s Philosophy of Mind-Only (Chitamatra) and Its Effectiveness in Mitigating Afflictive Emotions at the Palas Athena Institute, a very well known institute that is the neighbor of the Tibet House Brasil. More than 100 people attended this long lecture. Despite its extremely lengthy session and difficult subject, Geshe Phende’s profound knowledge and skillful presentation captured the attention of the audience and kept them alert throughout the long session. In the end, he received a standing ovation from the audience to show their gratitude. The audience requested him to re-visit Brazil in the near future.
On the evening of July 24, Geshe Phende gave his last lecture “Regulating Emotions Using Buddhist Psychology” at the Tibet House Brazil. Once again, the audience packed Geshe Phende’s lecture. One of the physicists who attended the lecture later commented that: “He (Geshe Phende) is such a skillful teacher. During his two-hour lecture, he didn’t even use the name of the Buddha once, but he used logic and reasoning to convince the audience how Buddhist Psychology and Philosophy helps in mitigating afflictive emotions. The Physicist said the two-hour time was too short and he couldn’t ask many questions that he wanted to ask.
Geshe Phende’s weeklong visit to the Tibet House Brasil proved extremely meaningful in sharing knowledge about the Tibetan Buddhist culture and spirituality and connecting the mainstream Brazilians. Geshe Phende left for Atlanta on the evening of July 25.
-Filed by Office of Tibet, Latin America