Gompa

2024 Dharma Movie Series: As part of our Spiritual Program, Elise Strevel, Outreach Coordinator and Buddhism in a Nutshell instructor,
is hosting dharma-related movies introducing Buddhist teachers and their work to our Kadampa community of students. She will be
providing a brief intro to each showing and lead an educational discussion afterward.

Discovering Buddhism, Module 08: Establishing a Daily Practice

Assemble the tools you need to develop a successful daily practice.  Using Lama Zopa Rinpoche's A Daily Meditation on Shakyamuni Buddha as a guide, become familiar with the elements necessary to generate the realizations of the path in your mind.  Receive tips for making every action of the day meaningful.    DB Module 08: Establishing a Daily Practice       Monday evenings in person and online    February 26 - April 1, 2024, from 7-8:30pm

STEPS TO PARTICIPATE in DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

1.  Click HERE to enroll in Kadampa Center's 2023-2024 Discovering Buddhism course. (enrollment is closed)

2.  Join class in person at Kadampa Center or online via Zoom or YouTube live stream.

3.  Upon enrolling, you will automatically receive a confirmation email.  Please read through the confirmation email in its entirity as it contains important information about the course and how to attend.

HOW TO SUPPORT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

Please consider making a donation to Kadampa Center to enable us to keep Dharma classes like Discovering Buddhism possible.  Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated ~ thank you!

DONATE HERE

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Establishing a Daily Practice is part of a two-year series of classes called Discovering Buddhism (DB).  In this course, we explore 13 essential topics in Buddhism, from Meditation to Karma to Death and Rebirth, with much, much more!  This is an excellent course of study for those who have the very basics and wish to start going a little deeper into Buddhist philosophy.

DB was developed by our affiliate organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT.org), and is taught at Kadampa Center by senior lay students with many years of study and practice. Students who take the course together tend to develop great friendships with their Dharma buddies!

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, Kadampa Center does not charge a fee for any Dharma course. These teachings are too precious to allow money to be an obstacle for anyone to hear them!  We do, of course, have expenses to offer the course, so we happily welcome any heart-felt donations.

The instructor for this class is Hemant Pandya.

2024 Dharma Movie Series: As part of our Spiritual Program, Elise Strevel, Outreach Coordinator and Buddhism in a Nutshell instructor,
is hosting dharma-related movies introducing Buddhist teachers and their work to our Kadampa community of students. She will be
providing a brief intro to each showing and lead an educational discussion afterward.

Medicine Buddha Puja to be held on the auspicious Day of Miracles, Saturday February 24, 2024!

Join us for an incredible opportunity to experience a healing prayer service on the auspicious Day of Miracles!  Click HERE for more information about the Fifteen Days of Miracles. Medicine Buddha Puja is a beautiful prayer service that includes lyrical praises to the seven Medicine Buddhas, heartfelt requests for their help, and aspirations for our own spiritual attainments.  This ritual is beneficial for both healing and world peace, and is especially helpful for those who are experiencing physical or mental illness or for those who have recently passed away. Held in English, this service is very welcoming to newcomers and beginners ~ all are welcome! 12 - 1 pm, Saturday February 24th, online and in person This puja is being offered and led by Venerable Lhamo, one of Kadampa Center's      resident nuns and chant master.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE ~ February's Medicine Buddha puja will be offered online and in person!

1. In person at Kadampa Center

2. Join us via Zoom - REGISTER HERE

3. Live Stream on YouTube

HOW TO SPONSOR ~ February's Medicine Buddha puja

Anyone is welcome to sponsor a scheduled puja and offer a dedication to benefit themselves or loved ones. Supporting pujas benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, who collects the merit of giving the Dharma, and thus creates the causes to meet the Dharma again. 

Sponsor February's Medicine Buddha puja by following these steps:

STEP ONE is making the sponsorship donation - CLICK HERE  

STEP TWO is dedicating your generosity - CLICK HERE 

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can include more than one intention in your dedication.

LEARN MORE ~ about Medicine Buddha practices

Many eons ago, seven bodhisattvas strongly prayed for the temporal and ultimate happiness of all sentient beings, that their names become wish-fulfilling in order to heal both the mental and physical sicknesses and diseases of sentient beings.  They vowed that their prayers will be actualized during these degenerate times when the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha are in decline.  When they became enlightened, one of the ten powers of a Buddha is the power of prayer - that means that all the prayers that have been made get fulfilled.  As the Buddha's holy speech is irrevocable, you can wholly trust in their power to quickly grant blessings to help all sentient beings in these degenerate times.  They are called the Seven Medicine Buddhas, and the main one is `Lapis Buddha of Medicine, King of Light'.  Buddha Shakyamuni taught the teachings on the Medicine Buddha, and according to one tradition, is also considered as one of the Medicine Buddhas, and hence the Eight Medicine Buddhas.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche says, "It is very important that the elaborate Medicine Buddha puja with extensive offerings be done regularly. The offerings should be as extensive and as beautiful as possible, and done in order to benefit all sentient beings."

