Gompa

Chokhor Düchen Buddha Holy Day Buddha's First Teaching

Seven weeks after attaining enlightenment at Bodhgaya, Shakyamuni Buddha gave his first teaching, on the Four Noble Truths, at Deer Park in Sarnath.  We celebrate this day as Chokhor Düchen.  As one of the four Great Holy Days (or Buddha Days) of Tibetan Buddhism, Chokhor Düchen is a merit-multiplying day, in which the karma from our positive actions is multiplied 100 million times, as taught in the vinaya text Treasure of Quotations and Logic.  Geshe Gelek will offer the Eight Mahayana Precepts and lead us in lamrim meditations and Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga on this especially auspicious day for spiritual practice.  Please see the full schedule for Chokhur Düchen below and plan to join us for any or all of these Spiritual Program offerings. Monday, July 28th, 2025, beginning at 5:30 am.

SCHEDULE for CHOKHOR DÜCHEN 2025

5:15 am: Kadampa Center opens; students arrive.

5:30 am: Geshe Gelek arrives and confers the Eight Mahayana Precepts.

Light breakfast offered by Kadampa Center following the precepts

~8:00 am:  Geshe-la leads Lamrim meditations and Lama Tsongkhapa Guru Yoga

11:30 am: Lunch offered by Kadampa Center

12:00 - 6:00 pm:  Kadampa Center remains open for personal practice

OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR CHOKHOR DÜCHEN HOLY DAY

Sponsoring a Buddha Holy Day is an incredible opportunity to earn merit.  Your sponsorship not only benefits you, it also serves our entire community by helping to make holy day events and other Spiritual Programs possible at Kadampa Center.  Sponsors also have the opportunity to offer a dedication of their sponsorship.  Anyone is welcome to sponsor Chokhor Düchen Holy Day.  Here's how:

1. Offer your $108 sponsorship HERE.

2. Submit your dedication HERE.

ABOUT CHOKHOR DUCHEN and INTERNATIONAL SANGHA DAY

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

1.  The Truth of Suffering
2.  The Truth of the Origin of Suffering
3.  The Truth of the Cessation of Suffering
4.  The Truth of the Path to the Cessation of 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, Chokhor Düchen is recognized by the FPMT as International Sangha Day, therefore, FPMT Centers are encouraged to celebrate the presence of the sangha in their community and worldwide.  Please consider showing your appreciation to Kadampa Center's monks and nuns by making offerings (financial and/or notes of thanks) to them on this special day.  See Kadampa Center's Sangha Support and Offerings page for detailed information on ways in which you can offer support to our sangha members.

Additional practice advice, plus more about Chokhor Düchen and International Sangha Day, can be found HERE.

2025 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.

A TREASURY OF TWO SIDDHIS - An Extensive Practice to the Twenty-One Emanations of Tara
	Saturday, October 18, from 9:30 am until about 1:00 pm    9:30 am - 10:30 am:  set up offerings on the Tara altar    10:30 am - about 1:00 pm:  Treasury of Two Siddhis Tara Practice    ~ in person only at Kadampa Center ~
Tara liberates from cyclic existence, from all fears, and from all sickness.  Mother Tara is the embodiment of compassion in action.  With her 21 emanations, she is capable of helping in every circumstance. Geshe Gelek will lead us in this beautiful practice in which we will invite all the 21 Taras to a special altar set-up in the center of the gompa that we can circumambulate (see below for how to help set it up), and engage with each of the 21 Taras in turn, making prostrations and offerings, visualizing and meditating on each of their distinctive qualities.

OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE MORE DEEPLY WITH THE TREASURY OF TWO SIDDHIS TARA PRACTICE

A Treasury of Two Siddhis typically only takes place once a year at Kadampa Center.  Setting up the altar and making offerings is part of this extensive Tara practice and, by doing so, you form a deeper connection to Tara, generate merit, and are of benefit to all sentient beings.  You are invited and encouraged to participate in any of the following opportunities.  No experience is necessary.

1. Participate in setting up the Tara altar:  On Friday, October 17, beginning at 10:00am, join us in creating and setting up the special altar for the 21 Taras in the center of the gompa.

2. Prepare the offerings on the Tara altar:  On Saturday, October 18, plan to arrive by 9:30am to help prepare and set up the offerings on the Tara altar.  You are welcome to bring flowers for the altar; Kadampa Center will be providing the incense and food offerings.

3. Make offerings to sangha members:  Provide notes of thanks and/or financial offerings (any amount is fine) in envelopes to Kadampa Center's monks and nuns.

4. Sponsor this Tara practice:  Sponsoring dharma practices benefits Kadampa Center, its teachers and students, and is an incredible opportunity for one to practice generosity, build merit, and create the causes to meet dharma teachings and teachers in the future.  Please consider becoming a sponsor for this practice.  Here's how:

• Make your $108 sponsorship donation HERE.

