Mandala
of the Steps
to Enlightenment

Before embarking upon the Asian Classics Institute course of study, it is helpful to first gain a glimpse of the “big picture.” Similar to seeing the photo of the jigsaw puzzle which is currently in 1000s of little pieces, it helps us hold a clear goal in mind as we encounter the various stages of our training.

Each step along our spiritual path should be taken in it’s proper sequence to bring one to the end of the path. This course shares a meditation which reviews the steps of the path, and the order in which to move through those steps. We visualize the mandala of the Lam Rim, contemplating each and every step of the path, as we travel through the rooms of the mandala in the same order that one should progress through their spiritual practice. By visualizing the spiritual path as a mandala, and seeing ourselves journeying through the rooms of the mandala, we deeply internalize the stages of the path. 

This preliminary course gives us the overview of the full ACI curriculum and provides us with a beginning daily personal meditation practice. Each class is a combination of teaching and guided meditation. Homeworks and quizzes are available as a study guide but are not required for participation as in the  ACI Foundation courses that will follow.

course Schedule

(6 to 8 pm AZ time)

Class 1: June 1
Class 2: June 5
Class 3: June 8
Class 4: June 12
Class 5: June 15
Class 6: June 19
Class 7: June 22
Class 8: June 26

The teacher

SARAHNI STUMPF

Sarahni is a retired career physician's assistant and acupuncturist. She left her work in medical care to pursue the wisdom through which people can find true healing--in ultimate happiness. She and her husband David are long-time residents of southern Arizona, enjoying the great outdoors year-round. They are both well-trained in the monastic and scholarly teachings of Gelukpa Buddhism, as well as the Lam Rim--a genre of wisdom literature about the stages of the path to enlightenment.

In 2014, they completed 40 months of isolated meditation retreat with a small group in the northern foothills of the Chiricahua Mountains, at Diamond Mountain Retreat Center. Sarahni has been sharing the Asian Classics Institute’s 18-course Foundation series with her students since 2002. As online classes became more available and popular beginning around 2014, she has been able to extend access to this powerful training to many more people