~ from the Service Manual for Spiritual Program Coordinators, FPMT

 

Dharma Night at the Movies Premier Night: Friday, December 8 Gather at 6:30 pm - Movie begins at 7 pm Film: Milarepa: Magician, Murderer, Saint Discover the back story of this famous 11th-century Buddhist teacher who was involved in black magic and murderous revenge before turning his life around. In his example, find hope for yourself! Dharma Movie Series As part of our Spiritual Program, Elise Strevel, Outreach Coordinator and Buddhism in a Nutshell instructor, is hosting dharma-related movies introducing Buddhist teachers and their work to our Kadampa community of students. She will be providing a brief intro to each showing, and lead an educational discussion afterward.

Discovering Buddhism, Module 07: Refuge in the Three Jewels

Understand what it means to become a Buddhist by taking refuge in the Three Jewels -- Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha -- and the essential practices associated with refuge.  Find out about the advantage of taking lay vows and their role in supporting and enhancing your spiritual growth.        DB Module 07: Refuge in the Three Jewels        Offered on Monday evenings in person and online        January 8 - February 5, 2024, from 7-8:30 PM

STEPS TO PARTICIPATE in DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

1.  Click HERE to enroll in Kadampa Center's 2023-2024 Discovering Buddhism course. (enrollment is closed)

2.  Join class in person at Kadampa Center or online via Zoom or YouTube live stream.

3.  Upon enrolling, you will automatically receive a confirmation email.  Please read through the confirmation email in its entirity as it contains important information about the course and how to attend.

HOW TO SUPPORT DISCOVERING BUDDHISM

Please consider making a donation to Kadampa Center to enable us to keep Dharma classes like Discovering Buddhism possible.  Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated ~ thank you!

DONATE HERE

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Refuge in the Three Jewels is part of a two-year series of classes called Discovering Buddhism (DB).  In this course we explore 13 essential topics in Buddhism, from Meditation to Karma to Death and Rebirth, with much, much more! This is an excellent course of study for those who have the very basics and wish to start going a little deeper into Buddhist philosophy.

DB was developed by our affiliate organization, the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT.org), and is taught at Kadampa Center by senior lay students with many years of study and practice. Students who take the course together tend to develop great friendships with their Dharma buddies!

In keeping with our long-standing tradition, Kadampa Center does not charge a fee for any Dharma course. These teachings are too precious to allow money to be an obstacle for anyone to hear them!  We do, of course, have expenses to offer the course, so we happily welcome any heart-felt donations.

The instructor for this class is Robbie Watkins.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day (Ganden Ngamchoe) Join us for an evening celebration, from 6 - 8 pm, on Lama Tsongkhapa Day & Christmas Night! CLICK HERE for information and details ~ ALL ARE WELCOME! Lama Tsongkhapa Day, also known as Ganden Ngamchoe (Tib.), is a celebration of the anniversary of the parinirvana of Lama Tsongkhapa.  Practices recommended on this holy and auspicious day include making offerings and reciting Lamrim texts, as well as Guru Puja and more.  Practice advice from Lama Zopa Rinopche for Ganden Ngamchoe can be found HERE. Lama Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is the founder of the Gelugpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.  Among his major accomplishments is writing the Lamrim Chenmo, aka the The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, a step-by-step guide to the spiritual practices that lead to enlightenment.  He also wrote several condensed versions of the Lamrim, including The Foundation of All Good Qualities, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and A Hymn of Experience.  Additionally, 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.  A brief biography of Lama Tsongkhapa, an extraordinary Tibetan master, can be found HERE.

 

Lama Tsongkhapa Celebration Join us in celebration of Lama Tsongkhapa, the founder of our lineage, the Gelugpa tradition in Tibetan Buddhism. Thursday December 7, 2023 7:00 - 8:30 PM Held onsite at Kadampa Center and offered online via Zoom and YouTube. ALL ARE WELCOME!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• Attend in person at Kadampa Center ~ NOTE: weather permitting, we'll go outside for a portion of the evening's celebration to make light offerings, recite mantras, and circumambulate the stupa ~ dress warmly!
• Join us online via Zoom HERE
• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE

THE EVENING'S PROGRAM

• All of the evening's prayers and practices will be led by Venerable Lhamo
• We will begin in the Gompa for community recitation of prayers and practices
• Followed by a procession outside to the Stupa to make light offerings, circumambulate, and recite mantras
• Those joining online can do light offerings and recite mantras where you are, e.g. in front of your home altar, an image of Lama Tsongkhapa, etc.
• Then return to the Gompa for a guided Lamrim meditation followed by ending prayers and dedications

MORE ABOUT LAMA TSONGKHAPA

Lama Tsongkhapa was a renowned scholar, practitioner, meditator, teacher and author.  His studies and meditations, in all the major schools of Tibetan Buddhism, resulted in the founding of the Gelugpa lineage.

