Gompa

Clarifying the Middle Way: Tsongkhapa’s “In Praise of Dependent Origination” ~ WEEKEND WORKSHOP ~ 7 - 8:30 pm, Friday September 15 10 am - 4 pm, Saturday September 16 1:30 - 4 pm, Sunday September 17 NOTE:  All sessions will be offered in person and online via Zoom and YouTube live stream.  We will break for lunch from 12-1:30 pm on Sat and Sun.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is renowned as one of the greatest scholar-saints that Tibet has ever produced. It is said that he spontaneously composed his brief poetic text, In Praise of Dependent Origination, on the very morning that he attained the clear realization of the profound unity of emptiness and dependent origination, which is the very essence of the Buddha’s Middle Way view.

In this weekend workshop, we will examine Tsongkhapa’s text as an aid to exploring the relationship between these two concepts – emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, and dependent origination, the fact that phenomena do not exist independently from other factors – in order to deepen our own understanding of their complementary natures.

HOW TO ATTEND THE TEACHINGS

1. Attend onsite, in person at Kadampa Center!
2. Join on Zoom by registering HERE.
3. Watch via live stream on YouTube HERE.

CLICK HERE to access the PowerPoint presentation of "Claifying the Middle Way"

CLICK HERE to access the recordings of Gen Don's teachings Sept 12-17, 2023.

CLICK HERE to SUPPORT THE TEACHINGS

CLICK HERE to VIEW GEN DON'S TEACHING SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE to LEARN MORE ABOUT GEN DON HANDRICK 

Clarifying the Middle Way: Tsongkhapa’s “In Praise of Dependent Origination” ~ WEEKEND WORKSHOP ~ 7 - 8:30 pm, Friday September 15 10 am - 4 pm, Saturday September 16 1:30 - 4 pm, Sunday September 17 NOTE:  All sessions will be offered in person and online via Zoom and YouTube live stream.  We will break for lunch from 12-1:30 pm on Sat and Sun.

Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is renowned as one of the greatest scholar-saints that Tibet has ever produced. It is said that he spontaneously composed his brief poetic text, In Praise of Dependent Origination, on the very morning that he attained the clear realization of the profound unity of emptiness and dependent origination, which is the very essence of the Buddha’s Middle Way view.

In this weekend workshop, we will examine Tsongkhapa’s text as an aid to exploring the relationship between these two concepts – emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality, and dependent origination, the fact that phenomena do not exist independently from other factors – in order to deepen our own understanding of their complementary natures.

WEEKEND WORKSHOP COURSE MATERIALS

• Clarifying the Middle Way - Handout
• Clarifying the Middle Way - Reading List
• In Praise of Dependent Origination - Outlines only
• In Praise of Dependent Origination - with Outlines

HOW TO ATTEND THE TEACHINGS

1. Attend onsite, in person at Kadampa Center!
2. Join on Zoom by registering HERE.
3. Watch via live stream on YouTube HERE.

CLICK HERE to access the PowerPoint presentation of "Clarifying the Middle Way"

CLICK HERE to access the recordings of Gen Don's teachings Sept 12-17, 2023.

CLICK HERE to SUPPORT THE TEACHINGS

CLICK HERE to VIEW GEN DON'S TEACHING SCHEDULE

CLICK HERE to LEARN MORE ABOUT GEN DON HANDRICK 

The Covid pandemic has changed the way our members and community attend teachings and events at Kadampa Center, and we are considering renovations to help shape our future and accommodate our vision of that future.

Come join in our conversation, Sunday, August 13 at noon, after the teachings, to offer your ideas and help build our vision!

In the gompa

BUDDHIST MEDITATION 101 ~ an introductory course to Tibetan Buddhist Meditation ~ Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30 PM Oct 10, 17, 24, and Nov 7, 2023 in person and online ~ NO CLASS ON HALLOWEEN ~

Buddhist Meditation 101 is an introductory course to Tibetan Buddhist meditation.  This 5-week course is suitable for students new to meditation and Buddhism, as well as for people who have done some meditation in other traditions but would like to know more about how meditation is practiced in Tibetan Buddhism.   Students will learn meditation techniques that can be used by anyone to create more peace and happiness in their daily life. 

The basic Buddhist meditation techniques covered include:

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

This 5-week course runs Tuesday evenings October 10 - November 7, 2023 (NO CLASS ON HALLOWEEN), and the instructor is David Machles.

HOW TO JOIN CLASS

1. In person at Kadampa Center

2. Register HERE to participate via Zoom

3. Live Stream via YouTube HERE

CLASS MATERIALS

• Handouts 1-4
• Handouts 5-7
• Handout 8
• Handouts 9-10
• Handouts 11-12

SUPPORT THE TEACHINGS

In keeping with Kadampa Center tradition, we do not request a fee to attend this class -- the Dharma is too precious to let money be an obstacle to hearing teachings. Heartfelt donations, of any amount, are encouraged and appreciated to help cover the cost of offering this and other teachings.  Thank you!

1. Onsite at Kadmpa Center: cash and checks are accepted in the donation box at the gompa door.

2. Give online HERE.

3. Mail checks to: Kadampa Center, 5412 Etta Burke Court, Raleigh, NC 27606

Join Kadampa Center's director, Robbie Watkins, for an inspiring Dharma talk to start our week off on a positive note! 

This teaching is offered both in person and online:

1. In person, onsite at Kadampa Center: gather with other students in the gompa to hear the teachings up close and in person.

2. Online via Zoom: please register HERE. No need to re-register for Zoom if you already come on Sundays; we will use the same link.

