Gompa

Lhabab Düchen is one of the four major Buddhist 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.

Lama Zopa Rinpoche, encourages students to take the Eight Mahayana Precepts on holy days. 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.

Our schedule of events for the day:

5:30 pm  Shakyamuni Buddha Puja     The Shakyamuni Buddha Puja is a  a rite of homage, making offerings and prayers to the teacher, the King of Sages, remembering his previous lives and biography. 

Students who have previously taken the Eight Mahayana Precepts from a qualified master are encouraged to take them at home before their altar.

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 a Holy Day puja is $125, and of general Holy Day events and activities, it's $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 button below on this page)

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

Sponsor Holy Day Puja ~ $125

Mahamudra - "The Great Seal" - refers to emptiness itself and to certain very special meditative methods used to realize emptiness. Rather than emphasizing the philosophical meaning of emptiness as a preliminary, it strives from the start for personal experience of the clear light nature of the mind and then proceeds to meditate on and experience emptiness first hand. The seminar will draw from the explanatory text and auto-commentary by the Panchen Lama, as well a presentation of that material in the recent book by Lama Thubten Yeshe, Mahamudra - How to Discover Our True Nature.

Sessions will consist of lectures on the commentsry but will emphasize meditation on the various stages. Periods will also be set asie for answering questions.

The course should be of interest to those wishing to have a taste of the meaning of emptiness.

Come experience Venerable George's clear and engaging teaching style!

Click here to hear Venerable George's teachings in 2014.

Volunteer opportunities!  Be a part of making this visit a success!  Watch this space for a link to the signup calendar.

Registration requested. Please click here.

Schedule:

Supporting the teachings

Supporting the teachings is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the precious teachings and participate in the practices. We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher. 

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support the teachings: Sponsorships and Donations.

Sponsorships begin at $108.

Sponsors receive:

 - The opportunity to attend a private tea with the teacher at the end of the visit, on Saturday, November 16. We must receive the sponsorship by Wednesday, November 13  to assure your place at the tea.

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the sponsorship and dedication by Wednesday, November 6  to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

There may be more than one sponsor for any event.

Donations are any amount less than $108.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the donation and dedication by two days before the teacher’s visit begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the teachings is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page),

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.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu..

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Venerable George Sponsorship Opportunities

Transformed Warrior (sponsor travel) ~ $350

Awakened Warrior ~ $250

Insight Warrior (teaching session) ~ $200

Compassion Warrior ~ $150

Realized Warrior (spirtual materials) ~ $108

Venerable George Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving ~ $Your Choice

Thank You!

Mahamudra - "The Great Seal" - refers to emptiness itself and to certain very special meditative methods used to realize emptiness. Rather than emphasizing the philosophical meaning of emptiness as a preliminary, it strives from the start for personal experience of the clear light nature of the mind and then proceeds to meditate on and experience emptiness first hand. The seminar will draw from the explanatory text and auto-commentary by the Panchen Lama, as well a presentation of that material in the recent book by Lama Thubten Yeshe, Mahamudra - How to Discover Our True Nature.

Sessions will consist of lectures on the commentsry but will emphasize meditation on the various stages. Periods will also be set asie for answering questions.

The course should be of interest to those wishing to have a taste of the meaning of emptiness.

Come experience Venerable George's clear and engaging teaching style!

Click here to hear Venerable George's teachings in 2014.

Volunteer opportunities!  Be a part of making this visit a success!  Sign up here to help.

Registration requested. Please click here.

Schedule:

Supporting the teachings

Supporting the teachings is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the precious teachings and participate in the practices. We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher. 

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support the teachings: Sponsorships and Donations.

Sponsorships begin at $108.

Sponsors receive:

 - The opportunity to attend a private tea with the teacher at the end of the visit, on Saturday, November 16. We must receive the sponsorship by Wednesday, November 13  to assure your place at the tea.

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the sponsorship and dedication by Wednesday, November 6  to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

There may be more than one sponsor for any event.

Donations are any amount less than $108.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the donation and dedication by two days before the teacher’s visit begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the teachings is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page),

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.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu..

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Venerable George Sponsorship Opportunities

Transformed Warrior (sponsor travel) ~ $350

Awakened Warrior ~ $250

Insight Warrior (teaching session) ~ $200

Compassion Warrior ~ $150

Realized Warrior (spirtual materials) ~ $108

Venerable George Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving ~ $Your Choice

Thank You!

The Jataka Tales - The Life Stories of the Buddha - are drawn from the Buddha's own explanations to his disciples concerning his own previous lives as a Bodhisattva. The Jatakas were one of the six special texts studied in depth in the Kadampa Tradition of Lama Atisha and are revered as a source of inspiration for those in meditative retreat and as examples for practice in everyday life. Talks will consist of reading and background information on several of the Jatakas drawn from three great collections. Time will be alloted for meditation on the material ans well as discussion and question and answer.

