Gompa

Many people want to know what it's like for Westerners to be ordained, how sangha support themselves, what living in a nunnery is like, and the role of women monastics in Tibetan Buddhism. Special guest teacher Venerable Thubten Chodron is highly qualified to talk about this topic. She ordained as a nun in the Tibetan tradition in 1977 and received the full ordination of a bhikshuni in Taiwan in 1986. A highly respected teacher and author, she has been the resident teacher at Amitabha Buddhist Center in Singapore, and was resident teacher and spiritual adviser for Dharma Friendship Foundation in Seattle for ten years. She is currently the Abbess of Sravasti Abbey, a Buddhist monastery in Newport, Washington, which she founded in 2003. In addition to her teaching, we'll also watch two short videos about Sravasti Abbey and monastic life there as an introduction to the topic.

Check out the rest of Ven. Thubten Chodron's scheduled events at Kadampa Center.

In this Discovering Buddhism module, investigate the role of the teacher on the spiritual path: the need for a teacher, the qualities of teacher and student, and how to relate to a teacher for greatest benefit. This session will be led by special guest teacher Ven. Thubten Chodron.

Geshe Gelek has been challenging us to answer the question "What is happiness, and is desire suffering?" Special guest teacher Venerable Thubten Chodron addresses this question from her perspective, continuing this examination of how can we live our daily lives and be truly happy.

If you are new to the center and unsure when to visit for the first time, Sunday is a great time to start. The prayers and teachings are in English.

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.

Additional programming is available after most Sunday sessions

• 2nd Sunday of the month: Newcomer's Orientation session and Delve into Daily Dharma Discussion
• 3rd Sunday of the month: Member's Orientation session
• 4th Sunday of the month: Potluck Social - bring a dish to share if you can; everyone is invited to stay

Check out the rest of Ven. Thubten Chodron's scheduled events at Kadampa Center.

Geshe Gelek has been challenging us to answer the question "What is happiness, and is desire suffering?" Special guest teacher Venerable Thubten Chodron addresses this question from her perspective, continuing this examination of how can we live our daily lives and be truly happy.

If you are new to the center and unsure when to visit for the first time, Sunday is a great time to start. The prayers and teachings are in English.

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.

Additional programming is available after most Sunday sessions

• 2nd Sunday of the month: Newcomer's Orientation session and Delve into Daily Dharma Discussion
• 3rd Sunday of the month: Member's Orientation session
• 4th Sunday of the month: Potluck Social - bring a dish to share if you can; everyone is invited to stay

Check out the rest of Ven. Thubten Chodron's scheduled events at Kadampa Center.

After Shakyamuni Buddha became enlightened, his first teaching was The Four Noble Truths. He revealed that the sources we normally turn to for happiness are actually unfulfilling, even causing us to suffer instead. The good news is that the causes of suffering and can be understood, and total happiness can be acheived by everyone. Join Venerable Thubten Chodron as she explains these four truths.

Check out the rest of Ven. Thubten Chodron's scheduled events at Kadampa Center.

After Shakyamuni Buddha became enlightened, his first teaching was The Four Noble Truths. He revealed that the sources we normally turn to for happiness are actually unfulfilling, even causing us to suffer instead. The good news is that the causes of suffering and can be understood, and total happiness can be acheived by everyone. Join Venerable Thubten Chodron as she explains these four truths.

Check out the rest of Ven. Thubten Chodron's scheduled events at Kadampa Center.

There will be a special Medicine Buddha puja at 11 a.m., Tuesday, April 9th for the passing of the sister of one of our family members, who would like to remain anonymous. This puja is already sponsored. Please join us to empower our prayers for a quick and pleasant journey through the bardo and rebirth in the Pure Land.

We are blessed to have a special guest in town, Venerable George Churinoff, who is a highly-respected teacher in FPMT and has agreed to lead our 10:30am session this Sunday, the 24th. He will be continuing Geshe Gelek's discussion about "What is Happiness?"

A little bit about Ven. George:

A physics graduate from MIT, Venerable George earned a Masters degree in Buddhist studies from Delhi University, India. He took ordination in 1975 and studied the Geshe Studies Program at Manjushri Institute, England, where he also served as Spiritual Program Coordinator. Venerable George was instrumental in founding the Masters Program at Istituto Lama Tzong Khapa in Italy, where he also served as Program Coordinator. After studying and teaching there for eight years he spent several years at Tushita Centre in Delhil, followed by three years as Lama Osel Rinpoche's English curriculum tutor at Sera Je Monastery in South India. Venerable George has done many retreats in the sutra and tantra traditions and taught extensively in FPMT centers all over the world. He taught the Basic Program as resident teacher at Dorje Chang Institute, New Zealand and at Land of Medicine Buddha, USA. Venerable George now resides at Deer Park Buddhist Center Madison, Wisconsin.

Families are always welcome. Children are invited to sit at the front of the gompa on the blue cushions at the beginning of the Sunday Program, and then can join in our very active Children and Youth Program.

Part of the process of illness in our society is navigating through the medical system. It's a very difficult time to learn about the differences between hospitals, rehab centers, long-term care facilities, hospice, and more. Added to this are pressures of dealing with insurance companies and bills. This workshop will help introduce some of the basic facts you need to know about these issues, so you can be better prepared to make decisions while dealing with an illness, either yourself or with a loved one.

Special guest Steven Warnock, Eecutive Director of Project Compassion, brings his expertise to the center. Project Compassion is a non-profit organization that creates community and provides innovative support for people living with serious illness, caregiving, end of life and grief.