Gompa

The work of our Children and Youth Program allows both our families and the volunteers who teach our children a chance to experience the Dharma in fresh, new ways.

Today members of our CYP will give us an opportunity to share in that experience, with demonstrations of a lesson in the 16 Guidelines for a Happy Life, which are excellent tools for adults as well as children, and a lesson about Tara, the female Buddha of compassion in action. These lessons are taken from our Children's Program and this past spring's Family Camp.

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this practice.

Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Shankha Mitra, this session is aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance and the support of group practice to learn.

The Discovering Buddhism (DB) two-year course emphasizes an authentic yet culturally relevant presentation of the Buddha's teachings. Taught by FPMT registered teachers and facilitators, the classes lay a strong foundation of the entire Tibetan Buddhist path including how to integrate study and practice. This is an excellent “next step” for students who have taken the Buddhism in a Nutshell class and want to learn more. Students are also welcome to stay after class for a peer-led discussion group. There are no pre-requisites or fees, although donations are appreciated.

We ask that new students starting the course start at the first week of the module, on October 12, when we will have volunteers ready to explain how the course works and how to access online teachings by becoming a member (our membership coordinator will be there to sign up new members) . This makes the transition easiest for new students, and we've found that attending the entire module is the least confusing for everyone (rather than starting in the middle, not having clear instructions, and finding the topic difficult after missing the early classes).

In Establishing a Daily Practice, you will assemble the tools you need to develop a successful daily practice and find out the elements necessary to generate realizations. Get some tips for making every action meaningful.  This module is led by Shankha Mitra.

Meditation is a foundational tool of the Buddhist practitioner. We use different types of meditation in our practice to clear and calm the mind, review and deepen our understanding of teachings, develop concentration, and so on.

Our First Saturday Meditation practice will include three common modes of meditation:  breathing, concentration and analytical, with discussions in between.

Each Saturday will begin with a brief overview of meditation, based on notes taken from Geshe Gelek. 

Geshe Gelek says that practicing in a group enhances and increases the power of our meditation, with all of us benefitting from the shared energy and experience of others in the room.

These sessions are led by senior students.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), the founder of tour own Gelugpa tradition, is renowned as a great scholar, practitioner, meditator, teacher, and author. Among his many accomplishments, he revitalized the monastic code in Tibet, established the annual Great Prayer Festival, established Ganden Monastery, the first of the great monasteries in the Gelugpa tradition, and wrote 18 volumes of teachings, including his Great Treatise on the Path to Enlightenment, the Lamrim.

At Kadampa Center we will have several events to mark the day.

At 3 p.m. we will do a special practice of reciting the Kshitigarbha mantra.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche has advised doing this practice as much as possible before February, to pacify the possibility of earthquakes in California and Nepal. As
always, when we gather in a group for practice, the combined energies of everyone together multiplies and increases the power of our practice, so do come
and join in this special event.

At 4 p.m., immediately following the mantra recitation, we will have Guru Puja with tsog.
In Guru Puja, we reflect on and celebrate the good qualities of all our teachers -- and Lama Tsongkhapa is such an important lineage teacher for us! This
beautiful practice includes many stanzas meditating on key points of the lamrim.

After the Guru Puja, at about 5:30 p.m., we will do a light offering practice and offer lights at the stupa.

This date marks this year’s celebration of Lha Bab Duchen-Lord Buddha’s actual return from the God Realm of Thirty-three. As a Buddha Holy Day, it is an auspicious day for practice, when the karmic effects of actions are multiplied 100 million times, according to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text, The Treasure of Quotations and Logic.

Following his performance of extensive miracles at Shravasti in his 41st year, Shakyamuni Buddha ascended to the God Realm of Thirty-Three in order to give teachings to repay the kindness of his mother(by liberating her from samsara), and to benefit the Arya Beings as well. After three months, at the request of his disciples, the Buddha agreed to return to continue his teachings on earth.

Our schedule for the day is:

6 a.m.  Taking the Eight Mahayana Precepts, followed by a light breakfast and a group reading of the Vajra Cutter Sutra

7 p.m.  Shakyamuni Buddha Puja

In addition, the Center will be open all day for anyone who wishes to do personal practice.

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this practice.

Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Robbie Watkins, this session is aimed at students in the course, but is also open to students who meet the above criteria. An important part of the Discovering Buddhism course is trying the practices, and this class allows students the opportunity to have guidance and the support of group practice to learn.

In five classes, we introduce you to the major terms and concepts of Buddhism - a fast tour of the basics to enable you to take the next steps if you want more. Topics covered include the Four Noble Truths, different kinds of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, etc.), Buddha's teachings organized in a graduated path to enlightenment, and a brief introduction to meditation. We'll let you know of additional reading you can do if you're interested, but there are no specific requirements.

The course is based on the teachings found in the book "Buddhism in a Nutshell" by Ven. Amy Miller, an excellent supplement to the classes (and available in Kadampa Center's bookstore).

In keeping with our tradition, no fee is required to attend the class. We do rely on donations, so any offerings are greatly appreciated! No registration is required, but we recommend attending the entire course for the most benefit.

This course will be led by Elise Strevel.

Tired of lugging all your mental baggage around?  We can free ourselves of the guilt, depression and low self-esteem that arise from carrying negative karma around in our mindstream. The key is purification practice.

Come for a morning of Vajrasattva purification practice on Saturday, August 22, from 9:30 a.m. to noon -- give your purification practice a boost and close out your summer on a high note!

Many of us hold anger in our hearts either because we blame others for harming us or ourselves for our mistakes. Learn the Buddhist method of forgiving ourselves and others through purification. The basis of purification practice is the four opponent powers - regret, reliance, remedy, and resolve. This allows us to see harm done to us by others as the result of our karma, and helps us let go of our own mistakes and reduce or eliminate their harmful effects. This practice helps eliminate guilt, grudges, anger and frustration.

Geshe Gelek has been emphasizing the importance of purification this year. In this session. Kadampa Center founder Don Brown, who led the recent Vajrasattva retreat and also retreat preparation sessions in June and July, will lead us in Vajrasattva practice with guided visualizations and mantra recitations.