Come experience Venerable George's clear and engaging teaching style!

Click here to hear Venerable George's teachings in 2014.

Volunteer opportunities!  Be a part of making this visit a success!  Sign up here to help.

Registration requested. Please click here.

Schedule:

Students are encouraged to bring lunch Saturday and discuss the morning's teachings.

Supporting the teachings

Supporting the teachings is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the precious teachings and participate in the practices. We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher. 

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support the teachings: Sponsorships and Donations.

Sponsorships begin at $108.

Sponsors receive:

 - The opportunity to attend a private tea with the teacher at the end of the visit, on Saturday, November 16. We must receive the sponsorship by Wednesday, November 13  to assure your place at the tea.

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the sponsorship and dedication by Wednesday, November 6  to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

There may be more than one sponsor for any event.

Donations are any amount less than $108.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the donation and dedication by two days before the teacher’s visit begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the teachings is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page),

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.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu..

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Venerable George Sponsorship Opportunities

Transformed Warrior (sponsor travel) ~ $350

Awakened Warrior ~ $250

Insight Warrior (teaching session) ~ $200

Compassion Warrior ~ $150

Realized Warrior (spirtual materials) ~ $108

Venerable George Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving ~ $Your Choice

Thank You!

Venerable George has translated many texts from Tibetan to English. In this evening session, he will go through some of the challenges and opportunities of translation, using the Heart Sutra - the Buddha's seminal teaching on emptiness - as his text. Any student interested in translation of Tibetan Dharma texts is welcome, with or without experience.

Come experience Venerable George's clear and engaging teaching style!

Click here to hear Venerable George's teachings in 2014.

Volunteer opportunities!  Be a part of making this visit a success!  Watch this space for a link to the signup calendar.

Registration requested. Please click here.

Supporting the teachings

Supporting the teachings is an incredibly powerful and important act -- it is a practice of the highest form of generosity – giving the means to enlightenment. Kadampa Center has for many years operated within the ideal of offering teachings without charging a fee, so that money is not an obstacle for anyone to hear the precious teachings and participate in the practices. We rely on the generous hearts of those who are moved to support the spiritual offerings and keep them open to everyone regardless of ability to pay. Supporting the teachings benefits not just the Center and those who attend, but it also greatly benefits the donor, because it creates the causes to meet the teachings again in future lives, and deepens the connection with the teacher. 

Kadampa Center offers two ways to support the teachings: Sponsorships and Donations.

Sponsorships begin at $108.

Sponsors receive:

 - The opportunity to attend a private tea with the teacher at the end of the visit, on Saturday, November 16. We must receive the sponsorship by Wednesday, November 13  to assure your place at the tea.

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share.  We must receive the sponsorship and dedication by Wednesday, November 6  to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

There may be more than one sponsor for any event.

Donations are any amount less than $108.

Donors of $50 or more receive:

 - The opportunity to write a personal dedication that we will post on the gompa door for all to share. We must receive the donation and dedication by two days before the teacher’s visit begins to assure we have time to print and post your dedication.

Supporting the teachings is a two-step process

Step One  is dedicating your generosity (click here).

Step Two  is making the donation or sponsorship (use the buttons below on this page),

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.

Use our secure online community to donate by clicking your choice below.

To try our new Text Giving, send KC108 to 73256 and select your level from the drop down menu..

Don't forget to dedicate your generosity!

Venerable George Sponsorship Opportunities

Transformed Warrior (sponsor travel) ~ $350

Awakened Warrior ~ $250

Insight Warrior (teaching session) ~ $200

Compassion Warrior ~ $150

Realized Warrior (spirtual materials) ~ $108

Venerable George Donation Opportunities

Heart Giving ~ $Your Choice

Thank You!

Join Geshe Gelek as he guides us to selected points in the road to enlightenment.

Current and upcoming topics:

Q&A - bring your Dharma questions for Geshe Gelek to answer.  You can submit these through Questions for Geshe-la or in writing at the Center.  These sessions will take place October 23 and 30.

Explanation of the death meditation and dissolution of the elements will begin in December, when Geshe-la returns.

In his great compassion, Shakyamuni Buddhia opened the gates to this road to enlightenment through his teachings.

Many years later, Lama Atisha organized all of the Buddha's teachings into a step-by-step guide -- a road map to the territory of practice --  in a short text called "Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment."

Lama Tsongkhapa (the founder of our Gelugpa lineage) wrote a detailed explanation of Lama Atisha's text to help students understand and practice the instructions, called The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment (Lamrim Chenmo). This lamrim foundation is the basis of all practice in our lineage, including tantra.

These incredible teachings by Geshe Gelek on this text are a rare and precious opportunity to gain insights into how to practice.

There will be a private event at the Kadampa Center at this time.