The Seven Limbs – How to Accumulate merit and purify negativities

Join us for explanations and practice on the 7 limbs, the seven-line prayer that is a fundamental practice of Tibetan Buddhism.

WHEN: Saturday, March 18, 10:00 am – 5.00 pm CET
WHERE: Onsite only, Gablerstrasse 51
LANGUAGE: English
LEVEL: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well!
REGISTER: HERE
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The seven limbs (yan lag bdun pa; saptāṅga) are a set of practices that is paramount importance in many Tibetan Buddhist practice texts. These limbs offer ways to purify negativities and accumulate merit and are therefore an important aspect of the method side of the Buddhist path. We often tend to overlook and rush through them but potentially miss out on valuable aspects of the practice. Taken by themselves, the limbs make a complete and powerful practice, and practicing the seven lines of the prayer as part of other practices imbue these practices with profound meaning.

During this day we will take time to become more familiar with the seven limbs, explore the various steps of the prayer and practice them together.

Reverently, I prostrate with my body, speech, and mind;
I present clouds of every type of offering, actual and imagined;
I declare all my negative actions accumulated since beginningless time
And rejoice in the merit of all holy and ordinary beings.
Please, remain until the end of cyclic existence
And turn the wheel of Dharma for living beings.
I dedicate my own merits and those of all others to the great enlightenment.

Without all seven limbs, there is no way for your practice to carry you to enlightenment. – Lama Zopa Rinpoche

About the Teacher

Christian Steinert has been a Dharma-Practitioner since 2002 and completed a 5-year study of the “Systematisches Studium des Buddhismus” (systematic study of Buddhism) at Tibetan Center Jangchub Chöling in Hamburg, Germany, and has studied with Dr. Alexander Berzin. From 2009 to 2013, Christian Steinert took the FPMT Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy and studied texts such a Chandrakirti’s “Madhyamakavatara” and Vasubandhu’s “Abhidharmakosha”. From 2015 to 2021, Christian acted as  online tutor for students at the FPMT Masters Programs. With great interest in the Madhyamaka tenets and the various philosophical schools in Buddhism, Christian combines his Buddhist background with scientific interest and his professional background as a software engineer. His main aim is to convey complex contents in an understandable manner, and his courses give room for curiosity, questions and vivid debate.

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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Cost: You would make us very happy by supporting us with a donation. Suggested donation is 0-40 CHF for a session. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. You can donate online (via Paypal, Twint or E-Banking).

Language: English.

Level: Intermediate. Some basic understanding of Mahayana Buddhism is of benefit. Beginners are welcome as well!

Lunch: You are welcome to eat lunch at the center. You can bring something vegetarian to share if you like!

Register: Here.

PDF: We will do some group practices and recitations; please bring a device to read the following documents;

7 Limbs – Handouts
Shantideva – Seven Limbs
35 Buddhas Confession of Downfalls
35 Buddhas Confession of Downfalls – brief
Extensive Offering Practice
Sutra of Golden Light – Confession
Vajrasattva Sadhana FPMT