3. Online via YouTube live stream.

En español: Ofrecemos esta enseñanza a través de Zoom con traducción simultánea al español.

Traducción disponible solo en Zoom

Únase a nuestra comunidad para recibir enseñanzas en línea diseñadas para ayudarnos a enfrentar los desafíos de la vida diaria con mentes felices y tranquilas.

Para asistir por Zoom, apriete el enlace para registrarse con anticipación.

Después de registrarse, recibirá un correo electrónico de confirmación con información sobre cómo unirse a la reunión.

Animal Blessing and Liberation

Animal Blessing and Liberation with Geshe Sangpo Join us for this pet and family friendly event! Saturday August 26, 2023 from 10:00-11:30am offered in person and online *** Dogs must be leashed, all other animals must be in cages***

According to Lama Zopa Rinpoche, it’s incredibly important to do practices to benefit animals and lead them to liberation: “It’s not enough that you look after animals and they give you comfort. You must do something of practical benefit for them. This is what you can do every day:​ Circumambulate with them around holy objects, chanting mantras. Recite prayers in their ears to plant the seed of all the realizations of the path to enlightenment. This makes a huge difference. It has incredible results, enabling them to have a good rebirth in their next life, to be born as a human being, and meet the Dharma.”

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

1. Come to Kadampa Center in person with your leashed and/or caged pet(s).
2. Join via Zoom -- register HERE -- to participate online with your pet(s) who will benefit from hearing the prayers and mantra recitations during the Animal Blessing portion of the ceremony in the gompa.
3. Watch on YouTube live stream HERE with your pet(s) who will benefit from hearing the prayers and mantra recitations during the Animal Blessing portion of the ceremony in the gompa.

HERE'S WHAT TO EXPECT

• The Animal Blessing Ceremony will begin at 10am in the gompa.
  • Pets who can be easily kept under control by their humans are welcome to join us in the gompa.  
  • CATS and their owners will be seated on the LEFT SIDE of the gompa.
  • DOGS and their owners will enter the gompa, follow along the back wall, and sit on the RIGHT SIDE of the gompa.
  • Humans with other types of pets can choose what's best for them.
  • While in the gompa, Geshe Sangpo will lead us in prayers and mantras to benefit our pets and will bless each pet individually.
• After prayers and mantras inside the gompa, Geshe Sangpo will lead us outside for Circumambulation with our pets.
• After circumambulation, we will liberate {release} earthworms purchased who would otherwise be used for fishing bait into the woods and soil around the Center.  Participants are welcome to purchase and bring earthworms only (no crickets please!) to release during this Animal Liberation part of the ceremony.

IMPORTANT DETAILS

• Dogs must be on leashes and kept under control.  Please take your dog outside if this is proving to be difficult.
• Cats and other pets must be in cages or carriers.
• All humans should be ready to follow instructions throughtout the Animal Bleassing and Liberation Ceremony.
• Water will be provided for dogs outside the building.
• In the event of bad weather, we will remain inside the gompa.

SPONSOR ANIMAL BLESSING & LIBERATION $75

Sunday Morning Dharma Connections Join us on Sunday mornings as Geshe Gelek offers his kind and compassionate wisdom through teachings that are tailored to help us meet the challenges of daily life with happy, peaceful minds. Sundays 10:30am - 12:00pm ~ in person and online ~

HOW TO ATTEND SUNDAY DHARMA TEACHINGS:

1. Attend onsite, in person at Kadampa Center ~ the very best way to attend, especially if you live locally!

2. Join on Zoom by registering HERE ~ a somewhat interactive way to attend

3. Watch via live stream on YouTube HERE ~ a view-only, non-interactive way to attend.

En español: Ofrecemos esta enseñanza a través de Zoom con traducción simultánea al español.

Traducción disponible solo en Zoom

Únase a nuestra comunidad para recibir enseñanzas en línea diseñadas para ayudarnos a enfrentar los desafíos de la vida diaria con mentes felices y tranquilas.

Para asistir por Zoom, apriete el enlace para registrarse con anticipación.

Después de registrarse, recibirá un correo electrónico de confirmación con información sobre cómo unirse a la reunión.

On this Chokhor Düchen holy day - a merit-mutiplying day - Kadampa Center will be open from 6 am to 6pm.  The full schedule of the day can be found HERE. Drop by the Center anytime between noon and 6:00 pm for personal practice. Practice advice, as well as more about Chokhor Düchen and International Sangha Day, can be found HERE.

About Chokhor Düchen: 

At his first teaching, the Buddha expressed his profound realization of the nature of existence in the Four Noble Truths:

1. The Truth of  the Nature of Suffering
2. The Truth of the Origins or Causes of Suffering
3. The Truth of the Cessation of, or Liberation from, Suffering
4. The Truth of the Eight Fold Path as the means to attain ultimate happiness and freedom from suffering.

This teaching, referred to as the First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma, led to the formation of the Sangha, the community of disciples committed to following the Buddha's example of living simply, following the Path, and teaching the Dharma. 

Accordingly, every year at this time, the FPMT encourages its Centers to celebrate the presence of the sangha community. 

Our website includes a Sangha Support and Offerings page with valuable information, including a previous year's talk and Q&A about sangha with our director, Robbie Watkins.

Chokhor Düchen is a Buddha Holy Day, when the karma of our virtuous actions multiplies 100,000 times, according to a Vinaya text. Don't miss the opportunity to multiply your merit!

You can sponsor Holy Day events - amazing merit!  Click here to sponsor Chokhor Düchen