Among his major accomplishments is writing the Lamrim Chenmo, or "The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment", a three-volume step-by-step guide to the spiritual practices that lead to enlightenment.  He also wrote several condensed versions of the Lamrim, including Foundation of All Good Qualities, The Three Principal Aspects of the Path, and A Hymn (or Song) of Experience.

Lama Tsongkhapa Day is a celebration of the anniversary of Lama Tsongkhapa's passing into parinirvana.  Called Ganden Ngamchoe in Tibetan, Lama Tsongkhapa Day is celebrated on the twenty-fifth day of the tenth month of the Tibetan calendar.

Learn more about Lama Tsongkhapa HERE.

Learn more about practices for Lama Tsongkhapa Day HERE.

HOW TO SUPPORT THIS BUDDHIST HOLY DAY

Lama Tsongkhapa Day honors a very powerful practitioner; therefore -- whether you are able to attend or not -- supporting this holy day's spiritual practices is an opportunity to collect great merit.

Please also submit your dedication after choosing a sponsorship level below ~ thank you for your kind and generous support!

$108 ~ Sponsor the Holy Day HERE

$50 ~ Sponsor the Light Offerings and Prayers HERE

Submit your Dedication HERE.

Sunday Dharma Connections November-December 2023

Join us on Sunday mornings while Geshe Gelek is on his break, with fresh insights offered by our nuns and senior students. Each Sunday will offer a new presentation. November 5 through December 17. The Center will be closed December 24-31. Geshe Gelek will return in  January.

Join us on Sunday mornings while Geshe Gelek is on his break, with fresh insights offered by our nuns and senior students. Each Sunday will offer a new presentation. November 5 through December 17. The Center will be closed December 24-31.

Geshe Gelek will return in January. 

Sundays 10:30 - 11:30 am

~ in person and online ~

Attend onsite, in person at Kadampa Center!

Join on Zoom by registering HERE.

Watch via live stream on YouTube HERE.

 

Join us in prayer and circumambulation on this holy day!  Lhabab Düchen is one of the four major Buddha holy days of the year. On this day, we celebrate the Buddha’s return to beings in our realm after a three-month separation. During that separation, he had gone to the God Realm of Thirty-Three, a higher realm where his mother was reborn after giving him birth, in order to repay her kindness by giving teachings to liberate her from samsara. His teachings in the God Realm of the Thirty-Three also benefited the Arya Beings who lived there.

As a Buddha holy day, this is an auspicious day for practice, when the karmic effects of actions are multiplied one hundred million times, according to our Spiritual Director, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, citing the Vinaya text The Treasure of Quotations and Logic. Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth month on the Tibetan lunar calendar.

Geshe Gelek encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. Students who have taken these precepts before from a qualified master may take them at home before their own altar. Students may take the precepts from Lama Zopa Rinpoche via this video, which was produced especially to provide this opportunity to those who have not received them.

For more about the practice of precepts, please read The Direct and Unmistaken Method by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Rinpoche advises many other practices on holy days as well.

Events at Kadampa Center:

• At 10 am Venerable Lhamo will lead us in prayers selected by Geshe Gelek   In person and online via Zoom and YouTube.  Register here for Zoom.
• The gompa will open at 9 am, and remain open after the prayers until noon, for students  who wish to do  personal practice, or circumambulate the stupa and/or the gompa outside. 

Create merit by sponsoring a Holy Day event! 

Sponsoring spiritual events is beneficial on many levels. It benefits the Center by providing the resources to offer the event; it benefits the students who attend the event, and it benefits the donor by deepening the practice of generosity and creating the causes to meet the Dharma again in the future.

Sponsorship of general Holy Day events and activities is $108.

Supporting the Holy Day event is a two-step process

    Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

    Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the link below)

Dedications may be very simple - "For my mother, Rosemary" - or they might encompass more extensive spiritual wishes, such as "May these teachings be the cause to liberate all sentient beings," or wishes for the teacher's long life, to benefit a person who is ill - any heart-felt positive intention!  You also can dedicate for more than one intention.

Sponsor Holy Day Activities $108