ACI 1

The Three

Principal

Paths

Taught by
Ven. Sumati

online Course
Jul 17 - Aug 21, 2023

What does your spiritual evolution look like?
Are there any common features or steps that we all take
as we grow and develop our yearnings for something higher?

ACI 1:
The three
Principal Paths

In this course, we will deeply investigate what this evolution looks like, and discuss the three main steps of this evolution.

  1. The normal way of living our lives is unpredictable. It’s not reliable and leaves us feeling lost. This creates a yearning to find something more.
  2. Then we recognize that all people have the same types of problems (to varying degrees) and we are all in the same boat. We all will lose what is dear to us, including our own lives.  This creates a yearning to truly take care of others.
  3. These two together propel us into a profound spiritual wisdom that deeply understands the inner workings of our world.
This course, offered by the Asian Classics Institute, is based upon The Three Principal Paths (Lamtso Namsum) by Je Tsongkapa (1357-1419), with the commentary of Pabongka Rinpoche (1878-1941). We will have 10 classes that will explore these ideas and how you can make them relevant and applicable in your own life.

THE TEACHER

DAVID STUMPF
VENERABLE SUMATI

David is a retired plant biochemist living with his wife, Sarahni (Susan), in Tucson, Arizona.  He has studied and trained in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition since 1995, most intensively with Geshe Michael Roach. He is a certified ACI teacher and has taught internationally since 2006. David and Sarahni helped establish the Diamond Mountain Retreat Center in southeastern Arizona, where he served as operations manager from 2004 to 2010.

From December 2010 to April 2014, he and his lovely wife participated in a three-year, silent, isolated retreat at Diamond Mountain Retreat Center. During the three-year retreat he received a transmission for the practice of White Tara, which is now his main personal practice. During retreat, he wrote a compendium of advices on her practice, which he enjoys sharing with those who feel connected to White Tara. He is currently teaching students in South Africa.

📆 ACI 1
SCHEDULE:

ALL CLASSES AT 10-12AM
(ARIZONA TIME)

Class 1: July 17 - 10:00 am
Class 2: July 20 - 10:00 am
Class 3: July 24 - 10:00 am
Class 4: July 27 - 10:00 am
Class 5: July 31 - 10:00 am
Class 6: Aug 3 - 10:00 am
Class 7: Aug 7 - 10:00 am
Class 8: Aug 10 - 10:00 am
Class 9: Aug 14 - 10:00 am
Class 10: Aug 17 - 10:00 am
Review: Aug 21 - 10:00 am