- Level 200
Gesture of
Great Love
A Journey into Love, Wisdom, and
the Liberation of Mind
- Thursdays | 10:00–11:30 AM Pacific Time | 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern Time
- Term 1: September 10 – October 22, 2026
- Term 2: November 5 – December 17, 2026
- Term 3: January 7 – February 18, 2027
- Term 4: March 4 – April 15, 2027
- Term 5: April 29 – June 10, 2027
Live, Interactive Sessions
Six live online classes with guided practices
Supportive Community
Zoom link sent upon registration
Session Recordings
Recordings available for six months
First Class Guarantee
Free cancellation available after the first class
Course Description
Love is often understood as an emotion, a feeling that comes and goes depending on circumstances. Yet the great contemplative traditions teach that love can become something much deeper a way of being, a living expression of wisdom, openness, and connection.
In this one year course, we will explore how genuine love arises when we move beyond habitual patterns of self-concern and begin to experience ourselves as deeply interconnected with others and the world around us. Drawing upon contemplative teachings, experiential inquiry, and practical exercises, participants will investigate how the heart can become a source of insight, compassion, courage, and transformation.
Together we will examine the obstacles that limit our capacity to love, including fear, judgment, attachment, and separation, while cultivating qualities of kindness, empathy, generosity, and presence. Through guided reflections and direct experience, we will explore how love can become an active force that enriches relationships, deepens understanding, and supports a more meaningful engagement with life.
This course is designed for anyone who wishes to deepen their contemplative practice and explore the transformative potential of an awakened heart.
Who Is This Course For?
- Students wishing to deepen their understanding of Dharma and contemplative practice
- Individuals seeking greater meaning and purpose in daily life
- Professionals looking to bring wisdom and compassion into their work
- Long-time meditators interested in a deeper exploration of mind
- Anyone who senses there is a richer possibility for human life than stress,distraction, and habitual patterns
- Living from a more open, courageous, and generous heart
Format
Duration
The entire book will be covered over five 7-week terms (35 sessions). This will take us to late Spring 2026.
Session Length
Each session is 90 minutes long.
Access to Recordings
Video recordings available for six months in a private community portal
Community Engagement
Dharma College will provide an internet portal for ongoing messaging among students and faculty. We hope for a dynamic conversation.
Weekly Topics
Introduction
Week One
- Our World Today
- The Root Cause of Suffering
- A Different Path
- Hugs and Kisses
Introduction
Week Two
- Time Shapes Our Lives
- A New Way of Understanding
- About This Book
Our Current Situation
Week Three
- An Honest Look
- Exercise 1: Reflecting on Life’s Stages
- Caring Eyes
- Exercise 2: Contemplating Human History
- Learning from the Past
Appreciation and Joy
Week Four
- Joy is Essential
- Appreciating the Senses
- Exercise 3: Welcoming All Sound
- Exercise 4: Simply Seeing
Remembering Joyful Moments
Week Five
- Exercise 5: Cultivating Joy
- Exercise 6: Opening the Heart
A Special Gratitude
Week Six
- Exercise 7: Committing to Self-Care o Offering Joy to Others
- Exercise 8: Sharing Joy
Week Seven
- Interlude
- Re-’vision
Suggested Readings
Throughout the course, we will occasionally draw upon insights from ancient and modern Buddhist teachings, as well as selected perspectives from Western philosophy and contemporary science where they illuminate our inquiry
These readings are intended to support and deepen your experience rather than add to your workload. The primary text for the course is Gesture of Great Love (GOGL), which provides the foundation for our study and practice. While the weekly reading assignments are modest, we encourage a thoughtful and unhurried approach, allowing the teachings to unfold through both contemplation and direct experience.
Above all, this course emphasizes the integration of study and practice, inviting participants to explore how the wisdom of the heart can become a living force in everyday life.
Joy of Being by Tarthang Tulku
Revelations of Mind by Tarthang Tulku
Lotus Mind by Tarthang Tulku
Keys of Knowledge by Tarthang Tulku
Instructors
Dr. Bob Dozor
Bob Dozor is the Medical Director of the Integrative Medical Clinic of Santa Rosa and the Nyingma Senior Retreat Center at Ratna Ling. He holds a BA from the University of Chicago in the history and philosophy of science and an MD from the University of California, San Francisco. He has been a student of Buddhism since the 1960’s and a student of Venerable Tarthang Tulku since 1972.
Dr. Richard Kingsland
Richard Kingsland holds a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.A. and Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of California, Davis, and an M.D. with honors from the University of Illinois, Chicago. He completed a residency in Emergency Medicine from the University of California, San Diego, and served as an emergency physician in San Diego County for many years. He has traveled frequently to India and Nepal and has been a student of Venerable Tarthang Tulku since 1970.
- Level 200
Gesture of Great Love
- Term 1 September 10th to October 22nd 2026
- Thursdays | 10:00–11:30 AM Pacific Time | 1:00–2:30 PM Eastern Time
- Recordings available for six months after class
- Free cancellation after first class