• Offer your dedication HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND AND HEARTFELT GENEROSITY!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREASURY OF TWO SIDDHIS TARA PRACTICE

Written by Panchen Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen at Tashi Lunpo Monastery in Tibet, the Treasury of Two Siddhis practice deepens our connection to each of the 21 Taras by visualizing her being present with us, contemplating the specific enlightened activity of each Tara, and engaging in the Seven Limbs of practice: prostration, offering, purification, rejoicing, entreating Tara to remain, requesting Tara to teach, and dedication.  This Tara practice consists of reciting sadhanas and mantras for each of the 21 emanations of Tara.  Sadhanas are tantric meditations through which a practitioner aims to achieve union or identity with a divine being such as Mother Tara through visualizations and prayers.  Students of all levels will enjoy this beautiful practice which will be conducted in English.

Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek (Geshe Gelek and Geshe Sangpo's teacher and former Abbot of Sera Je Monastery in India) said when he visited Kadampa Center in 2011 that our center has a special connection to Tara, therefore doing Tara practice is incredibly beneficial for our community, for increasing harmony in working together, and for the continued success of Kadampa Center.

TARA PRACTICE:  EXTENSIVE PRAISES TO THE TWENTY-ONE TARAS
Saturday, December 20, from 10 - 11 am (ET) ~ via Zoom only, join HERE
	Protector, remover of obstacles, model of enlightened activity, inspiration to Lama Atisha - Tara is all of these.  Tara is a female Buddha whose qualities include enlightened action and swiftly removing obstacles. Doing Tara practice clears obstacles in our spiritual lives and helps us attain our positive goals, both spiritual and mundane. Here is an opportunity to deepen our connection to her! For this extensive Tara practice, we will say the prayers used during Tara retreat.  Geshe Gelek advises that by doing this regularly in our daily lives, we are preparing and creating the causes for retreat in the future. Kadampa Center has a special relationship with Tara, according to Sera Jey Khensur Rinpoche Jetsun Lobsang Delek, our Geshes' teacher, who consecrated our Tara statues during one of his visits to Kadampa Center.  All 21 apects of Tara are represented in these statues on the altar in Kadampa Center's gompa.

OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR THIS TARA PRACTICE

Sponsoring dharma practices, such as a Tara Practice, benefits Kadampa Center, its teachers and students, and is an incredible opportunity for one to practice generosity, build merit, and create the causes to meet dharma teachings and teachers in the future.  Please consider becoming a sponsor for this powerful practice.  Here's how:

• Make your sponsorship donation HERE.

• Offer your dedication HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND AND HEARTFELT GENEROSITY!

WHITE TARA SADHANA PRACTICE WITH GESHE GELEK OR GESHE SANGPO

Saturday, June 21, from 10 - 11 am (ET) ~ in person only at Kadampa Center ~ Join us for this beautiful and incredibly beneficial practice led by one of our resident Geshes, either Geshe Gelek or Geshe Sangpo.  This newly offered practice will be held at the Center on the third Saturday of every other month (please confirm via the Kadampa Center calendar prior to arrival).  All are welcome and encouraged to participate; no prior experience or initiation is required.   White Tara is a female buddha associated with longevity, purification, and countering illnesses (both physically and mentally).  Her white color is seen as a purifying and life-giving force.  Her seven eyes symbolize her compassionate vigilance and ability to see all suffering, thus quickly acting to heal, protect, and prolong life.  Sadhana is a Sanskrit word meaning the "method of accomplishment".  Contained within a sadhana are the practices related to a specific deity, in this case White Tara.

OPPORTUNITY TO SPONSOR THE WHITE TARA SADHANA PRACTICE

Sponsoring dharma practices, such as the White Tara Sadhana, benefits Kadampa Center, its teachers and students, and is an incredible opportunity for one to practice generosity, build merit, and create the causes to meet dharma teachings and teachers in the future.  Please consider becoming a sponsor for this practice.  Here's how:

• Make your sponsorship donation HERE.

• Offer your dedication HERE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND AND HEARTFELT GENEROSITY!

	SUNDAY DHARMA WITH VENERABLE ROBINA
	Sunday, July 13, 2025, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM (ET) ~ offered in person and online ~ Join us, all are welcome! The Kadampa Center Family Program takes place today!  Please read the note below for more information.

HOW TO ATTEND

• Attend in person at Kadampa Center

• Join via Zoom (note: this is the regular Sunday morning Zoom link)

• Live Stream on YouTube

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING THIS SUNDAY DHARMA TEACHING

• Kadampa Center students, friends, families, and the greater community are welcome and encouraged to attend this special Sunday teaching with Venerable Robina!

