The Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion
Friday, December 5
7:00pm – 9:00pm PST (Pacific Standard Time)
Saturday, December 6
10:30am – 4:00pm PST
Sunday, December 7
10:30am – 12:30pm PST
in-person and online
Program Category: Dharma Education — Intermediate
This is a hybrid event, and we are using the
Zoom video conferencing system
for online participants.
Please register below to receive your online access information.
By registering for this event, you understand that the
sessions may be recorded and published in the public
domain (such as YouTube), and consent to this process.
Join us for a weekend of a profound exploration of
The Fifty Verses of Guru Devotion, a
timeless guide to building a meaningful and transformative
relationship with your spiritual teacher. Composed by the
Indian master Ashvagosha in the first century B.C, the
revered text lays out the essential attitudes and actions
that help us cultivate a strong, healthy connection with our
spiritual teacher — a foundation for all spiritual progress.
Geshe Tenzin Legtsok will offer clear, accessible commentary
on the verses, guiding us to understand how seeing our
spiritual teacher as a buddha can awaken our own buddha
nature. We’ll explore the psychological and karmic
implications of devotion — how positive perception
opens the door to inner transformation, while doubt and
criticism can hold us back. The teachings will also address
common challenges—such as perceiving faults in the
spiritual teacher, and offer skillful means for maintaining
faith and clarity. There will be plenty of time for
discussion and Q&A, creating space for honest reflection
and personal insight.
This program is especially recommended for those preparing
for tantric initiation or anyone looking to strengthen the
foundation of their Vajrayana practice.
Geshe Tenzin Legtsok has been ordained as
a Buddhist monk since 2001 and is the first American to
complete the twenty-year Geshe Studies Program in classic
Indian Buddhist treatises and their Tibetan commentaries at
Sera Jey Monastic University
in South India, following
the tradition of ancient Nalanda University. In 2025, he
completed the traditional study of tantra at
Gyudmed Tantric Monastery.
With over two decades of study and practice under the
guidance of great masters, including His Holiness the
Dalai Lama and Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Geshe Legtsok
brings profound insights into the application of Buddhist
teachings. Born in Virginia, USA in 1973, he earned a
Bachelor of Arts from Kenyon College in 1995. His quest to
answer the question, “What makes for the most happy and
meaningful life,” led him to major in philosophy,
eventually guiding him to study meditation and philosophy
with teachers among the exiled Tibetan communities in
India and Nepal since 1999.
Dedicated to studying and teaching Buddhist philosophy,
Geshe Legtsok seamlessly blends ancient wisdom with
modern-day relevance. His teachings emphasize
understanding and transforming the mind through practice,
and he is committed to helping others navigate the
spiritual path with clarity and patience.
Registration
Suggested Donation: $120
Registration is required to receive your online access information.
All our Dharma teachings and events are offered on a
dana (generosity) basis
— in the spirit of giving freely, just
as the Buddha taught. This is a beautiful opportunity to support
the teachings and open your heart through generosity.
There is no charge to attend, and no one is turned away. While
teachings are free, your support helps keep the Center running
and makes these precious teachings available to others. We have
included suggested donation amounts to help guide your offering.
Ordained sangha are warmly welcome to attend free of charge.
If you are not able to donate at this time, please email
office@oceanofcompassion.org.
Thank you for joining in this shared act of support. We rejoice for you.