Gompa

The review sessions are discussion time for Basic Program students to help each other better understand the material and prepare for the subject test. Everyone is encouraged to take the test as a way of simply checking knowledge of the subject and to benefit your practice, however it is required for anyone seeking a certificate for the program. Also to encourage students to try, the test will be take-home and closed book is encouraged but not required. It will likely be graded on a pass-fail basis. 

Students who have had prior teachings on Buddhist meditation (Discovering Buddhism, Meditiation 101, etc.) are invited to participate in this morning practice. Led by the Discovering Buddhism teacher, Stephanie Smith, it's 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 Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour is a world-wide touring collection of sacred relics of the historical Buddha Shakyamuni and many other Buddhist masters from India Tibet, Korea & China.

The relics were found among the cremation ashes of these Buddhist masters. They resemble beautiful, pearl-like crystals that Tibetans call ‘ringsel.’ Buddhists believe relics embody the master’s spiritual qualities of compassion and wisdom and are deliberately produced by the master at his death.

His Holiness the Dalia Lama has graciously offered to this collection, eight relics of the historical Buddha that are over 2,500 years old. The tour also features relics from forty other Buddhist masters from different parts of the world, in all there are over 1,000 relics in this collection, making it the largest touring relic collection of its kind.
The tour was created in 2001 by the modern day Buddhist master Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Lama Zopa collected the relics from all over the world, over a period of many years. The tour has now visited 68 countries and over 2.3 million people have visited the relics. Currently two collections are touring simultaneously, one tour is traveling in Europe/Asia and the other in the Americas.

Maitreya Loving Kindness Tour events are multi-faith, multi-cultural and are always free to attend. The exhibition is intended for all walks of life and faith, to learn about and to experience these historical relics.

*We encourage visitors to bring their pets at anytime during the event for blessings from the relics and to circumambulate the center's stupa. For the safety and comfort of all visitors (human and other animals), please make sure your pet is on a leash or in a crate/cage/container as you'd think is appropriate.

Hours

Friday: 6pm to 8pm - Opening Ceremony followed by viewing of the relics
Saturday: 10am to 7pm
Sunday: 10am to 5pm

Many volunteers are needed as well! To sign up, go to this special Volunteer Spot calendar: http://vols.pt/mwnJt5

We need helpers to roll mantras that will be put in statues as a blessing. After the 10:45am teaching, there will be a quick hands-on lesson in the center lobby how to roll mantras and take-home kits for anyone who would like to try this meritorious activity! Led by Tim Powell and Louise Miller.

Dear Kadampa Community,

As Robbie announced recently, the Board has approved a committee to investigate the potential of expanding Kadampa Center’s executive leadership, perhaps adding the position of Center Manager, and if appropriate, to prepare a proposed job description.

This committee wants to hear from YOU. We will be holding a general meeting for all interested in sharing their thoughts on Sunday, November 9, at 12:15pm following the second teaching. Please plan to attend if you have thoughts to share.

Additionally, if you are unable to attend but would like to voice your ideas, please contact one of the ad hoc committee members to set up an alternate time for thoughtful discussion.

Again, the committee members are
Hemant Pandya (chair)
Shankha Mitra
Julie Jones
Ven. Choekyi
Ann Worthington
Barb Baranski

As Robbie shared, the investigation will include gathering stakeholder data from the entire Kadampa Center Community - general membership, Management Team members, and Board members. Information gathering has taken various forms over several weeks and the committee is committed to ensuring that anyone interested in offering feedback will be included.

We hope to wrap up our information gathering soon after the November 9 meeting so please do plan to share your thoughts by then.

The information collected from within the Center, combined with other data gathered by the committee from other FPMT Centers and appropriate external faith, non-profit, and for-profit organizations about their management structure, will be used to inform committee recommendations.

We look forward to seeing many of you Sunday, November 9!

Thank you,

Hemant Pandya
President, Kadampa Center Board of Directors
Chair, Center Manager Ad Hoc Committee

In Essential Form School Feng Shui you will learn the most important points of the Form School of Feng Shui. It is suitable for complete beginners and provides information on the right way to choose and landscape your place. You will also get advice on the correct way to design and set up the interior. This course can be taken on its own or with Essentials of Compass School Feng Shui course.

Schedule

• Saturday 10 am to 5 pm at Kadampa Center

See the other events happening during Ven. Jampa's visit

More information and course outline

Meditation 101 is a five-week introductory course on Buddhist meditation techniques for complete beginners. It teaches basic Buddhist meditations that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in daily life. In keeping with our tradition, the class is offered on a donation basis. Ne registraiton is required, but we recommend attending the entire course for the most benefit. This class will be led by Venerable Khando.

The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

• What is meditation?
• Breathing meditations
• Mindfulness meditations
• Visualization meditations

Buddhism is a psychology of the mind, providing us methods to understand our emotions and how to change our bad habits and thoughts to be happy. The Sunday teachings about how to practice Dharma in daily life, led by our resident teacher, Geshe Gelek Chodha, are appropriate for visitors and students of all levels of study and interest in Buddhism. The session typically includes a brief meditation, prayers, and the rare opportunity to learn from a highly trained Tibetan Buddhist monk. When Geshe-la is away, several senior students typically lead these sessions. The teachings and prayers are offered in English.

If you are unsure when to visit the center for the first time, Sunday is a great time to start.

There is no children's program at the 9:00am program, but the nursery is available for parents who would like space for young children. The teachings will be broadcast into the nursery so parents can still hear the teachings while supervising their children.

For the 10:45am program, the same topic will be taught again; our full range of children's programs will be available during this session. Children are invited to sit on the blue cushions at the front of the gompa, and then are dismissed to their classes after opening prayers.

During this special session, we will have updates on all that's happening at Kadampa Center. It's a chance to get a peak at what's going on behind the scenes!

On many Sundays, there are additional programs such as the Newcomer's Orientation session, Member's Orientation session, Potluck Social, pujas, and more. Special events for holy days, special practices, or exhibits and visiting teachers are also occasionally held on Sundays, so for all these events please check the calendar for more information and specific times.

This practice morning is for Basic Program students to spend time in meditation on topics covered in class on Mind and Mental Functions. Note: The practice day has been extended by an hour because Ven. George will also be presenting some new material so the class will be completed before he leaves.