• At the end of the Sunday Dharma teaching, there will be an opportunity for everyone to offer a khata to Venerable Robina.  Khatas will be available to use or bring your own.  Feel free to also offer an envelope with a financial offering and/or a note of appreciation for Venerable Robina's teachings.

• Note for families with children & youth:  As the second Sunday of the month, today is Kadampa Center's Family Program. This is a wonderful opportunity for care givers, parents and their children to meet and be in the presence of such a vibrant Dharma teacher!  Children and youth will begin in the gompa with Venerable Robina during prayers prior to being dismissed for their programming in the classroom building.  Children will rejoin their parents in the gompa near the end of the teaching so that they can participate in offering a khata to Venerable Robina. Khatas will be available for everyone to use.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VENERABLE ROBINA'S VISIT AND TEACHINGS

• Please click HERE to learn about the different ways you can support the teachings.

• Please click on the VOLUNTEER SIGN UP to help make Venerable Robina's visit to Kadampa Center extra special and smooth running!

THANK YOU!

Weekend Workshop with Venerable Robina: Why (and how) Should I Develop the Six Perfections?

Session 4: Sunday, July 13, 2:00 - 4:00 PM (ET) As practices of a Bodhisattva, the Six Perfections include: generosity, morality, patience, enthusiastic perseverance, concentration, and wisdom. During this weekend workshop, Venerable Robina provides an in-depth look at each of these virtuous actions.  What do these "perfections" mean, why are they important, and why should we care about them?  Venerable Robina answers these questions (and more!) as she guides us, in her unique and emphatic way, on how we can develop the skills of the perfections right now in our ordinary lives, regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey. The weekend workshop is suitable for those new to Buddhism as well as seasoned practitioners.  Venerable Robina's teachings always have something for everyone!

HOW TO ATTEND

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - by far the best, most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, therefore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VENERABLE ROBINA'S VISIT AND TEACHINGS

• Please click HERE to learn about the different ways you can support the teachings.

• Please click on the VOLUNTEER SIGN UP to help make Venerable Robina's visit to Kadampa Center extra special and smooth running!

THANK YOU!

Weekend Workshop with Venerable Robina: Why (and how) Should I Develop the Six Perfections?

Session 3: Saturday, July 12, 2:00 - 4:00 PM (ET) As practices of a Bodhisattva, the Six Perfections include: generosity, morality, patience, enthusiastic perseverance, concentration, and wisdom.  During this weekend workshop, Venerable Robina provides an in-depth look at each of these virtuous actions.  What do these "perfections" mean, why are they important, and why should we care about them?  Venerable Robina answers these questions (and more!) as she guides us, in her unique and emphatic way, on how we can develop the skills of the perfections right now in our ordinary lives, regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey. The weekend workshop is suitable for those new to Buddhism as well as seasoned practitioners.  Venerable Robina's teachings always have something for everyone!

HOW TO ATTEND

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - by far the best, most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, therefore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VENERABLE ROBINA'S VISIT AND TEACHINGS

• Please click HERE to learn about the different ways you can support the teachings.

• Please click on the VOLUNTEER SIGN UP to help make Venerable Robina's visit to Kadampa Center extra special and smooth running!

THANK YOU!

Weekend Workshop with Venerable Robina: Why (and how) Should I Develop the Six Perfections?

Session 2: Saturday, July 12, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (ET) As practices of a Bodhisattva, the Six Perfections include: generosity, morality, patience, enthusiastic perseverance, concentration, and wisdom.  During this weekend workshop, Venerable Robina provides an in-depth look at each of these virtuous actions.  What do these "perfections" mean, why are they important, and why should we care about them?  Venerable Robina answers these questions (and more!) as she guides us, in her unique and emphatic way, on how we can develop the skills of the perfections right now in our ordinary lives, regardless of where we are on our spiritual journey. The weekend workshop is suitable for those new to Buddhism as well as seasoned practitioners.  Venerable Robina's teachings always have something for everyone!

HOW TO ATTEND

• In person, onsite at Kadampa Center - by far the best, most interactive way to participate, and is especially beneficial for those who live locally.

• Join via Zoom HERE - a somewhat interactive way to participate.  If you choose to join us on Zoom, you are considered part of the class, therefore, please plan to have your camera turned on and refrain from eating and other distracting activities.

• Watch via YouTube live stream HERE - a non-interactive choice.

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT VENERABLE ROBINA'S VISIT AND TEACHINGS

• Please click HERE to learn about the different ways you can support the teachings.

• Please click on the VOLUNTEER SIGN UP to help make Venerable Robina's visit to Kadampa Center extra special and smooth running!

THANK YOU!